House of the Long Shadows (1983)

An American author finds a dilapidated Welsh manor perfect for writing until the residents host a bizarre family reunion.

Director:

Pete Walker

Writers:

Michael Armstrong (screenplay), Earl Derr Biggers (novel)

Stars:

Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Vincent Price	...	Lionel Grisbane
Christopher Lee	...	Corrigan
Peter Cushing	...	Sebastian Grisbane
Desi Arnaz Jr.	...	Kenneth Magee (as Desi Arnaz)
John Carradine	...	Lord Elijah Grisbane
Sheila Keith	...	Victoria Grisbane
Julie Peasgood	...	Mary Norton
Richard Todd	...	Sam Allyson
Louise English	...	Diana Caulder
Richard Hunter	...	Andrew Caulder
Norman Rossington	...	Station Master

Storyline

An American writer goes to a remote Welsh manor on a twenty thousand dollar bet: can he write a classic novel like "Wuthering Heights" in twenty-four hours? Upon his arrival, however, the writer discovers that the manor, thought empty, actually has several, rather odd, inhabitants.

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Plot Keywords:

secret identity | father son relationship | family patriarch | melting face | water switched with acid | 

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Taglines:

A murderously funny mystery with a twist...

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Genres:

Comedy | Horror | Mystery

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Vincent Price turns up forty minutes in.

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Goofs

[All goofs for this title are spoilers.]

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Quotes

Corrigan: [find the tires on every car shredded] It would seem, Mr. Magee, that we are imprisoned here.
Kenneth Magee: I'd feel a whole lot safer right now if I had a gun in my back pocket.

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Connections

Featured in Pete Walker's House of Horror (2015)

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Soundtracks

Pace, pace mio Dio!
(uncredited)
From "La Forza del Destino" by Giuseppe Verdi
Murdered by Sheila Keith

User Reviews

The Force of Destiny

This is the only film I can think of that has all four horror greats in the same film at the same time and in the same scenes. Vincent Price, Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, and John Carradine are the big four, and their presence alone makes seeing this film a must. I don't think any other film had three of these men in the same film, same time, and same scenes(Scream and Scream Again has Lee, Cushing, and Price, but Cushing does not share screen time with either Lee or Price). The men are all still great to see and brought a flood of nostalgia to me as they made their entrances into the film. The film, however, is weak, and there really is no denying that. I like the film because of the four boogeymen, but cannot say in good faith that it is a good film. It is not. The story concerns an author having a bet with his publisher to stay in a creepy place and produce a book in one evening for twenty thousand dollars. It is a very worn plot, and to make matters worse, the scriptwriter butchers his way through the script trying to squeeze out anything that might have been thoughtful and original. The male lead is none other that that master thespian Desi Arnaz Jr. I know hearing his name makes you tingle with anticipation, but this man has no clue how to perform. Plainly put, he is awful, and painful to watch as he delivers hackneyed dialogue with a smug manner. He certainly canot hold his own with the reverent cast or even female character actress Shelia Keith who really shines in her small role. Some of the dialogue is funny, some serious, but there are only four reasons to watch this film: Price, Cushing, Lee, and Carradine. They put in this film what little life this film has. Of the four, watch for Vincent Price playing ever the ham! He is superb.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 April 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

House of the Long Shadows

Filming Locations:

Rotherfield Park, East Tisted, Alton, Hampshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$7,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

London-Cannon Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1