L'Orribile Segreto Del Dr. Hichcock (1962) aka The Horrible Dr. Hichcock

3 / 5 Apr '11
Tagline: The candle of his lust burnt brightest in the shadow of the grave!
Directed by: Riccardo Freda
Written by: Ernesto Gastaldi
Actors include: Barbara Steele, Robert Flemyng, Silvano Tranquilli
Genre: Horror
Length: 88 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Although I give this credit for having a good cast and rather surprising plot elements it couldn't help the fact that this was dull. It's an atmospheric Gothic film sorta like a Hammer picture stylistically set back in the late '1800s. Even though the story sounds gratuitous it really doesn't deliver and it's quite filled with chatter. Dr. Hichcock is into drugging his Wife for sexual activities, and he accidentally overdoses her. After much woe he remarries only something doesn't seem quite right with the arrangement. Could Dr. Hichcock have other purposes in mind for his new Wife who is suffering from hallucinations? It's got a great reputation and I really did want to like this a heck of a lot more than I did so you might not want to take my word for this one.

Availablity:  Not currently on DVD that I'm aware of

Night Of The Eagle (1962) aka Burn, Witch, Burn!

3.5 / 5 Dec '10
Tagline: Witch or Woman, What Was It?
Directed by: Sidney Hayers
Written by: Fritz Leiber Jr., Charles Beaumont
Actors include: Janet Blair, Peter Wyngarde, Margaret Johnston
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Length: 85 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
This is actually a charming little film even though at times it's rather dry and talky and it's not exactly scary though I'm sure at the time the subject matter creeped a few out. Norman Taylor is a charming young teacher, his students adore him and he has everything life could offer, even an adoring wife (played by singer Janet Blair). When he discovers his Wife has been engaging in the practice of witchcraft (he doesn't believe in it) he burns all of her protection gear. Well let's just say burning voodoo style stuff isn't exactly the best plan as they are sort of doomed from that point on. This has some pretty neat scenes and the visuals are positively lovely, even though parts are less than interesting the bigger picture is engaging enough to keep following it. If you are looking for straight up horror you might be disappointed but if you are looking for a neat little story that has horror elements than this is more for you.

Availability:  On DVD

Tales Of Terror (1962)

4 / 5 May '10
Tagline: A Trilogy of Shock and Horror!
Directed by: Roger Corman
Written by: Edgar Allan Poe, Richard Matheson
Actors Include:  Vincent Price, Basil Rathbone, Peter Lorre
Genre: Horror
Length: 89 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
This is a very cute yet slightly uneven trilogy of tales featuring the irresistible Mr. Vincent Price. It's got Roger Corman directing and producing plus it's loosely based around Poe tales...what more could one want? The first story "Morella" is about a daughter returning home to her Father (Price) who just happens to be rather unhappy to see her. He blames her for her Mother's death, and Mommy's corpse is still in his house even! The daughter doesn't have long to live so the father and she try to get along. The thing is, Mommy is still very unhappy... It's rather cheesy and the effects are laughable but yet it's still a decent little tale.
The second story "The Black Cat" is probably the best retelling of that tale that I've seen yet. I love Peter Lorre as the grumpy intoxicated black cat hatin' Montresor. He tales his wife's sewing money for booze because he's such a drunk even though it's their food money, he treats everyone rather cruelly but he knows his wine. He brings home fellow wine taster champion Fortunado (Price hamming it up big time) who just happens to start an affair with Montresor's wife. Let's just say this doesn't go well and if you know the story you can guess what happens next. Definitely the best tale of the trilogy.
Lastly we have "The Case of M. Valdemar" which has a dying Price who is being hypnotized by a cruel jerk who manages to prolong his peace in death by keeping him partially alive and trapped in a hypnotic state. It's kinda neat and not a bad tale but it could have been a little more exciting.
Still it's a fairly charming and memorable little trilogy, very little graphic stuff and blood despite what the back of the case would have you believe. Still great actors and creative story telling takes this a long way.

Availability:  On DVD

The Premature Burial (1962)

4 / 5 Mar '10
Tagline: Within the Coffin I Lie...ALIVE!
Directed by: Roger Corman
Written by: Charles Beaumont, Edgar Allan Poe
Actors include: Ray Milland, Hazel Court, Richard Ney
Genre: Horror, Drama, Mystery
Length: 81 minutes
Banned: Finland

Review:
I quite liked this 'un but the pairing of Poe and Roger Corman is a pretty easy win. In this tale a fellow named Guy (Ray Milland) who's old girlfriend Emily (Hazel Court) has come back into his life hoping to get married. The two wed despite protests from Guy's sister Kate but soon it becomes clear that something is wrong with Guy. He's paranoid about being buried alive and he even builds an elaborate contraption of a coffin that would keep him from being buried alive. Emily feels he spends more time obsessing over his future death than with her and gives him the ultimatum of his contraption or her and well it goes on from there. It's pretty darkly comical and well presented, the acting is quite good and the story is clear and interesting. It also has some nice horror payoff in the end, and it's very short and sweet. An enjoyable well made little film that I think most should be able to enjoy!

Availability:  On DVD as part of a 2fer with The Masque Of The Red Death