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House On Haunted Hill [1959]


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Another late night great!
Review date: 2007-12-30 Rating: 10 out of 10

Another great film to watch late night with all the lights turned out. I love this film, its my joint favorite Vincent Price film with the "Fall of the House of Usher" being the other. Look out for the head in the wardrobe and the old women skateboarding out of the wine cellar!!!

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ONE OF THE GREATEST HORROR FILMS I HAVE EVER SEEN
Review date: 2007-08-07 Rating: 10 out of 10

I have watched my share of horror movies, I am not an expert on the genre, and I have seen different settings. Of course, there can be mixed settings: a film about Dracula may take you to the Transylvanian outdoors, to streets or graveyards, as well as into the castle or mansion or whatever. But one way horror movies can be categorized is by whether most or all of the film is within a residence, or not. Bearing this in mind, I think something special about horror films is having the victim(s) enclosed inside a mansion or home, with escape difficult or impossible, and terrorized by anything one can imagine -- moving furniture, metamorphosing paintings, spooks in the attic, odd remnants, lights on and off -- as part of the buildup for a real or expected attack, by a person or whatever. The terror, suspense, is believing someone or something is or may be there, but where, and when, will it strike? "The Shining," "Die! Die! My Darling," "Beyond the Door," Behind Locked Doors," "The Haunting." Although claustrophobia might generally be a negative for me in a movie, such as "Rear Window" (unlike most people, I do not really like it), in horror movies it is great, it makes the day. If one looks at things this way, "House on Haunted Hill" can be seen as the quintessential horror film.

Start with having Vincent Price in it, hopefully no arguments there. He plays Frederick Loren, the affluent host of a "party" in which he invites five people, not including himself and his wife, to a haunted mansion on a hill in a challenge for each person to win $10,000 (at today's value, about $100,000) if that person stays in the mansion all night. Among the five are Watson Pritchard (Elisha Cook Jr.), an alcoholic, whose endemically spooked countenance sets the tone for what everyone is getting into. Frightface or not, he bears an (eerie?) resemblance to evangelist Pat Robertson, whether or not he is actually as scary. Altho Pritchard owns the house, he has spent little time in it, but he is nevertheless the expert on the circumstances surrounding seven deaths, including that of his brother, on the premises over many years. Quickly, the other four get the message: they may be facing trouble. And trouble begins quickly. Part of the idea is that there is no escape out of the mansion after midnight, when the caretakers leave, and barricades ensure this.

Price's wife, Annabelle, is played by Carol Ohmart. She is striking blond, gorgeous, with very fair skin. In several scenes that I will not specify, her lightness is artfully contrasted against surrounding darkness by Director William Castle -- very beautiful, no special effects needed. Price has a jealous rage toward her and she in turn wants to get rid of him, as she has tried to do in the past. What will happen tonight?

Of the other four characters, the two with the stronger presences in the first half are Lance Schroeder (Richard Long), a handsome pilot, and Nora Manning (Carolyn Craig), a pretty typist for one of Loren's companies and the early lead screamer. The other two are newspaper writer Ruth Bridgers (Julie Mitchum), who has a gambling problem, and Dr. David Trent (Alan Marshal), a psychiatrist interested in the subject of scared people. A plot twist brings one of these latter two to greater prominence in the second half.

The creaky doors, the body parts, the unexplained incidents all do their part in a movie in which black & white is such an essential. The black & white cements the atmosphere we need for the "house" (mansion): from a distance, from a close-up at the start of the movie, and then inside the mansion, everywhere. For those who profess love for "Casablanca" and cry "sacrilege" when they see the colored version, I say, OK, the true version to me is the original, but the colorized version is just the colorized version, what's wrong with watching it too? The movie still works in color, doesn't it, even if it is preferable in black & white? To me, anyway. But as to "House on Haunted Hill" -- even if I similarly would not cry "sacrilege" to a colorized version, I ask, can you think of any other movie in which black & while is so essential, in which a colorized version would lose so much? Maybe you can, but I can't.

Loren, with his ulterior motives, has a smug, rather commanding aura, knowing that each of the five needs the $10,000. There can be skeletons in people's closets, yes. And as Loren's plans are threatened with derailment, keep this in mind.

"House on Haunted Hill (1959) ... William Castle ... 20th Century Fox (2005)"
Review date: 2007-08-05 Rating: 10 out of 10

20th Century Fox present "HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL" (released: February 17, 1959) (75 mins) (B&W/Color Versions) - Under William Castle (Director / Producer), Robb White (Screenwriter), Carl Guthrie (Cinematographer), Von Dexter (Composer (Music Score), Roy Livingston (Editor), Dave Milton (Art Director), Jane Huizenga (Production Director), David D. Martin (Technical Director) - - - - - - our star Vincent Price plays Frederick Loren, an eccentric millionaire that invites five very different people to a haunted house for a party, and offers them $10,000 if they can stay the night --- As usual, Price gives a commanding performance and completely steals every scene he's in --- Elisha Cook in particular gives excellent support playing the wimpy owner of the house; much the same character that he played in the Stanley Kubrick masterpiece; 'The Killing" (1956) --- The rest of the cast is made up of unknown actors, but they also all perform to relatively high standards in their respective roles --- House on Haunted Hill is topped off by a brilliant double twist, and it is also given certain originality --- the atmosphere and uneasiness of this film makes for an incredible who done it story as you wonder who will get it --- The set is intoxicating inasmuch as you never really see all of it, nor is it really explained what such a dangerous acid pit is doing in such a precarious spot in the basement --- Throughout the movie, there is an abundant sense of dread that is perpetually present and it serves the film well in that it brings the house to life --- at every point in the film, the audience is made to believe that there is something unseen in the house that will cause bad things to happen --- Director William Castle and actor Vincent Price are at their best!

the cast includes:
Vincent Price ... Frederick Loren
Carolyn Craig ... Nora Manning
Richard Long ... Lance Schroeder
Elisha Cook Jr. ... Watson Pritchard (as Elisha Cook)
Carol Ohmart ... Annabelle Loren
Alan Marshal ... Dr. David Trent
Julie Mitchum ... Ruth Bridgers
Leona Anderson ... Mrs. Slydes
Howard Hoffman ... Jonas Slydes

BIOS:
1. Vincent Price
Date of Birth: 27 May 1911 - St. Louis, Missouri
Date of Death: 25 October 1993 - Los Angeles, California

2. Carolyn Craig
Date of Birth: 27 October 1934 - Green Acres, Long Island, New York
Date of Death: 12 December 1970 - Culver City, California

3. Richard Long
Date of Birth: 17 December 1927 - Chicago, Illinois
Date of Death: 21 December 1974 - Los Angeles, California

4. Elisha Cook Jr.
Date of Birth: 26 December 1903 - San Francisco, California
Date of Death: 18 May 1995 - Big Pine, California

5. Carol Ohmart
Date of Birth: 3 July 1927 - Salt Lake City, Utah
Date of Death: Still Living

6. Alan Marshal
Date of Birth: 29 January 1909, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Date of Death: 13 July 1961 - Chicago, Illinois

7. Julie Mitchum
Date of Birth: 23 July 1914 - Bridgeport, Connecticut
Date of Death: 21 February 2003 - Sun City, Arizona

8. William Castle (Director)
Date of Birth: 24 April 1914 - New York, New York
Date of Death: 31 May 1977 - Los Angeles, California

SPECIAL FEATURES:
1. Hilarious Audio Commentary by Mike Nelson of TV's "Mystery Science Theater 3000"
2. All-New Clorized Version
3. Restored Black and White Version
4. Original Theatrical Trailer, Carnival of Souls, Night of the Living Dead, Reefer Madness and The Three Stooges in Color.

Hats off and thanks to Barry B. Sandrew Ph.D. (Founder, COO, CTO & Board Member) and his Legend Films Staff --- looking forward to more high quality releases from the vintage era of the '20s, '30s & '40s --- order your copy now from Amazon where there are plenty of copies available on DVD --- if you enjoyed this title, why not check out Legend Films where they are experts in releasing long forgotten films and treasures to the collector --- all my heroes have been cowboys!

Total Time: 75 mins on DVD ~ 20th Century Fox ~ (9/06/2005)

The ghosts are waiting
Review date: 2007-08-03 Rating: 10 out of 10

Vincent Price. A haunted mansion house. Spooky caretakers. And a giant pile of money to any of the guests who lives through the night. What's not to love?

"The House on Haunted Hill" is one of those rare horror movies that seems as fresh as if it were made yesterday. William Castle spins a creepy, slightly schlocky, clever little haunted house story, which is just intriguing enough to keep viewers riveted until the final twist. It's horror, myster and dark comedy squashed together.

Frederick Loren (Vincent Price) decides to host a macabre birthday party for his devious wife Annabelle (Carol Ohmart), in the "House on Haunted Hill." He invites a test pilot, a columnist, a secretary and the house's unbalanced owner, and offers each one ten thousand dollars if they stay all night. Chandeliers fall, doors slam shut, and they get to see the wine vat full of acid.

But as the night goes on, poor Nora Manning (Carolyn Craig) begins to see specters and rotted heads. The others think she's hysterical -- until Annabelle is found hanging in the hallway, dead. The unfortunate guests start to suspect that Loren brought them there to murder them (except for the owner, who blames ghosts). But the truth is far more complex and sinister....

William Castle made a lot of slightly kitschy horror movies like "13 Ghosts" and "The Tingler," but this clever twist on haunted-house movies is probably his best work ever. Okay, that dancing skeleton is unintentionally funny, as is the gliding crone. But most of the time, it provides some in-your-face chills and great work from Price.

This movie has solid dialogue ("Do you remember the fun we had when you poisoned me?") and some truly wicked exchanges between Price and Ohmart, as spouses who completely loathe one another. Castle's weird sense of humor shows up in the coffin-shaped boxes, the vat of acid, and the organ playing itself.

But the most impressive aspect of "House" is that it's not just another ghosts-terrify-screaming-idiots movie. It's more of a mystery, before the crime is committed. We're never quite sure if there really are ghosts haunting the place, or if the humans are the ones who are really causing all this trouble. What's really scary is that the humans are more frightening.

Vincent Price is definitely the star here -- creepy, intelligent, debonair, and he has an acid comment for every occasion ("Don't stay up thinking of ways to get rid of me. It makes wrinkles"). Ohmart runs a close second with her seductive, devious trophy wife; the other actors do solid jobs as well, although Craig doesn't do much except shriek periodically.

"House on Haunted Hill" is a deserving vintage horror movie -- a twisty plot, and Price doing his best creepy-might-be-villain act. A must-see.

Fantastically spooky and scary!!
Review date: 2007-03-21 Rating: 10 out of 10


Fabulous vintage scary movie here, with some genuine 'spooky' moments! OK for those of you to watch who live in flats, but do not watch this alone if you live in a house - you won't want to go upstairs afterwards!

This movie is one of those black and white classics from the distant past that many will remember watching and will recall being scared to death as a child. One of the most memorable scenes for me, was the ghostly apparition of the old crone gliding along in the cellar with white eyes and clawing hands! Full of atmosphere and suspense with an unusual twist.

A horror classic!

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Carolyn Craig
Richard Long
Vincent Price
Elisha Cook Jr.
Carol Ohmart

Creators:
Vincent Price (Primary Contributor)
Carolyn Craig (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Elstree Hill Entertainment
Manufacturer: Elstree Hill Entertainment
EAN: 5050457622398
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Black & White, PAL,
Release date: 2004-10-25
Number of discs: 1
Audience rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Running time: 75 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1959-02-17
Language: English (Unknown)
Language: English (Original Language)

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