The Old Dark House

Director: William Castle William Castle

Overview

Set in the title manse, this chilling comedy chronicles the spooky exploits of a Yankee car salesman working in London who sets out to deliver a car to a remote and very creepy Welsh estate. Unfortunately he discovers the owner dead. While attempting to leave a fierce storm erupts and he has a wreck. He returns to the mansion to seek shelter from the disparate sisters therein. Once warm and dry, he meets the rest of their strange family, including twins, a looney who is building an ark, and the matriarch of the household. The storm rages on and as the grim night slowly passes, family members are bumped off at appallingly regular intervals leaving the American to solve the crimes..

Product Details

Release Date:	09/04/2012
UPC:	0043396410121
Original Release:	1963
Source:	ALLIED VAUGHN
Language:	English
Sales rank:	31,424

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Tom Poston	Tom Penderel
Robert Morley	Roderick Femm
Janette Scott	Cecily
Joyce Grenfell	Agatha Femm
Peter Bull	Jasper Femm/Casper Femm
Mervyn Johns	Potiphar
Fenella Fielding	Morgana
Danny Green	Morgan Femm
Benjamin Frankel	Composer

Technical Credits

Robert Dillon

Les Bowie	Special Effects
William Castle	Director,Producer
Anthony Hinds	Producer
Robert Dillon	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

When compared with the James Whale original upon which it's based, this remake of The Old Dark House is pretty sorry stuff. But if taken entirely on its own terms, it's an adequate little chiller with a smattering of laughs along the way. The basic story is a familiar one, exploited much more fully in other William Castle films like The House on Haunted Hill, but there are enough interesting details -- the living arrangements between Tom and Casper, for example -- to liven things up. Unfortunately, for a horror film, there are next to no good scares, and many of the intended fright scenes lack sufficient punch to deliver the goods. Even at 86 minutes, the film feels as if it's been padded. The cast, at least, is good, even if no one is turning in a stellar performance. Tom Poston has a certain innocence and appeal that work nicely here, and Robert Morley is clearly having fun as Uncle Roderick. Even better is potty Mervyn Johns and the wildly overprotective Danny Green. The actors can't make one want to move into this House, but they do make it a tolerable place to visit.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler