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House of Usher (1960)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
22 June 1960 (USA)
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Tagline:
Edgar Allan Poe's overwhelming tale of EVIL & TORMENT more
Plot:
After a long journey, Philip arrives at the Usher mansion seeking his loved one, Madeline. Upon arriving...
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Awards:
2 wins
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NewsDesk:
(12 articles)
Roger Corman, Anjelica Huston, Sally Kellerman: Governors Awards 2009
(From Alternative Film Guide. 15 November 2009, 5:25 PM, PST)
Warren Beatty, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg: Governors Awards 2009
(From Alternative Film Guide. 15 November 2009, 3:59 PM, PST)
(From Alternative Film Guide. 15 November 2009, 5:25 PM, PST)
Warren Beatty, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg: Governors Awards 2009
(From Alternative Film Guide. 15 November 2009, 3:59 PM, PST)
User Comments:
AN EXCELLENT START FOR ROGER CORMAN'S POE CYCLE
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Cast
(Complete credited cast)| Vincent Price | ... | Roderick Usher | |
| Mark Damon | ... | Philip Winthrop | |
| Myrna Fahey | ... | Madeline Usher | |
| Harry Ellerbe | ... | Bristol | |
| rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Eleanor LeFaber | ... | Ghost | |
| Ruth Oklander | ... | Ghost | |
| Géraldine Paulette | ... | Ghost | |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
The Fall of the House of Usher (UK) (USA) (alternative title)
The Mysterious House of Usher (USA) (working title)
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The Mysterious House of Usher (USA) (working title)
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Parents Guide:
Runtime:
79 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Iceland:16 |
Norway:(Banned) (1960 - 1974) |
Netherlands:16 (DVD rating) |
UK:15 |
Argentina:16 |
Finland:K-16 |
Norway:16 (1974) |
USA:Unrated |
Australia:PG |
UK:X (original rating) |
Canada:PG
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Roger Corman learned that there was an old barn in Orange County, CA, that was about to be demolished. He was able to strike a deal that would allow him to burn the barn at night and film it. The resulting footage was so good that it was used not only in the climax of this film but in later "Poe" films as well.
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Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: As Phillip leaves his room to go to supper you hear the house start to rumble and it shows the hallway shaking,you can tell that this is done by having the camera moved around as the candles and other miscellaneous items in the hall don't move at all.
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Quotes:
Roderick Usher:
Madeline and I are like figures of fine glass. The slightest touch and we may shatter. Both of us suffer from a morbid acuteness of the senses. Mine is the worst for having existed the longer, but both of us are afflicted with it. Any sort of food more exotic then the most pallid mash is unendurable to my taste buds...
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in "HBO First Look: The Haunting (#6.6)" (1999)
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FAQ
A Note Regarding SpoilersWhat was wrong with the Ushers?
How does it end?
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"House of Usher" is an excellent start for Roger Corman's cycle of films based on the work of Edgar Allan Poe. There have been many remakes, but the Corman films remain the definitive statement. Corman was able to capture the feel of Poe's work and that's something that the remakes couldn't even touch. It also provides a tour de force for Vincent Price and establishes him as a great actor.
The film was shot on a budget of $270,000 and it looks GREAT. "House of Usher" is a fabulous calling card for American International Pictures, the distributor. Mostly known for making grade Z schlock, Corman's films gave AIP real class. This is also Corman's first film in CinemaScope and he makes the most of the widescreen here. It earns him a distinction of mine as a "Master of the Widescreen", or filmmakers who create complex and worthwhile compositions in the widescreen frame. The only problem is that the Poe films die on TV, due to the horrific "pan-and-scan" process. Luckily for us, American Movie Classics show these Poe films often in letterbox and MGM is releasing the cycle on letterboxed DVDs.
For a film that runs 85 minutes, "House of Usher" packs a lot into its' narrative. It is the most faithful of the Poe adaptations, although screenwriter Richard Matheson does take some liberties with the source material, as any great adaptation should. Floyd Crosby's CinemaScope photography is excellent as usual and Daniel Haller's elaborate sets make this look more expensive than it really is. Vincent Price's performance as Usher sets the tone for his future appearances in other Poe films. It neatly combines calm and frenzy together and I can't think of anyone else who would have done a better job. He should have received an Oscar nomination and maybe even the Oscar itself.
Note: "House of Usher" introduces the infamous "Burning Rafters" sequence. If you watch these Poe films back-to-back, you'll see this same sequence repeat itself over and over in several of the films (Tomb of Ligeia and The Raven come to mind). It is a mild criticism, but it is such a great sequence and it is so effectively shot that I didn't mind seeing it again and again.
**** out of 4 stars