The Man They Could Not Hang (1939) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

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1. 1

   Savaard experiments with bringing the dead back to life

   Dr. Henryk Savaard conducts experiments in his home laboratory to revive the dead, pushing the boundaries of scientific ethics. He develops an artificial heart with the aim of curing impossible medical conditions. His experiments attract attention and set the stage for the events that follow.

   Where

   Savaard's laboratory

2. 2

   Bob Roberts volunteers for the experiment

   Young medical student Bob Roberts agrees to be temporarily killed to test Savaard’s artificial heart. He undergoes the procedure, risking his life to demonstrate the technology’s potential. The experiment initially appears promising, but concerns about its safety arise.

   Where

   Savaard's house laboratory

3. 3

   Ms. Crawford alerts the police

   Fearing that the experiment will fail and lead to Bob’s death, Bob’s fiancée Ms. Crawford informs law enforcement. She rushes to the police to report her concerns, leading to authorities investigating Savaard’s activities. Tension between scientific curiosity and legal boundaries intensifies.

   Where

   Police Department

4. 4

   Police raid Savaard's house and arrest him

   Police enter Savaard's house during an investigation and find the artificial heart. Savaard, defending his work, insists he can restore Bob's life. However, he is arrested for murder after the police discover evidence suggesting Bob’s death connected to the experiment.

   Where

   Savaard's house

5. 5

   Savaard is convicted and sentenced to hang

   Following a public trial, a jury finds Savaard guilty of first-degree murder. He is sentenced to death by hanging for his role in Bob’s death. Savaard's conviction sparks debates about ethics in scientific experimentation.

   Where

   Courtroom

6. 6

   Savaard’s final speech before execution

   On the day of his execution, Judge Bowman allows Savaard two minutes to speak. He uses this time to condemn those responsible for his conviction, expressing his disdain for the legal system that condemned him based on his controversial experiments.

   Where

   Death row inmate cell

7. 7

   Savaard is executed and revived by Lang

   Savaard is hanged, but shortly after, his assistant Lang successfully revives him, having repaired his broken neck surgically. This resurrection defies natural laws and raises questions about the morality of Savaard’s scientific pursuits.

   Where

   Execution chamber and Savaard’s laboratory

8. 8

   Six jurors are found dead in apparent suicides

   Over the following month, six jurors involved in Savaard’s trial are mysteriously found hanged, suggesting they may have been murdered. Reporter Scoop Foley notices a pattern and begins investigating the unexplained deaths linked to Savaard’s case.

9. 9

   Savaard's return disrupts a gathering of officials

   Savaard reappears unexpectedly during a gathering of jurors, law enforcement, and medical personnel at his house. He reveals he is alive and suggests he can kill them all with his knowledge, challenging the authority that sentenced him.

   Where

   Savaard’s house

10. 10

    Judge Bowman is electrocuted while trying to escape

    Judge Bowman attempts to leave the house but is killed by an electric shock when he tries to open a grille. Savaard manipulates the situation to trap his guests inside, escalating the terror and chaos.

    Where

    Savaard’s house

11. 11

    Savaard announces the guests will be killed

    Through an intercom, Savaard declares that each remaining guest will be murdered at fifteen-minute intervals. The guests realize they are trapped and must confront Savaard’s deadly threats and their own fears.

    Where

    Savaard’s house

12. 12

    Kearney is poisoned and killed

    The first victim, juror Kearney, answers a phone and is fatally poisoned with a needle, piercing his brain. The group is horrified as they witness the first murder inflicted by Savaard’s mechanical and deadly devices.

13. 13

    Janet arrives and confronts her father

    Janet, Savaard’s daughter, arrives and learns the truth about her father being alive. She pleads with him to abandon his quest for revenge, but he insists on avenging his perceived injustices, deepening the moral conflict.

    Where

    Savaard’s house

14. 14

    Janet destroys Savaard’s invention and escapes

    Despite her father’s pleas, Janet intentionally touches an electrified grille, forcing Savaard to surrender. Her act of defiance helps terminate his murderous plans, and she calls for rescue amid the chaos.

    Where

    Savaard’s house

15. 15

    Janet is revived with Savaard’s artificial heart

    Using Savaard’s artificial heart device, Dr. Stoddard successfully revives Janet after her critical injury, symbolizing the potential of the technology to restore life. The story concludes with the destructive and creative power of science intertwined.

    Where

    Savaard’s laboratory

16. 16

    Savaard destroys his invention and dies

    Facing defeat, Savaard destroys his artificial heart invention with a gun, willingly choosing death. His demise marks the end of his tragic pursuit of eternal life and the consequences of unethical scientific experimentation.

    Where

    Savaard’s laboratory