Hillbillys in a Haunted House (1967)

Director:

Jean Yarbrough

Writers:

Duke Yelton (screenplay)
Duke Yelton (story)

Release Date:

May 1967 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Horror | Musical

Tagline:

They'll scare your pants off!

Plot:

Country singers on their way to Nashville have car trouble, forcing them to stop at an old haunted mansion...

Plot Keywords:

Spy | Secret Formula | Country Singer | Car Trouble | Rocket Fuel

Cast

Ferlin Husky	...	Woody Wetherby
Joi Lansing	...	Boots Malone
Don Bowman	...	Jeepers
John Carradine	...	Dr. Himmel
Lon Chaney Jr.	...	Maximillian (as Lon Chaney)
Linda Ho	...	Madame Wong
Basil Rathbone	...	Gregor
Molly Bee	...	Herself
Merle Haggard	...	Himself
Sonny James
Jim Kent	...	Himself
Marcella Wright	...	Herself
Richard Webb	...	Agent Jim Meadows
Larry Barton
George Barrows	...	Anatole the gorilla

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:PG

Company:

Woolner Brothers Pictures Inc.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 50 Worst Movies Ever Made (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

The Cat Came Back

Poor Basil! Poor John! Poor Lon!

It is a sad sight indeed watching three veteran stars of the silver screen, and in particular the horror genre, be reduced to nothing more than scenery in an otherwise drab, dreary, dull film about a trio of country western singers holed up in a haunted house for the night. Ferlin Husky and Joi Lansing(as Boots Malone) and Don Hall inadvertantly stumble upon a haunted house being used by agents against an organization(MOTHER). When they are not running from being scared, each one 'entertains' us with a good ole country classic. All in all I counted no fewer than 14...yes count 'em....14 songs sung by the trio, a band of passers-by that just happen to sing as a group, two people on television sing for the Country Western Hour, and at the end of the film, when the story about the agents and the house has all been cleared up...at least six songs that go one after the other and the picture abruptly ends. This is not a horror picture. It is not even a picture with a real story. It is just an excuse to showcase what little talent the singers have. Now to be fair, Merle Haggard does a couple numbers, and a few of the songs aren't too terrible. But why make a movie like this....why star three of the genre greats and then give them little to do? Basil Rathbone certainly deserved better than this for his last(or next to last film). He is good in his small role and his scenes with John Carradine are fun to watch as they wade through the atrocious dialogue given to them. And what about poor Lon? It looks like he just woke up from a weekend bender. Again a shame for such a good actor! Despite these many...many shortcomings(and as I stated earlier there were at least 14)...Hillbillys in a Haunted House should be required viewing for serious genre fans just to have a few good real hearty laughs and to see those great men..even though not at their best...one last time. Other than that, the only other saving grace is easily Ms. Lansing and her stiffening blouse...a real treat for the eyes!