House on Haunted Hill (1959)

A millionaire offers $10,000 to five people who agree to be locked in a large, spooky, rented house overnight with him and his wife.

Director:

William Castle

Writer:

Robb White

Stars:

Vincent Price, Carol Ohmart, Richard Long

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Vincent Price	...	Frederick Loren
Carol Ohmart	...	Annabelle Loren
Richard Long	...	Lance Schroeder
Alan Marshal	...	Dr. David Trent
Carolyn Craig	...	Nora Manning
Elisha Cook Jr.	...	Watson Pritchard (as Elisha Cook)
Julie Mitchum	...	Ruth Bridgers
Leona Anderson	...	Mrs. Slydes
Howard Hoffman	...	Jonas
Skeleton	...	Himself

Storyline

Eccentric millionaire Fredrick Loren and his 4th wife, Annabelle, have invited 5 people to the house on Haunted Hill for a "haunted House" party. Whoever will stay in the house for one night will earn ten thousand dollars each. As the night progresses, all the guests are trapped inside the house with ghosts, murderers, and other terrors.

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Plot Keywords:

acid | overnight in a haunted house | breaking the fourth wall | faked death | husband wife relationship | 

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Taglines:

First Film With the Amazing New Wonder EMERGO: The Thrills Fly Right Into The Audience!

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 February 1959 (USA)

Also Known As:

The House on Haunted Hill

Filming Locations:

Ennis House - 2607 Glendower Avenue, Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$200,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

William Castle Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

75 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Exterior shots of the haunted house, primarily during the film's opening sequence, were filmed at The Ennis Brown House, located in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and built in 1924, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

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Goofs

Recognizably, the following was intended to be a spooky special effect, but delivered rather awkwardly... Annabelle had faked her hanging death to fool her husband and the guests, and to obviously scare Nora to the point of hysteria. Which explains why "ghost" Annabelle 'floats' to Nora's window, but doesn't materialize inside the room as an actual ghost would. However, that sequence does not explain how the rope managed to creep through the window and *wrap* itself around Nora's ankles, and then retract out the window again. It may have worked better, if the rope had physically pulled on Nora's ankles, leaving her screaming as she grabbed onto to something, and then simply retracted back out the window again.

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Quotes

[repeated line]
Frederick Loren: [on his wife] She's so amusing.

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Crazy Credits

The end title credits list "Skeleton - By Himself"

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Alternate Versions

The 20th Century Fox DVD edition contains a new computer-colorized version and a restored black and white print.

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Connections

Featured in Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story (2007)

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Soundtracks

Theme
House on Haunted Hill"
by Richard Kayne and Richard Loring

User Reviews

Very hokey and it's lost it's edge somewhat, but forever will it be a great flick to watch in the dark!

I remember seeing this movie when I was a kid and how scary it was to me, especially the scene where Nora sees the old lady ghost for the first time. I haven't seen this movie since I was 6 years old and I remember watching with my mom recently the "100 scariest movies" on BRAVO and this movie was mentioned, I figured since I had the opportunity to see it again, why not? Like I said, it's somewhat lost it's edge, but still 'till this day, House on Haunted Hill will always remain a great movie to watch any stormy night.

Five strangers have been invited to a house on Haunted Hill, they are being offered by Vincent price $10,000 each, the catch? They have to spend the night at that house that has been cursed, thinking it's just a good old fashioned haunted party that Vincent's wife is throwing, they go along with it, especially since they could easily have $10,000. But things start to go a little crazy when horrible things happen to the guests, including the sights of ghosts. But questions are brought up when the wife seems pretty up on loosing her millionaire husband.

The story was great and the ending was one of the first great twist endings of our time. Again, I could always easily laugh at some scenes now a days, but I think it is because of the fact that I've seen so many horror movies. Because I still remember those horrible nightmares this movie gave me as a kid and that's what makes this movie special to me, it will remain as the greatest sleepover flick!

7/10