The Horror!? 67: The Bat (1959)

Crime writer Cornelia von Gelder and her maid (I suppose) Lizzie rent the house of bank director John Fleming, ignoring the fact that a murderer commonly called "The Bat" is known to have committed some atrocious murders there. While they are getting comfortable, said bank director is on a hunting trip with his friend Dr. Wilson deep in the woods. He tells Wilson that he has embezzled one million dollars from his bank and now needs Wilson's help to fake his own death. The good Doctor himself doesn't like all this faking business and kills his dear friend, leaving the money hidden away somewhere for the taking.
Soon mysterious things happen at von Gelder's place. Who might the notorious murderer be? The good doctor with his problematic morals and his interest in bats? The chauffeur with the slightly shady past? Or someone else? And where is the money?
The Bat is one of many versions of The Circular Staircase and a very fine one, if you like old fashioned murder mysteries.
"Old fashioned" to modern eyes I mean; as a matter of fact Director Crane Wilbur cut down consequently on the more irritating parts of his source and made it a piece of Fifties matinée cinema that is as fun to watch as the best films of its kind.
This old dark house is a quite modern one, even things like its secret doors are cleverly modernized and most importantly there is no odious comic relief who needs killing, nor any gorillas.
We also have the pleasure of seeing Vincent Price in one of his more laid back performances as Doctor Wells, while Agnes Moorehead gives one of her competent performances. (In most movies with her I know, she's completely horrible, which is kind of strange if you see good work like this or hear one of the many radio plays she acted quite brilliantly in.)