The Walking Dead (1936 film)

The Walking Dead is a 1936 film about a hapless pianist and ex-con John Elman is framed for murder, and is resurrected by a scientist after his execution.
 * ''Directed by Michael Curtiz. Written by Ewart Adamson.

HOW CAN A MAN AVENGE HIS OWN MURDER? (taglines)

John Ellman

 * Why did you have me killed?
 * [looking up to Heaven while being led to the electric chair] He'll believe me.

Dr. Evan Beaumont

 * [comforting Nancy who is sobbing over Ellman's death] He's happier now. It will never be known. The Lord thy God is a jealous God!

Dialogue

 * Jimmy: Imagine... Dr. Beaumont keeping this heart pumping for over twenty years!
 * Nancy: Wish he could do something about making your heart pump!


 * John Ellman: Last night I thought you were my friend. You took my life!
 * 'Trigger' Smith: [contemptuously] I'm gonna take it again unless you got cat blood in ya. No one's gonna bring you back this time.
 * John Ellman: You can't kill me again!


 * John Ellman: [in the prison as he awaits execution, hoping for a reprieve] But you can't kill me for something that I didn't do! You can't, I tell you, you can't! I don't want to die! I want to live!
 * Prison Warden: Well, Ellman, it's within my power to grant any last request you care to make.
 * John Ellman: [sounding slightly bitter] You take away my life and offer me a favor in return. That's what I call a "bargain."


 * John Ellman: [responding to Beaumont's questions while dying] Leave the dead to their makers. The Lord thy God is a jealous God.
 * Dr. Evan Beaumont: [feeling a sense of urgency] But John, what is death? Can't you put it into words? Tell me! Tell me! You must! What is death?
 * John Ellman: I think I can... [after a pause] After the shock...
 * Dr. Evan Beaumont: Yes?
 * John Ellman: I seemed to feel...
 * Dr. Evan Beaumont: Yes?
 * John Ellman: ...peace and a... [dies]


 * Dr. Evan Beaumont: All I know is that for a short time the spirit of life left his body. Now, what happened during that transition? What effect did the experience of death have on his subconscious mind. Can he remember?
 * District Attorney Werner: Well, it's rather a large order, doctor, and I'm afraid a bit beyond the province of law...
 * Dr. Evan Beaumont: ...and beyond the province of science too, but it's a challenge, and somewhere, I think, we'll find the key to all this.
 * District Attorney Werner: If you do, I hope you'll let me know.

Taglines

 * THE BODY OF A GIANT! THE MIND OF A FIEND! RETURNED FROM THE DEAD TO WREAK VENGEANCE UPON HIS PERSECUTORS!!
 * ETERNITY COULD NOT HOLD HIM!...A mystery drama that will raise goose pimples!
 * BACK FROM THE DEAD!
 * See science bring an electrocuted convict back to life...with supernatural powers to rub out one by one the killers who sent him to the chair!
 * HOW CAN A MAN AVENGE HIS OWN MURDER?

Cast

 * Boris Karloff — John Ellman
 * Ricardo Cortez — Mr. Nolan
 * Edmund Gwenn — Dr. Evan Beaumont
 * Marguerite Churchill — Nancy
 * Warren Hull — Jimmy
 * Barton MacLane — Loder
 * Henry O'Neill — District Attorney Werner
 * Joe King — Judge Roger Shaw
 * Addison Richards — Prison Warden
 * Paul Harvey — Blackstone
 * Robert Strange — Merritt
 * Joe Sawyer — "Trigger" Smith
 * Eddie Acuff — Betcha
 * Kenneth Harlan — Stephen Martin
 * Miki Morita — Sako, Loder's Butler
 * Frank Darien — Cemetery Caretaker