Price, Poe and The Pit and the Pendulum

Vincent Price was a talented, versatile actor who worked in movies, television and on stage throughout his long career. He appeared in numerous movies, including film noirs, comedies, romantic dramas, and westerns. Beloved by his legion of fans, he’s probably best remembered for his contributions to the horror genre. Price starred in seven of the films in Roger Corman’s “Poe” cycle, the celebrated producer-director’s cinematic adaptations of the work of Edgar Allan Poe. The Pit and the Pendulum (1961) is the second film in the series, following House of Usher (1960). The story is set in Spain, where Francis Bernard (played by John Kerr) visits the castle of Nicholas Medina (portrayed by Price), who was married to his sister Elizabeth. It turns out Elizabeth died under mysterious circumstances, and Francis wants to learn the truth regarding her death. Nicholas and his sister Catherine initially tell him that his sister died of a rare blood disease. Later, the family physician, Dr. Leon, offers a different explanation for Elizabeth’s passing. Francis vows to stay at the castle until he discovers the truth. Dr. Leon warns him that Nicholas is in a frail mental state, and prodding him about the nature of Elizabeth’s death might send him over the edge. The doctor tells Francis about some traumatic events from Nicholas’ childhood, which have haunted him ever since.

Anthony Carbone & Vincent Price

Strange things and eerie events occur; Elizabeth's room is trashed. Eerie voices and loud noises are heard by Nicholas. He becomes convinced that Elizabeth has returned from the grave to haunt him. As the climax of the story nears, it becomes apparent that nothing is as it seems. There will be madness, murder, betrayal and death as the story builds to a crescendo of terror. The cast is excellent, with Price taking top honors, expertly walking a tightrope between calm, manic and completely off the rails throughout the film. Price was often accused of hamminess and over-acting, but I believe that he knew exactly what he was doing, perfectly pitching his performances to match the material. Price is at the peak of his powers here, and I think it's some of his best work in the Poe cycle, along with his performances in the later Masque of the Red Death and Tomb of Ligeia.

The rest of the cast, including Corman regulars Luana Anders (as Catherine) and Anthony Carbone (as Dr. Leon) are quite good, but it's Barbara Steele (in her first role since her iconic turn in Mario Bava's Black Sunday) who makes a truly lasting impression. She is excellent as Elizabeth, who turns out to have some very deadly secrets. Despite the fact that her dialogue was dubbed, Steele's physical performance is terrific. Shes’s ethereal, frightening, and alluring all at once. Her calm, cool and controlled Elizabeth is a perfect counterpoint to Price's emotional, rattled Nicholas. At least, that is, until the film's eerie finale, where the truth is finally revealed, and things take a twist toward the macabre. Richard Matheson's excellent screenplay combines a dash of Poe (the original story is only used in the last section of the film), with tales of ghosts and hauntings, and also tosses in a noir-esque murder plot for good measure. Price made suggestions about changes to Nicholas' dialogue, which he felt improved it's tone. Corman and Matheson incorporated some of his ideas.

The film is florid, haunting and dazzling. The combination of Corman’s assured direction with the excellent camera work by Floyd Crosby, art direction by Daniel Haller and the music of Lex Baxter create an atmosphere of dread that permeates every frame. Corman and his crew were like kids in a candy store while working on these films, making all kinds of interesting stylistic choices, such as the use of odd colors and off-kilter images in the flashback sequences. It's no surprise that the film is often cited as an influence on the Italian giallo genre of horror films, or that it's a favorite of Stephen King, Tim Burton and Video Watchdog's Tim Lucas. What Horror of Dracula is to the Hammer films oeuvre, The Pit and the Pendulum is to the horror output of American International Pictures. The movie set the tone for a large percentage of their genre offerings for years to come.

The movie draws you in, and bears up well on repeat viewings. This is in no small part to the stellar contributions of Vincent Price, who anchors the film with his assured performance. As a long-time fan, it's hard for me to pick a favorite Price role; his stellar work as Mark Cardigan in His Kind of Woman is a favorite of mine, but there are so many others to choose from. This is definitely one of his most memorable roles in the horror genre. If you're going to pick one movie to watch that defines what the Poe series is all about, this is the one to check out. The Pit and the Pendulum is available on DVD and Blu-ray, and is often screened on various cable movie networks. Here's a link to the film's trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xzdrffJ91E. This post is part of The Vincent Price Blogathon, hosted by my fellow bloggers over at Reelweegiemidget Reviews & Cinematic Catharsis. I'd like to thank them for letting me participate! Please follow this link to check out the rest of the entries: https://weegiemidget.wordpress.com/blogathons/blogathons-2020/vincent-price-blogathon/.

Dan Curtis: The Master of Dark Shadows

Dark Shadows, the supernaturally-themed daytime series that ran from 1966-71 on ABC, was a true phenomenon. The show's combination of traditional soap opera elements with horror and (later) science-fiction themed storylines caught the attention of young viewers and the series became a major hit. The show was brainchild of writer-producer-director Dan Curtis, who was also involved in the production of several classic made for television horror films, including the The Night Stalker, The Night Strangler, Trilogy of Terror, as well as the big-screen terror tale, Burnt Offerings, which featured Oliver Reed and Bette Davis. Curtis later went on to produce and direct the mini-series The Winds of War, as well as its sequel, War and Remembrance.

Master of Dark Shadows (2019), an absorbing documentary, traces the life and career of Dan Curtis through in-depth interviews with the cast and crew of Dark Shadows, as well as Curtis himself. Dark Shadows (which was based in part on a dream that Curtis had) started out as more of a Gothic romance, with storylines inspired by classic novels like Jane Eyre. When the low-rated series was in danger of cancellation, Curtis and his writers introduced more overt supernatural elements into the show, including the character of a vampire, Barnabas Collins, portrayed by Jonathan Frid. Ratings went up, and the series became a substantial hit. The series ran in a late afternoon time slot, so it was the perfect time for kids who were just getting home from school to tune in and watch the show. They turned out to be some of the series biggest fans.

Dark Shadows spawned books, board games, and soundtrack albums. Barnabas, the reluctant vampire, became a fan favorite, and the central character featured in the series ongoing storylines. The actors, including Frid, David Selby and Kathryn Leigh Scott, were treated like rock stars by their fans. The series spawned two spinoff theatrical films, House of Dark Shadows and Night of Dark Shadows, both directed by Curtis. The series ended its run in 1971, and Curtis thought that would be the end of it. But Dark Shadows proved to have an enduring legacy, especially in the age of home video, when the series was released on VHS and DVD, and re-run on television. Fans discovered the show all over again. To this day, Dark Shadows retains a devoted fan base, who attend conventions featuring the cast and crew.

The interviews with Curtis and cast members including David Selby, John Karlen and Lara Parker are fascinating and engrossing. You get a real sense of what it was like to work on a show that was filmed as quickly and efficiently as possible in those long ago days of television in the 1960s and 1970s. There's also vintage interview footage with Frid (who passed away in 2012) and new comments by Dark Shadows superfan Whoopi Goldberg. The film briefly covers Curtis' work on The Night Stalker, and his adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula, which starred Jack Palance, as well as some of his other tales of television terror. The last portion of the movie covers Curtis' work on the epic mini-series The Winds of War, and its sequel, War and Remembrance. These productions were a massive undertaking, and Curtis was particularly proud of their success, as they afforded him the opportunity to work outside of the horror genre for a change.

The movie briefly covers the short-lived 1991 prime-time version of Dark Shadows, which featured Ben Cross as Barnabas, Barbara Steele, Roy Thinnes, and a young Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Both Cross and co-star Barbara Steele are interviewed in the film. It's particularly fun to see horror icon Steele discuss her time working with Curtis, both as an actor on the Dark Shadows revival and a co-producer on The Winds of War and War and Remembrance. Master of Dark Shadows (2019) is a captivating documentary that paints a three-dimensional portrait of Dan Curtis, a talented man who was truly passionate about his work. Sadly, Curtis passed away in 2006, but this compelling film is a fitting tribute to him. If you're a fan of Dark Shadows or any of his other projects, this is a must watch. Master of Dark Shadows (2019) is available for viewing on Amazon Prime, and is also available on DVD and Blu-ray from MPI Home Video. Here's a link to the trailer for the film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kevjwzLxU4.

Retro Apocalypse: Panic In Year Zero!

The Baldwin family faces a Panic In Year Zero!

The Baldwin family is heading out for a vacation when they see some flashes of bright light in the distant sky, followed by a mushroom cloud rising over Los Angeles. It seems there has been a nuclear attack, and World War III has finally arrived! Harry Baldwin, the father, decides the group should head into the mountains, where they had been planning to go camping. He wants the group to settle in while they figure out what to do next. That’s just the beginning of 1962’s Panic in Year Zero!, an “end of the world” thriller, which stars (and is directed by) veteran actor Ray Milland. The film was released by well-known genre specialists American International Pictures, who specialized in horror, science-fiction and teen-oriented films, including the “Beach Party” series which featured one of this movie’s co-stars, Frankie Avalon. As the story continues, we follow the family’s journey into darkness as society begins to break down in the aftermath of the devastating nuclear exchange with “the enemy.” 

On the way to their destination, the family interacts with panic-stricken people, armed survivalists, and a not very helpful storeowner. Sporadic radio broadcasts hint at the state of the world, but don’t provide many details. Harry is determined to keep his family safe, and isn’t afraid to use force to do so, especially when they’re threatened by three young men who are clearly looking for trouble. The trio of hoodlums not only attack Harry’s daughter Karen, but Harry and his son Rick later discover the men are holding another young woman captive. They manage to rescue the girl, and bring her back to their settlement. Harry and his family must figure out how to survive in a post-apocalyptic world where everyone’s looking out for himself or herself first.

Panic in Year Zero! is a powerful tale that avoids the over the top, flamboyant tone of many other apocalyptic thrillers. The film is moody and intense, illustrating the downward spiral of society after a nuclear attack. Harry finds himself doing things he never thought he would in these dangerous circumstances, committing brutal acts of violence in order to protect his family. The movie doesn’t shy away from showing the dark side of a society in freefall. There are solid performances from Milland in the lead role of Harry, as well as the supporting cast, which includes Jean Hagen as his wife Ann, Mary Mitchell as his daughter Karen, and pop star Avalon as his son Rick. Also appearing are genre veterans O.Z. Whitehead, Byron Morrow, Joan Freeman and Richard Bakalyan as the leader of the villainous young men.

Milland had helmed several other movies at this point in his career, and he keeps the story moving at a brisk pace. The excellent score is by AIP veteran Les Baxter. The screenplay for the film, by John Morton and Jay Simms, provides no easy conclusions or pat answers. There’s no trace of the hopeful tone expressed in some post-apocalyptic stories. There is an indication that society will move on, albeit in a more stringently controlled, militaristic style. Panic in Year Zero! is a taut, stark movie that will appeal to genre fans, especially if you’re looking for a different type of “end of the world” tale. The film is available on Blu-ray, and for digital streaming on various sites. The movie is also frequently screened on various cable movie channels. Here’s a link to the (somewhat hyperbolic) trailer for the movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOccKTbUznk.