Pit and the Pendulum (1961)

Director:

Roger Corman

Writers:

Richard Matheson (screenplay)
Edgar Allan Poe (story)

Release Date:

12 August 1961 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Until now no one has dared to film this ...... the most diabolical classic of all time!

Plot:

Francis Barnard goes to Spain, when he hears his sister Elizabeth has died. Her husband Nicholas Medina...

Plot Keywords:

Death | Castle | Spanish Inquisition | Buried Alive | Torture

Cast

Vincent Price	...	Nicholas Medina
John Kerr	...	Francis Barnard
Barbara Steele	...	Elizabeth Barnard Medina
Luana Anders	...	Catherine Medina
Antony Carbone	...	Doctor Charles Leon
Patrick Westwood	...	Maximillian
Lynette Bernay	...	Maria (as Lynne Bernay)
Larry Turner	...	Nicholas as a Child
Mary Menzies	...	Isabella
Charles Victor	...	Bartolome
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Randee Lynne Jensen	...	Extra (uncredited)

Directed by
Roger Corman

Writing credits
Richard Matheson		(screenplay)
Edgar Allan Poe		(story "The Pit and the Pendulum")

Produced by
Samuel Z. Arkoff	....	executive producer
Roger Corman	....	producer
James H. Nicholson	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Les Baxter

Cinematography by
Floyd Crosby

Film Editing by
Anthony Carras

Production Design by
Daniel Haller

Art Direction by
Daniel Haller

Set Decoration by
Harry Reif

Makeup Department
Ted Coodley	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Robert Agnew	....	unit manager
Bartlett A. Carre	....	production manager (as Bartlett A. Carré)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jack Bohrer	....	assistant director
Paul Rapp	....	second unit director (uncredited)

Art Department
Ross Hahn	....	construction coordinator
Tom Matsumoto	....	scenic effects
Richard M. Rubin	....	properties

Sound Department
Roy Meadows	....	sound recordist
Kay Rose	....	sound editor

Special Effects by
Pat Dinga	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Ray Mercer	....	photographic effects
Albert Whitlock	....	matte artist (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Frank Tanner	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marjorie Corso	....	wardrobe

Music Department
Eve Newman	....	music editor
Al Simms	....	music coordinator

Other crew
Jack W. Cash	....	production assistant (as Jack Cash)
Betty Crosby	....	script supervisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Alta Vista Productions

Distributors

• American International Pictures (AIP) (1961) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1963) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1969) (USA) (TV) (original airing) (pan/scan)
• Dansk-Svensk Film (1962) (Denmark) (theatrical)
• Cult Classic (2011) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Emerald (2011) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (1995) (USA) (laserdisc)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Butler-Glouner (photographic effects)

Other Companies

• Ryder Sound Services  sound

Also Known As:

"Edgar Allan Poe's Pit and the Pendulum" - USA (complete title)
"The Pit and the Pendulum" - USA (alternative title)

Runtime:

80 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Pathécolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #19988) | USA:Unrated (video release) | Australia:M | Germany:18 (DVD rating) | Brazil:14 (DVD rating) | Argentina:13 | Norway:16 (1961) | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | West Germany:18 (nf) | UK:X (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Palos Verdes, California, USA

Company:

Alta Vista Productions

Trivia:

The pendulum was made out of wood and had a rubber blade.

Goofs:

Continuity: The name plate on Elizabeth Medinas tomb goes from looking almost brand new to worn and rusty and back in several different shots.

Quotes:

[last lines]
Catherine:No one shall ever enter this room again.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Son of Svengoolie: Pit and the Pendulum (1961) (#1.66)" (1980)

One of the spookiest and most frightening of the Roger Corman Poe adaptations. A must see for all horror buffs.

'Pit And The Pendulum' sees b-grade legend Roger Corman ('Little Shop Of Horrors'), talented suspense writer Richard Matheson ('The Incredible Shrinking Man'), and horror master Vincent Price ('The Tingler') try and recreate the success of their first Poe adaptation 'House Of Usher'. And they do so admirably, '... Pendulum' being even better than the excellent '... Usher'. Matheson cleverly expands upon Poe's original tale by also mixing in elements from the earlier movie, 'The Premature Burial' and other Poe classics. John Kerr is the one weak link in this first rate thriller. An actor I'm not familiar with, he is dull and not all that good. Much better is Antony Carbone (who Corman fans will recognize from 'A Bucket Of Blood') as Price's doctor pal, and the underrated Luana Anders ('Dementia 13', 'Easy Rider') as Price's sister. Price himself is wonderful as usual as the tormented Don Medina, and an added bonus is the appearance of enduring cult figure, and one of the most beautiful actresses in movie history, Barbara Steele ('Black Sunday', 'Shivers'). Steele doesn't get as much screen time as one would wish but it's a joy to see her work alongside Price, sadly their only movie together. 'Pit And The Pendulum' is one of Corman's best horror movies, and one that will surprise many viewers today with just how atmospheric and creepy it still is. An extremely underrated film (as are Corman's other 60s Poe adaptations), and one that is a must see for all horror buffs. Highly recommended.