Apparently, the original The Old Dark House (1932) helped inspire artist Charles Addams to untold heights of ghoulishness. And so, he was recruited to design the opening title credits for this Castle / Hammer co-produced remake. Alas, the film is kinda all downhill from there. Now, I like Tom Poston, and found Zotz oddly endearing, but this version of The Old Dark House kinda stinks, locked in a morass where tedious and insipid meet on the graph. All is not lost, however, as its co-feature, Maniac, is another Hammer Castle cash-in that’s well worth your time.
This post is part of Goregirl’s Dungeon and The Last Drive-In’s The William Castle Blogathan, a week long tribute to the King of Schlock. Follow the linkage, Boils & Ghouls. It’s gonna be a great week. And stick around, as we’ll be showcasing Castle’s film career from its fairly normal beginnings through it psychotronic glory days. Stay tuned!
The Old Dark House (1963) William Castle Productions :: Hammer Film Productions :: Columbia Pictures / P: William Castle, Anthony Hinds / AP: Dona Holloway / D: William Castle / W: Robert Dillon, J.B. Priestley (novel) / C: Arthur Grant / E: James Needs / S: Tom Poston, Robert Morley, Janette Scott, Joyce Grenfell, Mervyn Johns, Fenella Fielding, Peter Bull
Maniac (1963) Hammer Film Productions :: Columbia Pictures / P: Jimmy Sangster / D: Michael Carreras / W: Jimmy Sangster / C: Wilkie Cooper / E: Tom Simpson / S: Kerwin Mathews, Nadia Gray, Liliane Brousse, Donald Houston, George Pastell
A Double-Jolt of Excitement! (November, 1963)
Posted in 1960-1969, Movie Ads with tags Adults Only, Alien Invaders, Allied Artists, Constance Towers, Creature Feature, Day of the Triffids, F & F Productions, Gene Evans, George Pitcher, Gone Psycho, Hari Rhodes, Howard Keel, James Best, Janette Scott, Janina Faye, Kieron Moore, Leon Fromkess, Medical Exploitation, Nicole Maurey, Peter Breck, Philip Yordan, Sam Firks, Samuel Fuller, Sci-Fi, Shock Corridor, Social Commentary, Steve Sekely, Thriller on July 26, 2013 by WB KelsoShock Corridor (1963) F & F Productions :: Allied Artists / EP: Sam Firks, Leon Fromkess / P: Samuel Fuller / D: Samuel Fuller / W: Samuel Fuller / C: Stanley Cortez / E: Jerome Thoms / M: Paul Dunlap / S: Peter Breck, Constance Towers, Gene Evans, James Best, Hari Rhodes
Day of the Triffids (1962) Security Pictures Ltd. Production :: Allied Artists / EP: Philip Yordan / P: George Pitcher / D: Steve Sekely / W: Bernard Gordon, John Wyndham (novel) / C: Ted Moore / E: Bill Lewthwaite / M: Ron Goodwin / S: Howard Keel, Nicole Maurey, Janina Faye, Janette Scott, Kieron Moore
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