The Fall of the House of Usher (1928/I)

Directors:

James Sibley Watson
Melville Webber

Writer:

Edgar Allan Poe (story)

Genre:

Short | Horror

Plot:

A traveller arrives at the Usher mansion to find that the sibling inhabitants, Roderick and Madeline Usher...

Plot Keywords:

Gothic | Experimental Film | Avant Garde | Expressionism | Surrealism

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Herbert Stern	...	Roderick Usher
Hildegarde Watson	...	Madeline Usher
Melville Webber	...	A Traveller

Runtime:

13 min (2000 alternate version)

Country:

USA

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Certification:

USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Rochester, New York, USA

Movie Connections:

Version of La chute de la maison Usher (1928)

Early American Experimental Cinema: USA by way of UFA

Intriguing early experimental treatment of Poe from the same filmmakers who would bring us the even more astonishing "Lot In Sodom" in 1933. Doesn't compete with the equally avant-garde feature length version made at the same time by Jean Epstein & Luis Bunuel, yet stands well on its own. More of a tribute to UFA & German Expressionism than an outright imitation, with specific nods to Caligari, Der Golem, and Faust. Visually rewarding for lighting, cinematography, sets, makeup. Compiled in a skewed fashion reminiscent of the structure of a nightmare. Captures the wonderfully gloomy, morbid atmosphere of Poe's work, the claustrophobic ambiance of "Usher" in particular. A treat for fans of the genre, in addition to being sufficiently unusual & brief (just over 12 minutes) to hold the average viewer's attention. At one time, this film was available on an anthology videotape called "American Avant-Garde" along with the aforementioned "Lot In Sodom." Great stuff if you're lucky enough to track it down.