Curse of the Demon (1957)

American professor John Holden arrives in London for a parapsychology conference, only to find himself investigating the mysterious actions of Devil-worshiper Julian Karswell.

Director:

Jacques Tourneur

Writers:

Charles Bennett (screenplay), Hal E. Chester (screenplay)

Stars:

Dana Andrews, Peggy Cummins, Niall MacGinnis

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dana Andrews	...	John Holden
Peggy Cummins	...	Joanna Harrington
Niall MacGinnis	...	Doctor Karswell
Maurice Denham	...	Professor Harrington
Athene Seyler	...	Mrs. Karswell
Liam Redmond	...	Mark O'Brien
Reginald Beckwith	...	Mr. Meek
Ewan Roberts	...	Lloyd Williamson
Peter Elliott	...	Kumar
Rosamund Greenwood	...	Mrs. Meek
Brian Wilde	...	Rand Hobart
Richard Leech	...	Inspector Mottram
Lloyd Lamble	...	Detective Simmons
Peter Hobbes	...	Superintendent
Charles Lloyd Pack	...	Chemist (as Charles Lloyd-Pack)

Storyline

Dr. John Holden ventures to London to attend a paranormal psychology symposium with the intention to expose devil cult leader Julian Karswell. Holden is a skeptic and does not believe in Karswell's power. Nonetheless, he accepts an invitation to stay at Karswell's estate, along with Joanna Harrington, niece of Holden's confidant who was electrocuted in a bizarre automobile accident. Karswell secretly slips a parchment into Holden's papers that might possibly be a death curse. Recurring strange events finally strike fear into Holden, who believes that his only hope is to pass the parchment back to Karswell to break the demonic curse.

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Plot Keywords:

windstorm | curse | cult | library | parapsychology | 

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Taglines:

Sceptical? Don't make up your mind till you see this masterpiece of the macabre!

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Genres:

Fantasy | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

July 1958 (USA)

Also Known As:

Curse of the Demon

Filming Locations:

A.B.P.C. Studios, Elstree, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation,Sabre Film Production

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min 82 min (American Release is 13 mins shorter than original)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Dana Andrews was so impressed with director Jacques Tourneur that when he returned to the United States he had Tourneur direct his next film, The Fearmakers (1958).

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Goofs

Runic Parchment: When Holden first discovers the parchment which Karswell has passed to him, it has 2 rows of runic symbols. Moments later, when the parchment is trapped against the fire guard, it only has one row. Again, there is only one row on the parchment when Holden visits Stonehenge.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Narrator: It has been written since the beginning of time, even unto these ancient stones, that evil supernatural creatures exist in a world of darkness. And it is also said man using the magic power of the ancient runic symbols can call forth these powers of darkness, the demons of Hell.

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Alternate Versions

The original U.S. release version was edited down from the British version. Among the differences was a reduction in the opening airport scene (where Holden is asked questions by the reporters), the removal of Karswell telephoning Holden in his hotel room, a reduction in the scene at Lufford Hall (missing out completely the conversation between Karswell and his mother), and most significantly the entire removal of the scene where Holden visits the relations of Rand Hobart at their farm.

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Connections

Spoofed in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

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Soundtracks

Plain Song
(uncredited)
Music by Fela Sowande
Chappell Recorded Music Library

User Reviews

One of the greatest horror/suspense movies ever made

Listen. Get yourself the biggest screen possible (preferably with a good front projection TV), turn out the lights, sit back with your popcorn and soda, and get ready for an evening of unrelenting suspense. Directed by Jacques Tournear, whose other classics include "The Leopard Man," Robert Mitchum's "Out of the Past," and "Cat People," one viewing of this film will readily illustrate to you why Hollywood's audiences are dwindling. This movie is what good movie making is all about; this movie knows what it's intention is and executes it beautifully. When you see this film, you will think to yourself, "Why can't they make them like this anymore?" If you thought "The Others" was a good movie (which I did) then you will like this one. "The Others," by the way, is one of the few exceptions to my negative criticism above.

I'm not going to reveal any of the plot. Watch it without knowing anything about the plot; let the story unfold on you as it does to Dana Andrews. You'll be glad you did.

The film is available on DVD in the USA and longer English versions. The only difference I saw in the two versions is that the USA version cuts out a few unnecessary words that add nothing to the story.

Anyway, give this movie a viewing. You'll be glad you did.