The Pit And The Pendulum. 1961.
First of the Vincent Price/Roger Corman collaborations for this month.John Kerr travels to Spain after learning of the death of his sister Barbara Steele. There he meets grieving widower Vincent Price, as well as sister Luana Anders and doctor/family friend Antony Carbone. Kerr is suspicious, and indeed these people don't seem to want to give him too many details. He's determined to get to the bottom of things, but seemingly supernatural occurrences are starting to drive Price mad. As it turns out, Vincent and Luana are the offspring of the most sadistic torturer of the Spanish Inquisition.
Roger Corman creates more lavish "old dark house" atmospherics and visuals with the assistance of his very talented crew, including production designer and art director Daniel Haller and cinematographer Floyd Crosby. He makes this a great Gothic horror in the classic tradition. Adapting the Poe story is Richard Matheson, who uses it as the third act in a three act styled script. The dialogue is wonderfully literate, and as always it just flows off of Prices' tongue with the greatest of ease and perfect delivery.
The film is short enough to prevent boredom kicking in and is saved somewhat by a great final act that provides one or two neat twists, some well handled excitement the razor sharp pendulum of the title finally making an appearance, swinging to and fro above a shackled Kerr.
p1757_v_v8_ag.jpg
Up next The Beast Must Die.