The Torture Chamber of Dr. Sadism (1967) Die Schlangengrube und das Pendel (original title)

Director:

Harald Reinl

Writers:

Manfred R. Köhler (screenplay)
Edgar Allan Poe (story)

Release Date:

21 May 1969 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery

Tagline:

UNBELIEVABLE! Until You See It With Your Own Eyes!

Plot:

In the Olden Tymes, Count Regula is drawn and quartered for killing twelve virgins in his dungeon torture chamber...

Plot Keywords:

Torture Chamber | Count | Drawn And Quartered | Explosion | Immortality

Cast

Lex Barker	...	Roger Mont Elise / Roger von Marienberg
Karin Dor	...	Baroness Lilian von Brabant
Christopher Lee	...	Count Frederic Regula / Graf von Andomai
Carl Lange	...	Anatol
Christiane Rücker	...	Babette
Vladimir Medar	...	Pater Fabian
Dieter Eppler	...	Coachman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Klaus W. Krause	...	Pater Fabian (voice) (uncredited)
Horst Naumann	...	Roger Mont Elise / Roger von Marienberg (voice) (uncredited)
Bruno W. Pantel	...	Moritatensänger (voice) (uncredited)
Herbert Weicker	...	Count Frederic Regula - Graf von Andomai (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Harald Reinl

Writing credits
Manfred R. Köhler		(screenplay)
Edgar Allan Poe		(story "The Pit and the Pendulum")

Produced by
Erwin Gitt	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Peter Thomas

Cinematography by
Ernst W. Kalinke
Dieter Liphardt

Film Editing by
Hermann Haller

Art Direction by
Gabriel Pellon
Rolf Zehetbauer

Set Decoration by
Gabriel Pellon

Costume Design by
Irms Pauli

Makeup Department
Gerda Bublitz	....	makeup artist
Erich L. Schunckel	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Werner Drake	....	unit manager
Erwin Gitt	....	production supervisor
Robert Göb	....	assistant unit manager
Wolfgang Kühnlenz	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Charles Wakefield	....	assistant director

Art Department
Werner Achmann	....	set builder
Georg Attlfellner	....	property master: outdoor
Erich Kogler	....	property master: indoor

Sound Department
Hans Joachim Richter	....	sound

Special Effects by
Erwin Lange	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Theo Nischwitz	....	optical effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Kurt Bruckner	....	assistant camera
Li Erben	....	still photographer
Joachim Gitt	....	assistant camera

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Anton Dissertori	....	wardrobe
Anni Graf	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Jutta Neumann	....	assistant editor
Mia Pleines	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Peter Thomas	....	musical director (uncredited)

Other crew
Emmy Drake	....	continuity
Dörte Gentz	....	production secretary
Alma Pewny	....	production accountant

Production Companies

• Constantin Film Produktion

Distributors

• Constantin Film (1967) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Hemisphere Pictures (1969) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Regal Video (1984) (USA) (VHS)
• Saturn Productions (1985) (USA) (VHS)
• Magnum Entertainment (1986) (USA) (VHS) (as "The Torture Chamber of Dr. Sadism")
• EMS (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• EastWest Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD) (as "Torture Chamber")
• Exportfilm Bischoff & Company (worldwide)
• Interglobal Home Video (video)
• Legend House (2008) (worldwide) (DVD)
• Something Weird Video (SWV) (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

"Die Schlangengrube und das Pendel" - West Germany (original title)
"Blood of the Virgins" - USA (reissue title)
"The Blood Demon" - USA
"Torture Chamber" - USA (DVD title)

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

West Germany

Language:

German

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

West Germany:12 (nf) | Germany:12 (DVD rating) | Mexico:B | Sweden:15 | USA:M

Filming Locations:

Bavaria Studios, Munich, Bavaria, Germany

Company:

Constantin Film Produktion

Trivia:

German Import DVD has two Super-8 Versions (German language only), as special features on the disc.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Stephen King's World of Horror (1986) (TV)

A Surreal Masterpiece!

This is an unknown surreal little masterpiece of horror! Borrowing loosely from Poe's "The Pit and the Pendulem", director Reinl does a masterful job of pacing and fills the screen with surreal and spine tingling images. There is atmosphere a plenty throughout the film and a sense of uneasiness. The set pieces and costumes are beautiful and are enhanced by the color filming of the movie. Christopher Lee is the rejuvenated Count Regula out to destroy the last member of one of the families that put him to death. Karin Dor is the last female member of one of the families and her blood will give the count what he needs for his "life exlixer". A fun and atmospheric movie that one can watch over and over again. Just beware the heavily cut video rental version and try to find the complete print.