The old dark house movie

Old dark house, the 1963 movie clip the morgan the. The femms robert morley as roderick, janette scott as cecily, fenella fielding as morgana, joyce grenfell as agatha explain to american tom poston that they dont believe hes been sent to their english home by accident, in william castles remake the old dark house, 1963. Most old dark movies have a large cast of characters, with some characters being very old like the centenarian patriarch in the old dark house, 1932 or very young with 18yearold maidens a common type, some being rich, others being poor, some being european, others being american, some being country folk, others being city slickers. Tales about sinister, creepy mansions were already cliched by the time director james whale directed the old dark houseand instead of presenting the piece as a straightforward thriller he mixed the films very atmospheric cinematography with a wild strain of parody. Directed by 1 writing credits 2 cast 16 produced by 4 music by 1 cinematography by 1 production design by 1.

The old dark house 1932 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. Apr 27, 2018 t he great scary movie ancestor is rereleased. If an internal link incorrectly led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Stranded travellers stumble upon a strange old house, and find. In england, an american car salesman endsup spending a stormy night at the mysterious and deadly mansion of a clients family. When it 1st started i expected id like this movie but as it went on, i was just waiting for it to be over.

How criterion collection brings movies back from the dead duration. Nevertheless, the old dark house contained all the other essential ingredients of the directors style, including moody shot compositions, mocking humor, witty dialogue, and sly hints of sexuality. Prior to the release of the old dark house 1932, a secondfiddle chiller that reunited director james whale and stars boris karloff after the overnight success of frankenstein, motion pictures of similar persuasions were confined to the realm of silence. This influential, fun thriller, directed by bride of frankensteins james whale, features an unforgettable postfrankenstein role for boris karloff, as the hulking, disfigured butler morgan. The vast majority of the movie provided tight, concise imagery. The ensemble cast includes boris karloff, melvyn douglas, gloria stuart, charles laughton, raymond massey, and ernest thesiger. Directed by 1 writing credits 2 cast 16 produced by 4 music by 1 cinematography by 1 production design by 1 makeup department 2 production management 1 second unit director or assistant director 3 art department 6. Even if it hadnt been essentially lost, james whales the old dark house 1932 wouldnt ever have fit, exactly, on the mount rushmore of universals horror greats. All photos and other materials, including wav audio sounds on my website are by various movie and video companies.

Margaret gloria stuart in her evening gown is pursued by drunken houseman morgan boris karloff then rescued by husband philip raymond massey in james whales the old dark house, 1932. Philip waverton raymond massey, his wife margaret gloria stuart, and their friend roger penderel melvyn douglas are lost while driving at night in a heavy storm. The old dark house is a 1963 britishamerican comedy horror film directed by william castle. The old dark house is an odd duck in the classic universal horrors of the early 30s.

Oct 05, 2017 the old dark house, beginning a weeklong run friday at the quad cinema in an excellent 4k digital restoration, opens on a dark and stormy night with a bickering young couple, margaret. After the ball 1897 1st adult movie georges melies worlds first filmed bath apres le bal. The old dark house is a vastly influential early example of the haunted house movie, containing premonitions of many of horror cinemas goto narrative clicks, including isolated groups, remote rural houses, mysterious inhabitants hiding secrets and even the ominous sound of whistling wind. Itll always live in the shadow of whales more famous karloff collaborations, those obviously being frankenstein made a year prior and bride of frankenstein made in 1935. Oct 04, 2017 even if it hadnt been essentially lost, james whales the old dark house 1932 wouldnt ever have fit, exactly, on the mount rushmore of universals horror greats. The old dark house blazed a trail in defining the psycho family film, a horror subgenre populated by notables such as spider baby 1964, the texas chain saw massacre 1974, and the devils rejects 2006, films which in many ways it bears more of a resemblance to than closer contemporaries like the monster 1926 or the ghost breakers. The old dark house makes its bluray debut on a 50gb disc in an avc encoded 1080p high definition transfer framed at 1. If you look carefully at the opening credits you see charles addams inspired this movie as well and it shows. It has bela lugosi in an early role along with a classic cast and a dark and brooding house complete with moody lighting. James whales 1932 drama the old dark house a film that was part of universal studios.

While the movie does have a lot of comedic aspects and performances, the movie really rises the creep factor. The old dark house is a fascinating film and this bluray high definition presentation will make a great many people happy to be able to revisit this timeless classicor enjoy this masterpiece for the first time. Why theres more going on in the old dark house than you. If you mean james whales film, then there were earlier movies. Seeking shelter from a storm, five travelers are in for a bizarre and terrifying night when they stumble upon the femm family estate. My take on the old dark house genre and id love to read other opinions on this. Naturally,universal films and hammer film productions ltd. For the most part, the picture is pristine, theres very little print damage at all and cleanup job that was done for this release is impressive.

The old dark house was whales second horror film after 1931s frankenstein and his return to the genre sees the director leaning fully in to its gothic tropes. The old dark house appears in an aspect ratio of 1. The old dark house 1932 simultaneously serves as one of gothic horrors most effective progenitors as well as a prescient metacommentary on that subgenres burgeoning tropes. Long thought lost, the old dark house was rediscovered in the early 1970s. The old dark house 1963 wtaguy 20081201 a black comedy by william castle productions and hammer films with artwork by charles addams set at a secluded mansion in wales, a classic drivein movie. The old dark house, a comedymystery film this article includes a list of related items that share the same name or similar names. An american car salesman in london becomes mixed up in a series of fatal occurrences at a secluded mansion. Not to be confused with haunted house movies, which tend to involve ghosts or some other supernatural entity in a horror setting some common old dark house tropes include. There was also a sound remake, the cat creeps, made in.

Dont let people miss on a great quote from the the old dark house movie add it here. The least successful of this quartet of fright classics, the old dark house came to be reconsidered a cult. Aug 27, 2019 philip waverton raymond massey, his wife margaret gloria stuart, and their friend roger penderel melvyn douglas are lost while driving at night in a heavy storm. After 20 years of loving this movie its like seeing it again for the first time. The old dark house mystery was a pet subject of theatrical productions in new york and abroad during the 1920s and 1930s, and. Stranded travelers meet a grotesque welsh family and its hulking butler boris karloff. Presented with an avc mpeg 4 1080p encode and framed at the correct aspect ratio of 1. Long lost horror film the old dark house stands as one of. Seeking shelter from a pounding rainstorm in a remote region of wales, several travelers are admitted to a gloomy, foreboding mansion belonging to the extremely strange femm family. Oct 12, 2017 the old dark house is a fascinating film and this bluray high definition presentation will make a great many people happy to be able to revisit this timeless classicor enjoy this masterpiece for the first time. An odd assortment of travellers find themselves forced to seek shelter with an even odder family of eccentrics in a remote welsh manor on the proverbial dark and stormy night. Despite the films advanced age, the image looked terrific. Stranded travelers stumble upon a strange old house, and find themselves at the mercy of a highly eccentric and potentially dangerous family.

Wonderfully weird and atmospheric, flavoured with james whales trademark dark humour, and featuring an outstanding cast including boris karloff, raymond massey, gloria stuart, melvyn douglas, ernest thesiger, and. Ive always wished that maybe one of the local cinemas would run. Considering the film focuses on an old dark house, theres very little in the way of atmosphere and im guessing that castle wanted this film to appeal to a younger. In the former, group of characters get stuck on a stormy night in a house with dark history. Directed by james whale starring boris karloff, gloria stuart, charles laughton, melvyn douglas. Mar 25, 2011 ive put together a list of all the old house mysteries posted to ia that i and others have found. A deft blend of wellchosen ingredients, the old dark house is a delightfully scary horror comedy that benefits from james whales suspenseful direction. Margaret gloria stuart in her evening gown is pursued by drunken houseman morgan boris karloff then rescued by husband philip raymond massey in james whales the old dark house, 1932 view the tcmdb entry for the old dark house 1932. Directed by james whale way back when in 1932 for universal, the old dark house is not be as wellknown as some of the other classic universal horror pictures of the time. Rereleased in a handsome new digital restoration from cohen film collection, james whales the old dark house is as wild, weird and wicked as its ever been the directors shivery peculiarities as playfully transgressive today as they. The old dark house is a 1932 american precode comedy horror film directed by james whale. The old dark house 1932 film the old dark house is a 1932 american precode horror film directed by james whale. May 20, 2014 an odd assortment of travellers find themselves forced to seek shelter with an even odder family of eccentrics in a remote welsh manor on the proverbial dark and stormy night. Beware the night seeking shelter from a pounding rainstorm in a remote region of wales, several travellers are admitted to a gloomy, foreboding mansion belonging to the extremely strange femm family.

A couple wider shots displayed a dollop of softness, but those occurred infrequently and seemed minor. Trying to make the best of it, the guests must deal with their sepulchral host, horace femm and his obsessive, malevolent sister rebecca. I dont know if it is the first old dark house film, but the cat and the canary predates whales movie by about five years 1927. The old dark house approved 1h 26min comedy, horror, mystery 31 october 1963 usa in england, an american car salesman endsup spending a stormy night at the mysterious and deadly mansion of a clients family. Coming attractions for you 2020s most anticipated movies. The movie the old dark house 1932 as well as the 1963 remake is the trope namer. Old dark house, the 1932 movie clip hes only stunned. With tom poston, robert morley, janette scott, joyce grenfell. The old dark house has all the earmarks of a universal horror movie. These are dramas and comedies that take place primarily in an old house, mansion, or castle, and involve a number of suspects, secret passages, and often have hands reaching out toward someone, ghosts, reporters, bad weather, well you get the idea. Its quite funny, creepy and at 72 minutes oh so to the point a classic deserving of its reputation.

Critics hailed it as one of whale s gothic masterpieces, and the old dark house rightly took its place among the directors bestregarded titles. A subgenre that leans toward comedy, farce, and whodunit mysteries. I had never expected to see a bluray release of this movie and i am extremely grateful for cohen to add this film to their cohen. Special feature in association with chapter darkened rooms. Priestley originally published under the name benighted, and the new screenplay was written by robert dillon. The old dark house movie put me immediately in mind of the 1960s version of the addams family tv show. The old dark house, beginning a weeklong run friday at the quad cinema in an excellent 4k digital restoration, opens on a dark and stormy night with a bickering young couple, margaret. Being mindful that this is an old movie some of its jokes and plot points are dated. A deft blend of wellchosen ingredients, the old dark house is a delightfully scary. The old dark house arrives on blu ray from cohen media with an exemplary transfer taken from a brand new 4k restoration. However, they definitely do not play the good natured hosts when stranded travellers are forced to stay there because of the terrible storm. With boris karloff, melvyn douglas, charles laughton, gloria stuart. The new york times praised the film, stating, there is a wealth of talent in.

A group of strangers having to spend the night in a house, mansion or castle. Long lost horror film the old dark house stands as one. Not to be confused with haunted house movies, which tend to involve ghosts or some other supernatural entity in a horror setting. Most old dark movies have a large cast of characters, with some characters being very old like the centenarian patriarch in the old dark house, 1932 or very young with 18year old maidens a common type, some being rich, others being poor, some being european, others being american, some being country folk, others being city slickers. List of old dark house movies, a list of films by rugby. James whales 1932 drama the old dark house a film that was part of universal studios deliriously successful run of horror films in the pre. Its set in one place the old dark house, or castle, or hotel which stems from the genres origins in the theater minimal set changes. Although little seen since its original release, the old dark house 1932 had by the 1960s attained a graillike status among fans of director james whale, whose beloved universal horror films included frankenstein 1931, the invisible man 1933, and the bride of frankenstein 1935. It is a remake of the 1932 film of the same name directed by james whale. The latter is a comedy murder mystery concerning a family fortune. The old dark house 1932 is a terrific film, set in the ever popular haunted house on a dark, spooky rainy night. See the full list of the old dark house cast and crew including actors, directors, producers and more. Scary fantasy horror vampire werewolf zombie scifi full length collected classic old. The old dark house marked the american film debut of charles laughton and laughton overacts outrageously as does the whole cast in the role a bluff.