Last night I watched the 2021 documentary BORIS KARLOFF: THE MAN BEHIND THE MONSTER on the Tubi streaming channel. The film was directed and co-written by Thomas Hamilton.
It's a fine program, giving a fairly complete retrospective on Boris Karloff's acting career. What makes it a cut above is the amount of video and audio clips used and the people interviewed for it. There's the expected snippets from Karloff's greatest hits, but there's also plenty of very rare footage, especially from the actor's silent period and his television work during the 1950s and 60s. Among the many folks providing their opinions and analysis on Boris and his life are some very distinguished names, including film historians Greg Mank, Kevin Brownlow, and Leonard Maltin, and filmmakers such as Guillermo del Toro, Joe Dante, and Roger Corman. These are people who have written about Karloff or have been creatively inspired by him, and what they have to say is very insightful.
The film does not dive deeply into Karloff's complicated marriage history, which is probably just as well (his daughter Sara Jane does get plenty of screen time). The documentary thankfully also stays away from any "Boris vs. Bela" fanboy arguments.
There's not much here about Boris' non-horror film roles, but his stage work is highlighted, and the case is made that he was a far more capable actor than he was given credit for. Karloff is presented as a hard-working, dedicated professional who always brought a touch of humanity and poignancy to even his most villainous roles.
BORIS KARLOFF: THE MAN BEHIND THE MONSTER will be enjoyed by the actor's most adoring fans, but it also makes a great "starter kit" for those who are just beginning to learn about the legendary man's life and career.
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