A Cask of Amontillado (11 Oct. 1949)

In World War II Italy, Count Montressor has watched with horror as his former stable boy became a powerful Nazi general. In the process, General Fortanato has murdered the Count's sister ... See full summary »

Director:

Robert Stevens

Writers:

Edgar Allan Poe (story), Halsted Welles (adaptation)

Stars:

Bela Lugosi, Romney Brent, Rex Marshall

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Bela Lugosi	...	Gen. Fortunato
Romney Brent	...	Count Montressor
Rex Marshall	...	Himself - Announcer

Storyline

In World War II Italy, Count Montressor has watched with horror as his former stable boy became a powerful Nazi general. In the process, General Fortanato has murdered the Count's sister and stolen his wife. Knowing the General plans to murder him, Count Montressor lures him into the palace's catacombs to taste the rare cask of Amontillado he has procured.

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Plot Keywords:

catacombs | buried alive | murder | palace | based on short story | 

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 October 1949 (USA)

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

As the General and Count walk the stairs down to the catacombs, the stone walls (painted on flats) flutter back and forth

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Quotes

[Fortunato and Montressor are descending into the catacombs]
General Fortunato: You know, life is nothing but a lot of steps - either you go up or you go down.

User Reviews

Uninspired and dull.

I was very surprised with this one. Imagine an Edgar Allan Poe story (perhaps his best) that stars Bela Lugosi...and it's not very good! The problem is not with Lugosi. Despite his serious drug addiction and failing health, he's fine here. The problem is that the original story was GREAT and this reworking of the story seems to have omitted all the terror and twists in the original. In the Poe tale, a man creates a lengthy and diabolical plan to exact revenge on a foe who he's PRETENDED to like. However, in this updated version, an unnecessary plot about Fascism is inserted and the death is completely spontaneous and amazingly anticlimactic. All in all, a rather dull and pedestrian version of a brilliant and dark tale--and bad organ music and flubbed lines didn't help.