Archive features
The World of Hammer: The Curse of Frankenstein
1994
Part of The World of Hammer television documentary series, narrated by Oliver Reed.
Compilation examining Hammer's series of Frankenstein films, through a selection of clips.
PRODUCTIONS
The Old Dark House
1962
courtesy of hammerhorrorposters.com
- Director: William Castle
Synopsis
"The murder mystery with a difference:
YOU DIE LAUGHING"
An American car salesman in England, Tom Penderel one stormy night finds an eccentric millionaire client, Casper Femm, murdered in the old, dark house he shared with weapons-collector Roderick Femm; Casper's mother Agatha; his twin brother Jasper; two young cousins, Cecily and Morgana, both of whom are attracted to Tom; and Morgana's father who would willingly murder the American for even looking at the girl.
Agatha, Jasper and Roderick are brutally slain an hour apart, on the hour. Suspected of murder and simultaneously the unsuspecting victim of various murder traps, Tom uncovers the real killer in time to prevent total destruction of the old dark house and its few remaining survivors.
Plot summary from The Old Dark House hand bill, 1966.
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"House haunting? It's all in good fun, of corpse - mostly the murderous kind!"
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The principal cast of The Old Dark House
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| The following review is based on the 76 minute, A certificate version of The Old Dark House which was released in the United Kingdom in 1966. An 83 minute, X certificated version of the film was first distributed in Great Britain during 1996, when the film was licensed for PAL VHS home video. The touch of the master-maker of thrillers, William Castle, is non-existent here. This is due, no doubt, to the fact that the scissors have been rigorously applied to the original and the result is, to say the least, disappointing. The stage is all set for chills, but these have been sacrificed in favour of occasional knockabout and mild humour. Tom Poston is passable in the role of the invited one, but his performance doesn't quite warrant his journey from America. Quite the most imposing member of the cast is Robert Morley, who dominates the queer family and Janette Scott is most disarming in a part which provides a really surprise climax. Joyce Grenfell is, as always, very amusing and Fenella Fielding once again does her speciality, the would-be seductress. Others are good and the acting generally flatters the material. |
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| Kinematograph Weekly, 25 August 1966 | ||
Director William Castle is best remembered for the promotional stunts associated with his early films. He insured the audience of Macabre against death by fright, House on Haunted Hill featured a flying human skeleton propelled by the "Emergo" process and unsuspecting cinema goers received mild electric shocks during the climax of The Tingler. Castle was the inspiration for the film Matinee. |
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Cast
Tom Poston - Tom Penderel Robert Morley - Roderick Femm Janette Scott - Cecily Femm Joyce Grenfell - Agatha Femm Mervyn Johns - Potiphar Femm Fenella Fielding - Morgana Femm Peter Bull - Casper and Jasper Femm Danny Green - Morgan Femm John Harvey - Club Receptionist The following player received no on-screen credit: Amy Dalby - Woman Gambler Crew Production Designer Bernard Robinson Supervising Editor James Needs Production Manager John Draper Assistant Director Douglas Hermes Sound Recordist Jock May Sound Editor James Groom Continuity Pauline Wise Make-up Artist Roy Ashton Hair Stylist Frieda Steiger Wardrobe Supervisor Molly Arbuthnot Wardrobe Mistress Rosemary Burrows Special Effects Les Bowie Drawn by Charles Addams Title Backgrounds Copyright Charles Addams Camera Operator Moray Grant Director of Photography Arthur Grant, BSc Music Composed and Conducted by Benjamin Frankel Screenplay by Robert Dillon Based on Benighted by J.B. Priestley (See also the J. B. Priestley Society) Associate Producer Donna Holloway Produced and Directed by William Castle |
Available in HD: No
Available on DVD: No
