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IMDbPro

Kuilu ja heiluri

Original title: The Pit and the Pendulum
  • 19611961
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 20m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
15K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
10,480
468
Vincent Price, John Kerr, and Barbara Steele in Kuilu ja heiluri (1961)
In the sixteenth century, Francis Barnard travels to Spain to clarify the strange circumstances of his sister's death after she had married the son of a cruel Spanish Inquisitor.
Play trailer2:30
1 Video
99+ Photos
DramaHorrorMystery

In the sixteenth century, Francis Barnard travels to Spain to clarify the strange circumstances of his sister's death after she had married the son of a cruel Spanish Inquisitor.In the sixteenth century, Francis Barnard travels to Spain to clarify the strange circumstances of his sister's death after she had married the son of a cruel Spanish Inquisitor.In the sixteenth century, Francis Barnard travels to Spain to clarify the strange circumstances of his sister's death after she had married the son of a cruel Spanish Inquisitor.

IMDb RATING
7.0/10
15K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
10,480
468
  • Director
    • Roger Corman
  • Writers
    • Richard Matheson(screenplay)
    • Edgar Allan Poe(story "The Pit and the Pendulum")
  • Stars
    • Vincent Price
    • Barbara Steele
    • John Kerr
Top credits
  • Director
    • Roger Corman
  • Writers
    • Richard Matheson(screenplay)
    • Edgar Allan Poe(story "The Pit and the Pendulum")
  • Stars
    • Vincent Price
    • Barbara Steele
    • John Kerr
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 131User reviews
    • 115Critic reviews
    • 78Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Blu-ray Trailer
    Trailer 2:30
    Blu-ray Trailer

    Photos115

    Vincent Price and Antony Carbone in Kuilu ja heiluri (1961)
    Vincent Price in Kuilu ja heiluri (1961)
    Barbara Steele in Kuilu ja heiluri (1961)
    John Kerr in Kuilu ja heiluri (1961)
    Vincent Price and John Kerr in Kuilu ja heiluri (1961)
    Vincent Price and Barbara Steele in Kuilu ja heiluri (1961)
    Vincent Price in Kuilu ja heiluri (1961)
    Vincent Price, Luana Anders, and John Kerr in Kuilu ja heiluri (1961)
    Vincent Price in Kuilu ja heiluri (1961)
    Luana Anders and John Kerr in Kuilu ja heiluri (1961)
    Vincent Price and John Kerr in Kuilu ja heiluri (1961)
    Vincent Price in Kuilu ja heiluri (1961)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Vincent Price
    Vincent Price
    • Nicholas Medina…
    Barbara Steele
    Barbara Steele
    • Elizabeth Barnard Medina
    John Kerr
    John Kerr
    • Francis Barnard
    Luana Anders
    Luana Anders
    • Catherine Medina
    Antony Carbone
    Antony Carbone
    • Doctor Charles Leon
    Patrick Westwood
    Patrick Westwood
    • Maximillian
    Lynette Bernay
    • Maria
    • (as Lynne Bernay)
    Larry Turner
    • Nicholas as a Child
    Mary Menzies
    • Isabella
    Charles Victor
    • Bartolome
    Randee Lynne Jensen
    Randee Lynne Jensen
    • Extra
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Roger Corman
    • Writers
      • Richard Matheson(screenplay)
      • Edgar Allan Poe(story "The Pit and the Pendulum")
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      To increase the pendulum's sense of deadly menace, director Roger Corman took out every other frame during the editing stage making the blade appear to move twice as fast.
    • Goofs
      The story takes place in 1545, as indicated by the date on Elizabeth's tomb, however in the background in one scene a grandfather, or longcase, clock can be seen. The longcase clock was not developed until 1670.
    • Quotes

      Don Nicholas Medina: Do you know where you are, Bartolome? I'll tell you where you are. You are about to enter Hell, Bartolome, HELL!... The netherworld.The infernal region, The Abode of the Damned... The place of torment. Pandemonium. Abbadon. Tophet. Gehenna. Naraka. THE PIT!... And the pendulum.

    • Alternate versions
      2 shots of a corpse's face in a coffin were cut by the BBFC from the original UK cinema version. All later versions were uncut.
    • Connections
      Edited into Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine (1965)

    User reviews131

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    Magnificent Gothic horror masterpiece!
    From horror's premier team of Roger Corman, Vincent Price and, of course, Edgar Allen Poe comes this menacing, macabre and suspenseful tale of insanity, death and betrayal. This film is certainly one of, but maybe even 'the' finest Corman-Poe film. It's Poe at his most devilishly malicious as it deals with themes of torture, and the most frightening method of death known to man; being buried alive. As usual, Vincent Price takes the lead role as the tortured soul of the piece, this time playing Nicholas Medina; the son of the Spanish inquisition's most notorious torturer. All is not well for Nicholas, as his beloved bride, Elizabeth, has killed himself and the notion that she may have been buried alive has tortured the torturer's son to the brink of insanity. We enter the fray as Elizabeth's brother comes to the castle in search of answers to discover the fate of his sister...

    Through a great Gothic atmosphere and gorgeous lavish sets, Roger Corman has created a macabre masterpiece from Poe's classic tale. Vincent Price is superb (again!) as the almost insane son of a madman. As usual, he captures the essence of his character and through his stark tone that was made for the horror genre; and he gets his portrayal spot on. Horror fans can thank god that Vincent Price decided to become an actor, as any other actor simply couldn't have pulled off this performance like Price did (as is the case with most of Price's resume). Price is joined by Barbara Steele (of Mario Bava's Black Sunday) and a small cast of unknowns. Steele, unfortunately, doesn't get a lot of screen time and it's a shame because seeing her and price on screen together more would have been a treat.

    The theme of being buried alive is something that appears to have fascinated Edgar Allen Poe as it appears in a number of his stories and it fascinates me also. It's impossible to imagine the terror of being alone in an enclosed space with nobody or nothing to help you escape and that's what makes it so horrifying, and such a great springboard for a Gothic horror film. This film makes the best of that, with Price's brooding adding all the horror that the subject needs. Corman succeeds in making the subject dreadful as well, as he shows the tomb in which the unfortunate young lady was trapped in, and also through the castle's many corridors and steel doors; it gives the impression that there truly is no escape. The film's flagship sequence - the pendulum scene - is a true masterpiece of horror imagery. For the scene, Corman took out every other frame to give the impression that the pendulum was swinging faster than it actually was. The way the pendulum swings across and gets lower every time depicts another horrible way to die, and through his portrayal of the scene; Corman makes the best of it. The story itself is brilliant, soaked with irony and the bitterness of revenge; it truly is one of Poe's best.

    I don't need to say it, but I will anyway; see this movie!
    helpful•27
    4
    • The_Void
    • Dec 31, 2004

    FAQ9

    • What is 'Pit and the Pendulum' about?
    • Is "Pit and the Pendulum" based on a book?
    • What is an "iron maiden"?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 23, 1961 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Edgar Allan Poe's Pit and the Pendulum
    • Filming locations
      • Palos Verdes, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Alta Vista Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $200,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 20 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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