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IMDbPro

Spider Baby or, the Maddest Story Ever Told

  • 19671967
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 21m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
7K
YOUR RATING
Jill Banner and Beverly Washburn in Spider Baby or, the Maddest Story Ever Told (1967)
A caretaker devotes himself to three demented siblings after their father's death.
Play trailer1:19
1 Video
42 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Horror
A caretaker devotes himself to three demented siblings after their father's death.A caretaker devotes himself to three demented siblings after their father's death.A caretaker devotes himself to three demented siblings after their father's death.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
7K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Jack Hill
  • Writer
    • Jack Hill
  • Stars
    • Lon Chaney Jr.
    • Carol Ohmart
    • Quinn K. Redeker
Top credits
  • Director
    • Jack Hill
  • Writer
    • Jack Hill
  • Stars
    • Lon Chaney Jr.
    • Carol Ohmart
    • Quinn K. Redeker
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 124User reviews
    • 97Critic reviews
    • 63Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos1

    Blu-ray Trailer
    Trailer 1:19
    Blu-ray Trailer

    Photos42

    Jill Banner in Spider Baby or, the Maddest Story Ever Told (1967)
    Jill Banner, Sid Haig, and Carol Ohmart in Spider Baby or, the Maddest Story Ever Told (1967)
    Jill Banner in Spider Baby or, the Maddest Story Ever Told (1967)
    Jill Banner in Spider Baby or, the Maddest Story Ever Told (1967)
    Mantan Moreland in Spider Baby or, the Maddest Story Ever Told (1967)
    Mantan Moreland in Spider Baby or, the Maddest Story Ever Told (1967)
    Mantan Moreland in Spider Baby or, the Maddest Story Ever Told (1967)
    Mantan Moreland in Spider Baby or, the Maddest Story Ever Told (1967)
    Mantan Moreland in Spider Baby or, the Maddest Story Ever Told (1967)
    Mary Mitchel in Spider Baby or, the Maddest Story Ever Told (1967)
    Jill Banner in Spider Baby or, the Maddest Story Ever Told (1967)
    Lon Chaney Jr. and Jill Banner in Spider Baby or, the Maddest Story Ever Told (1967)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Lon Chaney Jr.
    Lon Chaney Jr.
    • Bruno
    • (as Lon Chaney)
    Carol Ohmart
    Carol Ohmart
    • Emily
    Quinn K. Redeker
    Quinn K. Redeker
    • Peter
    • (as Quinn Redeker)
    Beverly Washburn
    Beverly Washburn
    • Elizabeth
    Jill Banner
    Jill Banner
    • Virginia
    Sid Haig
    Sid Haig
    • Ralph
    Mary Mitchel
    Mary Mitchel
    • Ann
    Karl Schanzer
    Karl Schanzer
    • Schlocker
    Mantan Moreland
    Mantan Moreland
    • Messenger
    Carolyn Cooper
    • Aunt Clara
    • (uncredited)
    Joan Keller Stern
    • Aunt Martha
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Jack Hill
    • Writer
      • Jack Hill
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      According to Sid Haig, when Lon Chaney Jr. finished the scene where Bruno talks about the toy, the crew was in tears. Chaney also received a standing ovation and wasn't able to leave the set for five minutes.
    • Goofs
      Shortly after Peter and Emily Howe arrive at the mansion, a cast member and camera are reflected in the car window as Peter rolls up the side window of the convertible.
    • Quotes

      [opening titles; sung]

      Bruno, The Chauffeur: Screams and moans and bats and bones / Teenage monsters in haunted homes / The ghosts on the stair / The vampires bite / Better beware, there's a full moon tonight / Cannibal spiders creep and crawl / Boys and ghouls having a ball / Frankenstein, Dracula and even the Mummy / Are sure to end up in somebody's tummy / Take a fresh rodent, some toadstools and weeds / And add an old owl and the young one she breeds / Mix in seven legs from an eight-legged beast / And then you're all set for a cannibal feast / Sit round the fire with this cup of brew / A fiend and a werewolf on each side of you / This cannibal orgy is strange to behold / In the maddest story ever told

    • Crazy credits
      As the film ends, "THE END" appears on the screen, then suddenly changes to "THE END ?".
    • Alternate versions
      A special home video version, released by Video Treasures in 1994, features a remastered print of the film (all previous versions being of very dubious quality). This version is also widescreened and features footage (after the film) of a cast/crew reunion at a midnight showing of the film.
    • Connections
      Edited into Pale Moonlight Theater: Spider Baby (2014)
    • Soundtracks
      Spider Baby Theme
      (uncredited)

      Written by Ronald Stein

      Performed by Lon Chaney Jr.

    User reviews124

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Strange And Original "Cult-Classic"
    Admittedly, I'm not as up-to-par on horror films of the 60's and older decades (other than some H.G. Lewis splatter) as I'm a child of the 80's and typically prefer blood, guts, tits, and ass over the black-and-white, "atmospheric" stuff - but I did really enjoy SPIDER BABY.

    The basic story is about the remaining members of the Merrye family, and their caretaker, Bruno (played brilliantly by Lon Chaney Jr.), and their fight to stay secluded and together against the forces that would split up their "family". The Merrye's have a strange disease that causes them to act strangely (and sometimes murderously...), and some of their extended family want to cash-in on the estate of the now departed father of the family. The kids (including a VERY young Sid Haig) don't want to be separated from Bruno, and will go to any lengths to keep their little "unit" together...

    SPIDER BABY is a strange, funny, touching, creepy film that really needs to be experienced as opposed to explained. The performances are all good, especially Chaney Jr., who really is "in character" in this one. Definitely nothing in the way of gore or nudity - but a quirky, interesting and entertaining film nonetheless. In fact, SPIDER BABY has piqued my interest in the films of this era, and I'll probably seek more out after having seen this. Definitely worth checking out - 8/10
    helpful•37
    5
    • EVOL666
    • Jan 23, 2006

    FAQ1

    • was a Fantomas song based on this movie

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 24, 1967 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Spider Baby
    • Filming locations
      • Smith Estate - El Mio Dr., Highland Park, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Lasky-Monka
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $65,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 21 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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