From Beyond the Grave (1974)

An anthology of four short horror stories revolving around a British antique shop and its mysterious owner.

Director:

Kevin Connor

Writers:

Robin Clarke (screenplay by), Raymond Christodoulou (screenplay by)

Stars:

Peter Cushing, Ian Bannen, Ian Carmichael

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ian Bannen	...	Christopher Lowe (segment 2 "An Act of Kindness")
Ian Carmichael	...	Reginald Warren (segment 3 "The Elemental")
Peter Cushing	...	The Proprietor
Diana Dors	...	Mabel Lowe (segment 2 "An Act of Kindness")
Margaret Leighton	...	Madame Orloff (segment 3 "The Elemental")
Donald Pleasence	...	Jim Underwood (segment 2 "An Act of Kindness")
Nyree Dawn Porter	...	Susan Warren (segment 3 "The Elemental")
David Warner	...	Edward Charlton (segment 1 "The Gate Crasher")
Ian Ogilvy	...	William Seaton (segment 4 "The Door")
Lesley-Anne Down	...	Rosemary Seaton (segment 4 "The Door") (as Lesley Anne Down)
Jack Watson	...	Sir Michael Sinclair (segment 4 "The Door")
Angela Pleasence	...	Emily Underwood (segment 2 "An Act of Kindness")
Wendy Allnutt	...	Pamela (segment 1 "The Gate Crasher")
Rosalind Ayres	...	Prostitute - Edward's first victim (segment 1 "The Gate Crasher")
Tommy Godfrey	...	Mr. Jeffries (segment 1 "The Gate Crasher")

Storyline

Anthology film from Amicus adapted from four short stories by R. Chetwynd-Hayes strung together about an antique dealer who owns a shop called Temptations Ltd. and the fate that befalls his customers who try to cheat him. Stories include "The Gate Crasher" with David Warner who frees an evil entity from an antique mirror, "An Act of Kindness" featuring Donald Pleasence, "The Elemental", and "The Door".

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Plot Keywords:

horror anthology | seance | spiritualist | ghost | shop owner | 

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Taglines:

Where Death is Just the Beginning

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Genres:

Fantasy | Horror

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

The last of the portmanteau horror films from "Amicus Films."

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Goofs

The premise of the film is that everyone who cons the antique dealer gets his comeuppance. Although some may believe that Edward should not die because the Proprietor accepts his offer, he is later killed by the mirror demon because he had lied to the Proprietor about the mirror being a reproduction. He still has to pay for his 'sin'.

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Quotes

[last lines]
The Proprietor: O dear. The love of money is the root of all evil.
[bell from shop door]
The Proprietor: Ay, customers, come in, come in. I'm sure I have the very thing to tempt you. Lots of bargains. All tastes catered to. Oh... and a big novelty surprise goes with every purchase. Do come in... any time. I'm always open.

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Connections

Follows Dr. Terror's House of Horrors (1965)

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Soundtracks

The Wedding March
(uncredited)
By Felix Mendelssohn

User Reviews

"There's an Elemental on your shoulder!"

Amicus horror anthology film (the last of seven) starring Peter Cushing as the owner of an antique shop who sells items to different rotten people. Each of the film's stories are tied to these people. The first story features David Warner and is about a mirror which houses a creepy man (or spirit or whatever) who forces Warner to do bad things. The second story is about a man who is seduced by the daughter of a street peddler. Good lineup in this one: Donald Pleasence, Ian Bannen, Diana Dors. But it's just not that interesting despite its oddness. The third story features Ian Carmichael as a man who turns to a crazy old lady (Margaret Leighton) to get rid of an Elemental spirit tormenting him. Leighton is the whole show here. Lots of fun to watch. My favorite story in the film. The final story is about a writer (Ian Ogilvy) who buys a door through which he can step into a room inhabited by a weirdo from the past. This segment also features Lesley-Anne Down. The linking pieces with Cushing have another little story involving a shady man hanging around the shop. Overall, it's an entertaining movie. All the stories are enjoyable to varying degrees, although the second story is clearly the weakest. It's still watchable though. Cushing is pure class as always. Not the best of the Amicus anthologies but good.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 November 1975 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Creatures from Beyond the Grave

Filming Locations:

Shepperton Studios, Middlesex, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Amicus Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1