Based on a novel by Frank Bogart this film has several titles including 'Horror Castle' which is the one I viewed. It seems people either love or hate this film. In a castle by the Rhine a hooded killer is killing people, mainly women. Is it Max Hunter, the owner of the castle? Is it the scarred Erich, his assistant? Is it the frozen faced Martha, the housekeeper? Is it Fred the butler? Or is it....? Sounds interesting but I found it rather tedious. The plot and the actions of the characters don't make any sense. Most of the film seems to be Max's wife Mary wandering around the castle in a silky dressing gown being frightened. Only at the hour mark does she get dressed.
Rossana Podesta as Mary Hunter is very picturesque roaming about in her silky dressing gown but it does pall after a while. Christopher Lee as Erich doesn't have much to do. The rest of the cast are bland. The Riz Ortolani score is amusingly over the top. On the positive side the film does look good and the sets are atmospheric.
Being a dubbed version some of the credits are Anglicised. Editor Otello Colangeli becomes Angel Coly, director of photography Riccardo Pallottini become Richard Palton and of course as often happens director Antonio Margheriti becomes Anthony Dawson. But when he is credited with special effects Antonio Margheriti now becomes Anthony Matthews!
Not a classic as other people see it but then that's only my opinion.
Rossana Podesta as Mary Hunter is very picturesque roaming about in her silky dressing gown but it does pall after a while. Christopher Lee as Erich doesn't have much to do. The rest of the cast are bland. The Riz Ortolani score is amusingly over the top. On the positive side the film does look good and the sets are atmospheric.
Being a dubbed version some of the credits are Anglicised. Editor Otello Colangeli becomes Angel Coly, director of photography Riccardo Pallottini become Richard Palton and of course as often happens director Antonio Margheriti becomes Anthony Dawson. But when he is credited with special effects Antonio Margheriti now becomes Anthony Matthews!
Not a classic as other people see it but then that's only my opinion.