The Haunted Palace (1963)

Charles Dexter Ward arrives at a small village to visit the house he inherited from his ancestor who died there 100 years ago.

Director:

Roger Corman

Writers:

Charles Beaumont (screenplay by), Edgar Allan Poe (from the poem by) (as Edgar Allen Poe)

Stars:

Vincent Price, Debra Paget, Lon Chaney Jr.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Vincent Price	...	Charles Dexter Ward / Joseph Curwen
Debra Paget	...	Ann Ward
Lon Chaney Jr.	...	Simon Orne (as Lon Chaney)
Frank Maxwell	...	Dr. Marinus Willet / Priam Willet
Leo Gordon	...	Edgar Weeden / Ezra Weeden
Elisha Cook Jr.	...	Peter Smith / Micah Smith (as Elisha Cook)
John Dierkes	...	Benjamin West / Jacob West (as John Dierkies)
Milton Parsons	...	Jabez Hutchinson
Cathie Merchant	...	Hester Tillinghast
Guy Wilkerson	...	Gideon Leach / Mr. Leach
I. Stanford Jolley	...	Carmody, Coachman (as Stanford Jolley)
Harry Ellerbe	...	Minister
Barboura Morris	...	Mrs. Weeden
Darlene Lucht	...	Miss Fitch
Bruno VeSota	...	Bruno, the Bartender (as Bruno Ve Sota)

Storyline

Loosely based on H.P. Lovecraft's novel THE CASE OF CHARLES DEXTER WARD, this fright flick opens with a warlock placing a curse on a group of villagers about to burn him at the stake. Generations later, the warlock's descendant returns to the village to pick up where his ancestor left off.

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Plot Keywords:

ancestor | warlock | gothic horror | mansion | castle | 

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Taglines:

What was the terrifying thing in the PIT that wanted women?

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Genres:

Horror

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 March 1965 (Italy)

Also Known As:

The Case of Charles Dexter Ward

Filming Locations:

Virginia, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alta Vista Productions, La Honda Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Ryder Sound Services)

Color:

Color (Pathécolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The incorrect crediting of I. Stanford Jolley as the Boat Captain in the American Film Institute listing originated in the American International Press book.

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Goofs

When there is a shot through the fireplace, the evenly spaced flames reveal that a flame bar is being used in front of the lens.

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Quotes

Edgar Weeden: Have you anything to say, warlock?
Charles Dexter Ward: Only this... As surely as the village of Arkham has risen up against me, so shall I rise from the dead... against the village of Arkham. Each one of you! Ezra Weeden, Micah Smith, Benjamin West, Priam Willet, Gideon Leach, all of you and your children and your children's children shall have just cause to regret the actions of this night. For from this night onward, you shall bear my curse.
Edgar Weeden: Burn the devil... ¡Burn him!
Charles Dexter Ward: ¡¡¡AHHHHH!

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Alternate Versions

The UK cinema version was cut by the BBFC to remove facial shots of a corpse in a coffin and to reduce a scene of a man on fire. Later releases were uncut.

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Connections

Version of The Resurrected (1991)

User Reviews

A Classic Gothic Horror

Centuries ago in Arkham, New England, the warlock Joseph Curwen (Vincent Price) abducts young ladies from the local village and brings them to his castle to use in experiments with the Necronomicon. The local Edgar Weeden (Leo Gordon) raises a lynch mob that go to the castle and burn Joseph Curwen alive at the stake. Before dying, he curses the village, the villagers and their descendants.

One hundred and ten years later, Charles Dexter Ward (Vincent Price), who has inherited the manor, comes to Arkham with his beautiful wife Ann Ward (Debra Paget) to visit the real estate and has a cold and hostile reception by the dwellers. Only Dr. Priam Willet (Frank Maxwell) helps him and tells that the village has many mutants and the villagers believe that it is a cursed town.

When Charles arrives in the castle, he meets two former associates of Joseph Curwen that also worship the devil, and Charles is possessed by the evil Joseph Curwen that wants to revenge on the descendants of those who killed him and to bring his beloved mistress back to life. Ann and Dr. Willet try to help Charles to escape from Curwen's power.

"The Haunted Palace" is a classic Gothic horror by Roger Corman that follows the same style of the Hammer films. The plot is very simple but works perfectly well, supported by Vincent Price and the gorgeous Debra Paget. Further, this is the last feature of this beautiful actress that retired after getting married for the third time. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "O Castelo Assombrado" ("The Haunted Castle")