Curse of the Demon

Original title: Night of the Demon

19571957
Not RatedNot Rated
1h 35min

Dana Andrews and Peggy Cummins in Night of the Demon (1957)

Fantasy Horror Mystery

American professor John Holden arrives in London for a parapsychology conference, only to find himself investigating the mysterious actions of Devil-worshiper Julian Karswell.American professor John Holden arrives in London for a parapsychology conference, only to find himself investigating the mysterious actions of Devil-worshiper Julian Karswell.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)
- M.R. James(story "Casting the Runes")
Stars

See production, box office & company info

See production, box office & company info

See more at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win & 2 nominations

Dana Andrews and Peggy Cummins in Night of the Demon (1957)

Dana Andrews and Peggy Cummins in Night of the Demon (1957)

Night of the Demon (1957)

Night of the Demon (1957)

Night of the Demon (1957)

Dana Andrews and Niall MacGinnis in Night of the Demon (1957)

Night of the Demon (1957)

Night of the Demon (1957)

Night of the Demon (1957)

Night of the Demon (1957)

Night of the Demon (1957)

Night of the Demon (1957)

John Holdenas John Holden

Joanna Harringtonas Joanna Harrington

Niall MacGinnis

Doctor Julian Karswellas Doctor Julian Karswell

Professor Henry Harringtonas Professor Henry Harrington

Mrs. Karswellas Mrs. Karswell

Mark O'Brienas Mark O'Brien

Reginald Beckwith

Mr. Meekas Mr. Meek

Lloyd Williamsonas Lloyd Williamson

Kumaras Kumar

Rosamund Greenwood

Mrs. Meekas Mrs. Meek

Rand Hobartas Rand Hobart

Inspector Mottramas Inspector Mottram

Detective Simmonsas Detective Simmons

Superintendentas Superintendent

Charles Lloyd Pack

Chemistas Chemist
(as Charles Lloyd-Pack)

Librarianas Librarian

Mrs. Hobart (deleted from US print)as Mrs. Hobart (deleted from US print)

Farmer (deleted from US print)as Farmer (deleted from US print)

Director
- Jacques Tourneur
Writers
- Charles Bennett(screenplay)
- Hal E. Chester(screenplay)
- M.R. James(story "Casting the Runes")
All cast & crew
See more cast details at IMDbPro

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The City of the Dead

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Cult of the Cobra

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The Uninvited

7.3

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. —Rick Gregory <rag.apa@email.apa.org>

mansion runes man living with his mother psychotronic film library 53 more

Taglines
- Who will be the next in line to defy the curse?
Genres
Certificate
- Not Rated
Parents guide

Trivia
Jacques Tourneur never planned to show the monster, but to leave it instead to the audience's imagination. However, the studio insisted that the monster be shown, and added it in post-production, allegedly without Tourneur's consent, approval or involvement. "The scenes where we really see the demon were shot without me. All except one: I shot the sequence in the woods where Andrews is pursued by this sort of cloud. [Tourneur himself in Midi-Minuit Fantastique 5.65] + It should have been unveiled bit by bit without it ever really being shown." [in Cinefantsatique; '73.]

Goofs
At the beginning, when the doomed Professor Harrington is driving to Dr. Karswell's place, the steering wheel is on the left, and the POV is from the shotgun seat, looking at the right side of his face. On his way back to his home, it's a mirror image of the original (flipped shot).

Quotes
Professor Harrington: It's in the trees! It's coming!

Alternate versions
This film exists in three English language versions: (1) The original British release under the title "Night of the Demon," (2) Columbia's edited version for release in the U.S. under the title "Curse of the Demon" and, (3) over 20 years later, Columbia replaced their edited U.S. version with the original British version but with the title also changed to "Curse of the Demon." Columbia's DVD release contains both the edited and restored U.S. versions. Although the cover remains the same, Columbia's more recent copies of the their DVD release removes the U.S. version with the restored footage with a print of the original British release with the title "Night of the Demon."

Connections
Featured in Aweful Movies with Deadly Earnest: Curse of the Demon (1970)

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

Top review

underappreciated gem

"Curse of the Demon" aka "Night of the Demon" is a wonderful set-piece study of the macabre, skillfully acted by Dana Andrews, Peggy Cummins, and the delightfully malevolent Niall MacGinnis, and masterfully directed by Jacques Tournier, a director who can turn even the warmest smile into something sinister. Andrews plays a psychiatrist determined to debunk the world of the occult, but instead nearly falls victim to a monstrous demon summoned by MacGinnis. At one point in the film MacGinnis, dressed in a clown suit, takes on an aura of pure demonic power under Tournier's direction, and it's a joy to watch. The effects, including the demon itself, are simple but surprisingly effective, and serve to highlight, rather than overpower, the actors and the storyline. Based on the story "Casting the Runes", this mostly-forgotten film is a masterpiece of scripting, editing, acting, and direction, and shouldn't be missed. We thoroughly recommend it for anyone who likes a nice, quiet little horror story played with an almost Hitchcockian subtlety that's rare nowadays.

helpful•44

7

march9hare
Apr 16, 2004

Release date
- March 30, 1958 (United States)
Countries of origin
- United Kingdom
- United States
Language
- English
Also known as
- Casting the Runes
Filming locations
- Brocket Hall, Lemsford, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England, UK
Production company
- Sabre Film Production
See more company credits at IMDbPro

Runtime
- 1h 35min
Color
- Black and White
Aspect ratio
- 1.66 : 1(original aspect ratio & theatrical release)

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Dana Andrews and Peggy Cummins in Night of the Demon (1957)

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By what name was Night of the Demon (1957) officially released in India in English?

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