Five strangers get lost in a crypt and, after meeting the mysterious Crypt Keeper, receive visions of how they will die.
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Title: Tales from the Crypt (1972)
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Storyline
Five people come upon a catacomb and take the tour. After they get lost, they find they're trapped, and they see The Crypt Keeper (Sir Ralph Richardson). He asks them each to see why they're there: (1) And All Through the House: Christmas Eve, Joanne Clayton (Dame Joan Collins) kills her husband (Martin Boddey) expecting to receive his insurance. She hears on the wireless that the police are seeking an escaped homicidal maniac posing as Santa. When the man knocks on her door, she can't phone the Police, and she has a Christmas surprise. (2) Reflection of Death: Carl Maitland (Ian Hendry) leaves his wife (Susan Denny) and children for his mistress, but something happens during his journey. (3) Poetic Justice: the widowed janitor, Arthur Edward Grimsdyke (Peter Cushing) is a good man who spends his leisure time with the children from the neighborhood. His heartless neighbor doesn't like him and destroys his life, leading Grimsdyke to commit suicide on Valentine's Day. A year later, ... Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Plot Keywords:
killer santa claus | anthology | catacomb | the monkey's paw | based on comic book |Taglines:
DEATH LIVES in the Vault of Horror!Parents Guide:
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Maj. William Rogers: Yes?
George Carter: It's about the heating. It's been very cold these past few nights. We wondered if...
Maj. William Rogers: [cutting him off] For reasons of economy, the heating is turned off at 2000 hours. You should all be in bed by then. After all, there's no point in staying up. You can't see anything.
George Carter: The beds are cold. There aren't enough blankets!
Maj. William Rogers: I am trying to run this place as efficiently and economically as I can. I am afraid the current budget does not include the cost of new...
[...]
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(uncredited)
Music by John Francis Wade
Lyrics by Frederick Oakeley
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Peter Cushing is said to "act as himself" in this movie. Cushing's wife had died recently, and he was very depressed. His character is a widower who uses a ouija board to talk with his dead wife. See more »Goofs
In 'Reflection of Death', Carl is a reanimated corpse rather than a ghost. Despite that, he comes back to "life" at the scene of his death, although his body would no longer be there. It would be buried in a cemetery or mausoleum , not at the scene of a crash two years previously. See more »Quotes
George Carter: The men have asked me to come and talk to you.Maj. William Rogers: Yes?
George Carter: It's about the heating. It's been very cold these past few nights. We wondered if...
Maj. William Rogers: [cutting him off] For reasons of economy, the heating is turned off at 2000 hours. You should all be in bed by then. After all, there's no point in staying up. You can't see anything.
George Carter: The beds are cold. There aren't enough blankets!
Maj. William Rogers: I am trying to run this place as efficiently and economically as I can. I am afraid the current budget does not include the cost of new...
[...]
See more »
Alternate Versions
In order to receive a cinematic "X" rating from the BBFC, a brief close up of a man's exposed intestines was removed. The same print was later released on video by CBS/Fox in 1988. See more »Soundtracks
O Come, All Ye Faithful(uncredited)
Music by John Francis Wade
Lyrics by Frederick Oakeley
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Details
Country:
UKLanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
9 March 1972 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Tales from the Crypt See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
GBP170,000 (estimated)Company Credits
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This film is brilliant and would be a brilliant double-bill with the Vault Of Horror (which is the un-official sequel)
The best stories are : The one with Peter Cushing as Mr Grimsdyke who gets his bloody revenge on the man responsible for his suicide, The one with Patrick Magee as one of the patients at a home for the blind who get their revenge on a selfish new owner, and the Monkeys Paw-esque one where the woman wishes her husband back from the dead and regrets it.
This film is surprisingly gory for it's time and some of the endings of the stories make you wince and think "Oh God, that would be really horrible" (especially the fourth and fifth ones)
a great film and probably the best of the Amicus horror compendiums
9.5 out of 10