One Body Too Many, or That One Movie with the Tin Man and Dracula

While I like creepy horror, I do love humorous horror as well. 'One Body Too Many' is one of the best. Starred are Bela Lugosi as the butler, Merkil, and Albert Tuttle insurance salesman, Jack Haley. If the last name is familiar, it should be. He starred in 'The Wizard of Oz' as the Tin Man. 

The plot of the film involves Tuttle being hired to sell insurance at the Rutherford estate to Cyrus Rutherford. Unfortunately for all parties involved, Rutherford is  dead when he arrives and his heirs are at the mansion for the official reading of Cryus' will. However, that is where the story takes an interesting turn. According to Rutherford's wishes, his will won't be read until he is properly entombed in his observatory in seven days time. Part of the stipulation of the will's contents is that all of the heirs must  stay on the premises or the circumstances of the will are to be  reversed. Those who decide to leave forfeit their inheritance. Also, if anything happens to the body, When Tuttle arrives, he is mistaken for the detective who is to guard the body so nothing can happen to it. Rutherford's favourite niece, Carol, convinces Tuttle to stay and make sure that her uncle's body is not disturbed.  Someone plans to reverse the will, but who? And how certain are they that they will get the lion's share? Poor Tuttle is stuck in the middle. 

Lugosi's presence on the screen is always thrilling for me. Merkil's instance on serving coffee to the guests, after a conversation with the maid, Matthews, whilst carrying a bottle of rat poison and complaining there are too many rats in the house immediately points at them. But with the heirs fighting and plotting, who knows? 

There are so many scenes I here I love. He saves the niece from being killed by a falling stone. He hits his head and is visited by, basically, his good angel and bad angel. One tries to tell him to flee, that she isn't worth sticking around, the other tells her that she's gorgeous and definitely worth staying for. He ends up staying. 

I recommend this to anyone who likes a little humor with their horror. Haley's portrayal of the hapless insurance agent is pretty hilarious. Just watch the scene where he discovers the hidden door in his bathroom. If you learn anything from it, never wander around the inside of walls in nothing but a bath towel and shoes....

For your viewing pleasure, it is available on YouTube. Enjoy!