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Bedlam

Bedlam

1946
Drama, Suspense/Thriller
1h 19m
Nell Bowen, the spirited protege of rich Lord Mortimer, becomes interested in the conditions of notorious St. Mary's of Bethlehem Asylum (Bedlam). Encouraged by the Quaker Hannay, she tries to bring support to reforming Bedlam, but the cruel Master Sims who runs it has her committed there. The inmates, however, have the last say. (imdb)
Your probable score
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Bedlam

1946
Drama, Suspense/Thriller
1h 19m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 55.13% from 162 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(162)
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Rated 29 Jan 2010
85
66th
Unusual film with a complex plot and excellent period atmosphere.
Rated 25 Mar 2009
75
54th
Producer Lewton's look at Bedlam doesn't pretend to be a horror movie and even plays a bit tame as a belated expose. But Boris has a great role as Bedlam's alternately toadying and bullying warden, while Robert Clarke, in his pre-_Hideous Sun Demon_ daze, turns in a bizarre bit as an inmate with a canine complex. Karloff's confrontation with feisty heroine Lee -- a sworn enemy who's wrongfully entrusted to Boris's creepy "care" -- are also vividly rendered.
Rated 20 Oct 2013
75
44th
I find insane asylums particularly scary, so this worked pretty well for me, though it still feels too tame. The biggest issue is how inconsistent the film is in tone, unsure if it should be making us laugh, feel scared or feel sympathy. I does do all the those things quite well, but they don;t really mesh together.
Rated 12 Oct 2009
75
50th
Karloff puts on a great performance, as does the beautiful Anna Lee. The plot is enjoyable enough, but it takes quite awhile to get going. Still, the performances of the leads are enough to keep the movie interesting until the plot picks up.
Rated 03 Nov 2008
3
31st
Of all the Val Lewton projects I've seen, this is the least memorable. Not to say there aren't worse ones (there are), but I honestly cannot remember a single scene of this anymore.
Rated 08 Mar 2009
3
0th
"Nicholas Musaraca's excellent cinematography contributes a number of fine effects..."
Rated 20 Apr 2014
79
61st
78.500
Rated 13 Apr 2007
50
33rd
I always want to applaud quiet horror, but this one just ain't there
Rated 23 Dec 2015
80
29th
Okay, but I kind of wish Lewton hadn't been granted the somewhat higher budgets that allowed him to do period pieces: he was best confined to modern horrors.
Rated 30 Oct 2020
70
96th
Chilling quiet horror at the asylum where Boris Karloff rules with a vicious mind. There's not much of graphic brutality. It's all about the mental helplessness in a situation where those in power abuse it. And it's all done in a rather elegant manner.
Rated 24 Jun 2023
79
55th
Starts off as the kind of irritatingly smug finger wagging that Woke people engage in: chastising everyone who lived in the past for not having modern day ideas. But as the film goes along, we get characters meant to represent where any given viewer might be in terms of wanting to help those whose misfortunes weren't self-created & solid arguments are delivered. It all gets wrapped up a little too neatly but given how cruelly the mentally ill used to be treated, its arguments can't be denied.

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