The Fall of the House of Usher (1928)

A traveller arrives at the Usher mansion to find that the sibling inhabitants, Roderick and Madeline Usher, are living under a mysterious family curse: Roderick's senses have become ... See full summary »

Directors:

James Sibley Watson, Melville Webber

Writer:

Edgar Allan Poe (story)

Stars:

Herbert Stern, Hildegarde Watson, Melville Webber

1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Herbert Stern	...	Roderick Usher
Hildegarde Watson	...	Madeline Usher
Melville Webber	...	A Traveller

Storyline

A traveller arrives at the Usher mansion to find that the sibling inhabitants, Roderick and Madeline Usher, are living under a mysterious family curse: Roderick's senses have become painfully acute, while Madeline has become nearly catatonic. As the visitor's stay at the mansion continues, the effects of the curse reach their terrifying climax.

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Plot Keywords:

double exposure effects | poe | silhouette | gothic | surrealism | 

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Genres:

Short | Horror

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Official Sites:

MGM Studios [us]

Country:

USA

Release Date:

20 September 2011 (Greece)

Also Known As:

I ptosi tou oikou ton Usher

Filming Locations:

Rochester, New York, USA

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

13 min 13 min (2000 alternate)

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Version of Tales of Mystery and Imagination: The Fall of the House of Usher

User Reviews

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.