The Oblong Box (1969)

Aristocrat Julian Markham keeps his disfigured brother, Sir Edward, locked in a tower of his house. Occasionaly Sir Edward escapes and causes havoc around the town.

Director:

Gordon Hessler

Writers:

Lawrence Huntington (screenplay), Christopher Wicking (additional dialogue),

Stars:

Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, Rupert Davies

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Vincent Price	...	Julian
Christopher Lee	...	Dr. Newhartt
Rupert Davies	...	Kemp
Uta Levka	...	Heidi
Sally Geeson	...	Sally
Alister Williamson	...	Edward
Peter Arne	...	Trench
Hilary Heath	...	Elizabeth (as Hilary Dwyer)
Maxwell Shaw	...	Hackett
Carl Rigg	...	Norton
Harry Baird	...	N'Galo
Godfrey James	...	Weller
James Mellor	...	Holt
John Barrie	...	Franklin
Ivor Dean	...	Hawthorne

Storyline

Aristocrat Julian Markham keeps his disfigured brother, Sir Edward, locked in a tower of his house. Occasionaly Sir Edward escapes and causes havoc around the town.

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Plot Keywords:

hood | body | doctor | voodoo | mask | 

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Taglines:

For the first time... the classic tale of the restless dead and their unspeakable hungers!

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Genres:

Horror

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some violence and sexual content

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 June 1969 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dance, Mephisto

Filming Locations:

Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$175,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

American International Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min 96 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Michael Reeves was originally chosen to direct this movie, but was replaced by Gordon Hessler during the pre-production. Shooting began November 18, and was completed in December, two months before Reeves died in February 1969.

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Goofs

When Sir Edward murders Heidi the prostitute, the special effects knife clearly sprays blood onto the actresses' neck well before it actually touches her.

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Quotes

Dr Neuhart: I might find myself buying your pretty little body one day for a guinea or two.

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Connections

Referenced in House of the Long Shadows (1983)

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Soundtracks

"Tales from the Vienna Woods"
(uncredited)
Music by Johann Strauß
Arranged by Harry Robertson

User Reviews

Decent dose of Edgar Allan Poe horror

This 1969 film heralded the first on-screen teaming of Vincent Price and Christopher Lee - shamefully, they only get one scene together (why couldn't the film-makers of the time put the horror masters together in a film successfully?).

Despite being beseiged by production problems - the writer Lawrence Huntington died shortly after completing the script and the original director, Michael Reeves was replaced by Gordon Hesler, due to his dependence on drugs and suicidal tendencies (he actually committed suicide in February 1969) - the film has a very eerie and atmospheric feel to it.

The plot is guilty of becoming too involved for its own good, but given there is always a general understanding of what is going on, the film does not suffer. Indeed, the period atmosphere is well-maintained and is supplemented by plenty of suspense and shock, not least due to the large content of scenes taking place during nightfall.

We are also cleverly kept guessing as to what Edward Markham's face is really like under the scarlet hood, and since this naturally becomes a preoccupation with the viewer, one is entitled to expect a horrific revelation at the end. It does come and depending on what you pre-judge his face to look like, I was not particularly disappointed!

Vincent Price and Christopher Lee's characterisations are not that pivotal and their performances tend to be just enough to carry the film through - they are really secondary, in a film stolen by Alister Williamson as the revenge killer.

Nevertheless, this film is well-worth a look, mainly due to it's originality and ambition.