Die Verfluchten (1960)
9KDie Verfluchten: Directed by Roger Corman. With Vincent Price, Mark Damon, Myrna Fahey, Harry Ellerbe. Upon entering his fiancée’s family mansion, a man discovers a savage family curse and fears that his future brother-in-law has entombed his bride-to-be prematurely.
“Cormanu0026#39;s first Poe film (out of eight) is one of the best adaptations of the familiar story (rivaled only by French director Jean Epsteinu0026#39;s superb, yet completely different, 1928 version) and was a critical and commercial success in its day on a meager $125,000 budget. Vincent Price is superb as Roderick Usher, an eternally tortured soul who lives in a crumbling castle with his sister Madeline (Myrna Fahey) and faithful butler Bristol (nicely etched by Harry Ellerbe). When Philip Winthrop (bland Mark Damon) shows up to take Madeline away, Rodericku0026#39;s incestuous feelings come to surface and the terror begins. Highlights include Damonu0026#39;s colorful nightmare sequence and Priceu0026#39;s explanation of the Usher family history.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eHOUSE OF USHER is intelligent, subtle and effective, with good sets and costumes and excellent work from scripter Richard Matheson, composer Les Baxter, cameraman Floyd Crosby and art director Daniel Haller–all united by Cormanu0026#39;s smart, stylish, fluent direction. Truly deserving of itu0026#39;s reputation as horror classic.”
