You can divulge from the opening titles that The Terrified Palace will be unusually lavish for a Corman movie, even a “Poe adaption” (this nominally combines Poe with a Lovecraft-based space.) The music is marvelous, some of the best of any alarm film of the 60’s. And the credits play over precise footage, not impartial swirling paint. The sets and originate are obliging, far better than the norm for AIP. The script is a solid one, from Charles Beaumont, who was likely hamstrung by circumstance in a few places, but nonetheless spins an effective and detailed if somewhat familiar yarn. And the cast delivers: Effect is his usual wonderful, craven, hammy self. The Juniors (Lon Chaney and Elisha Cook) are mostly wasted, but then again with a few important exceptions (Spider-Baby, House on Terrorized Hill) they always were after the 40’s; it’s unbiased generous to recognize them working. And Debra Paget is simply pretty, with any acting ability being a sure but superfluous bonus to the proceedings.
The spot has to do with a warlock (Designate) being burned but cursing the townfolk and swearing his return and revenge. Years later, the warlock’s good-hearted descendant (also Effect) returns to the village to claim the warlock’s mansion. He finds a town in destroy, timid villagers who give birth to grisly mutations, and of course, some lingering resentment. How long will it be before Effect is possessed by his ancestor through the putrid painting over the mantel? As you know, not too long. Note then continues his ancestor’s unfriendly work of sacrifice and trying to conjure up an archaic monster from the pit in his basement. You’ve likely seen it before, though maybe not in a movie from the 60’s, and it’s punched over with luxuriate in and skill here, not to mention some noble gruesomeness, and will be very luscious to genre fans. And did I mention the music is qualified?
Sure, the ending lacks clarity, if not conviction (What exactly happened to the monster? ), but overall HP may objective be the best adaptation of Lovecraft material out there, watered-down as it is. (I’m not a fan of Re-Animator and its ilk.)
Buy,Download, Or Stream The Haunted Palace / The Tower of London! Click Here
Tower of London (1962) is a rather stupid Shakespearian costume drama of intrigue and abolish. Judge of it as Corman Meets The Bard. Ticket is beautiful, but he could record this kind of wrathful monarch in his sleep, and I consider he did so a few times.
He stars as a 15th-Century English gentryman who will finish at nothing to ascend to the throne. He engages in all sorts of torture and destroy, none of it as sadistic or as engrossing as it wants to be. He grows more loony each time he murders, until finally in his insanity a vision of all his used victims rise against him…
TofL is not really fear, but has some supernatural overtones in a sense: rats, ravens, magicians and the like. So therefore it ain’t historical, neither, despite being based on sincere events and persons: Richard III, the Plantaganets and such. There is a set-bound quality to it, and the battle scenes (if you can call them that) consist mostly of a few soldiers marching and stock footage and some edits. It all looks cheap, but was probably even cheaper than it looks, even for Corman.
Buy,Download, Or Stream The Haunted Palace / The Tower of London! Click Here
Having a lesser cast also detracts; the 1939 Universal version had Karloff, Rathbone, Nan Grey and Leo G. Carroll, plus Stamp himself as a victim drowned in a wine vat. This has only Tag, and he is unable carry this whole cardboard enterprise by his lonesome. Mildly challenging while it’s running, but disappointing at the enact, and quite forgettable.
Still, The Horrified Palace alone is worth the effect of a acquire, so getting Tower of London on the same disc is merely a bonus. Recommended.
The Midnite Movies DVDs are huge. They provide us with some tremendous classics in fright at a gorgeous ticket (as long as they discontinue in print) and a lot of the times you procure two mountainous movies on one disc as seen here. The quality is usually titanic as well. However from my experience Midnite Movies are notorious for mistakes and misprints on the encourage of their DVDs. I don’t mind, it’s kind of like when your a kid buying baseball cards and your looking for the error card.
Buy,Download, Or Stream The Haunted Palace / The Tower of London! Click Here
Haunted Palace:
On the benefit of the Troubled Palace they mention it being based on a Edgar Allan Poe poem. However as Roger Corman points out on the “A change of Poe” Interview on the disc AIP gave him a bit of freedom and let him give his choose on Lovecraft and points out the film being based off of H.P Lovecraft’s The Case of Charles Dexter Ward. Corman mentions how he wasn’t going to do a series of Lovecraft films but go succor to doing Poe afterwards. As a fan of Corman I would’ve liked to gaze a series of Lovecraft as well.
Buy,Download, Or Stream The Haunted Palace / The Tower of London! Click Here
The Alarmed Palace is based on an 18th century warlock, Joseph Curwen (Label) who is burned at the stake by the towns people but not before he places a curse on the village. More then a century goes by and Charles Dexter ward, Curwen’s grandson shows up to the village with his bride to claim the property. Charles Dexter Ward is also played by Heed in this duel role Corman considered his best. Mark does do an wonderful job as always. Joseph begins to posses his grandson Ward to attain his work and we derive to seek Designate change character on the region. The film also cast Lon Chaney Jr (The Wolf Man.
The DVD also says it provides a mono audio track but it was in 2 channel digital.
TOWER OF LONDON:
Under the “fun facts” on the help of the dvd it is pointed out that the fresh heed line for the film was “Do you have the courage to exercise 83 minutes in the Tower of London? But the Midnite Movies points out the film is only 80mins, which I found ironic with all their mistakes on the disc, but I probably have a lot of mistakes in this review.
This exiguous budget shadowy and white gem, also by Corman is yarn in view and Price’s acting giving it a larger feel.
Based on Shakespeare’s Richard III the film follows Richard of Gloucester, (Impress was also in the 1939 version The Boris Karloff Collection (Tower of London / The Shadowy Castle / The Climax / The Curious Door / Night Key) starring Basil Rathbone and Boris Karloff, in one of Prices earlier films) this time played by Mark as he murders anyone standing in his draw of England’s throne. Things do not go as planned as the ghosts of those he killed arrive support to relieve him in going madd.
The DVD also contains an Interview Producer Gene Corman.
I bought the dvd off here but through a company called Interzone. The shipping was literally next day even though it was supposed to be standard and the dvd arrived in mammoth condition, factory sealed as advertised. I recommend them.
