[.ca] House on Haunted Hill

From Amazon.com:
William Castle's gimmick-laden comic thriller is not so much a horror movie as a fairground funhouse come to life. Vincent Price stars as a deliciously silky millionaire married to a greedy gold digger (Carol Ohmart) who refuses to divorce him. When he turns his wife's idea for a haunted-house party into a contest--$10,000 to whoever will spend the night in "the only truly haunted house in the world"--it seems he may have found an alternative to divorce. Five strangers gather to test their stamina, Price hands each of them delightfully twisted party favors (loaded handguns, delivered in their own tiny coffins), and the spook show begins. Blood drips from the ceiling, zombielike apparitions float through rooms, severed heads and skeletons suddenly appear, and then a guest is found hanging in the stairwell. Full of screams and things that go bump in the night, House on Haunted Hill isn't particularly scary and often makes little sense, but, like a Halloween haunted house, the spectacle of spook-show clichés is quite entertaining, and Price makes a sardonic master of ceremonies. The original theatrical presentations featured a typically outrageous Castle-engineered gimmick: Emergo, which was nothing more than a skeleton that appeared to fly out of the screen and over the audience on a guide wire. --Sean Axmaker

The classic that's fun and scary.:
This movie is over all scary, the opening scene sets the stage for a film that was way ahead of it's time. It was fun moments, and moments that wil send you acrost the theater, The scene with the old house ceeper is one of the most effective jumps in all of horror, a must see for any horror fan, and beable for those who aren't that big of horror fans, see if you can solve the myster before the films done.

Schlocky yet creepy:
Vincent Price. A haunted mansion house. Spooky caretakers. And a giant pile of money to any of the guests who lives through the night. What's not to love? "The House on Haunted Hill" is one of those rare horror movies that seems as fresh as if it were made yesterday. The script is clever, the acting is solid, and while the direction is a bit on the hammy side, the plot is clever enough to keep viewers riveted until the final twist. It's horror, myster and dark comedy all in one. Frederick Loren (Vincent Price) decides to host a macabre birthday party for his devious wife Annabelle (Carol Ohmart), in the "House on Haunted Hill." He invites a test pilot, a columnist, a secretary and the house's unbalanced owner, and offers each one ten thousand dollars if they stay all night. Chandeliers fall, doors slam shut, and they get to see the wine vat full of acid. But as the night goes on, poor Nora Manning (Carolyn Craig) begins to see specters and rotted heads. The others think she's hysterical -- until Annabelle is found hanging in the hallway, dead. The unfortunate guests start to suspect that Loren brought them there to murder them (except for the owner, who blames ghosts). But the truth is far more complex and sinister.... William Castle made a lot of slightly kitschy horror movies like "13 Ghosts" and "The Tingler," but this clever twist on haunted-house movies is probably his best work ever. Okay, that dancing skeleton is unintentionally funny, as is the gliding crone. But most of the time, it provides some in-your-face chills and great work from Price. This movie has solid dialogue ("Do you remember the fun we had when you poisoned me?") and some truly wicked exchanges between Price and Ohmart, as spouses who completely loathe one another. Castle's weird sense of humor shows up in the coffin-shaped boxes, the vat of acid, and the organ playing itself. But the most impressive aspect of "House" is that it's not just another ghosts-terrify-screaming-idiots movie. It's more of a mystery, before the crime is committed. We're never quite sure if there really are ghosts haunting the place, or if the humans are the ones who are really causing all this trouble. What's really scary is that the humans are more frightening. Vincent Price is definitely the star here -- creepy, intelligent, debonair, and he has an acid comment for every occasion ("Don't stay up thinking of ways to get rid of me. It makes wrinkles"). Ohmart runs a close second with her seductive, devious trophy wife; the other actors do solid jobs as well, although Craig doesn't do much except shriek periodically. It's should be noted that the Alpha Video version of this is a good inexpensive version to buy. Many public domain movies are in rotten condition, but the print for this is clear, sharp and unmarred. There's only one problem: everything is tinted slightly purple. I'm not sure why, but if you can ignore it, it's worth getting. "House on Haunted Hill" is a deserving vintage horror movie -- a twisty plot, and Price doing his best creepy-might-be-villain act. A must-see.

The ghosts are waiting:
Vincent Price. A haunted mansion house. Spooky caretakers. And a giant pile of money to any of the guests who lives through the night. What's not to love? "The House on Haunted Hill" is one of those rare horror movies that seems as fresh as if it were made yesterday. William Castle spins a creepy, slightly schlocky, clever little haunted house story, which is just intriguing enough to keep viewers riveted until the final twist. It's horror, myster and dark comedy squashed together. Frederick Loren (Vincent Price) decides to host a macabre birthday party for his devious wife Annabelle (Carol Ohmart), in the "House on Haunted Hill." He invites a test pilot, a columnist, a secretary and the house's unbalanced owner, and offers each one ten thousand dollars if they stay all night. Chandeliers fall, doors slam shut, and they get to see the wine vat full of acid. But as the night goes on, poor Nora Manning (Carolyn Craig) begins to see specters and rotted heads. The others think she's hysterical -- until Annabelle is found hanging in the hallway, dead. The unfortunate guests start to suspect that Loren brought them there to murder them (except for the owner, who blames ghosts). But the truth is far more complex and sinister.... William Castle made a lot of slightly kitschy horror movies like "13 Ghosts" and "The Tingler," but this clever twist on haunted-house movies is probably his best work ever. Okay, that dancing skeleton is unintentionally funny, as is the gliding crone. But most of the time, it provides some in-your-face chills and great work from Price. This movie has solid dialogue ("Do you remember the fun we had when you poisoned me?") and some truly wicked exchanges between Price and Ohmart, as spouses who completely loathe one another. Castle's weird sense of humor shows up in the coffin-shaped boxes, the vat of acid, and the organ playing itself. But the most impressive aspect of "House" is that it's not just another ghosts-terrify-screaming-idiots movie. It's more of a mystery, before the crime is committed. We're never quite sure if there really are ghosts haunting the place, or if the humans are the ones who are really causing all this trouble. What's really scary is that the humans are more frightening. Vincent Price is definitely the star here -- creepy, intelligent, debonair, and he has an acid comment for every occasion ("Don't stay up thinking of ways to get rid of me. It makes wrinkles"). Ohmart runs a close second with her seductive, devious trophy wife; the other actors do solid jobs as well, although Craig doesn't do much except shriek periodically. "House on Haunted Hill" is a deserving vintage horror movie -- a twisty plot, and Price doing his best creepy-might-be-villain act. A must-see.

FOR 10,000 DOLLARS WOULD YOU SPEND A NIGHT WITH VINCENTPRICE:
I absolutley loved this movie. The script writting is wonderful,the acting is treamendous and the surprises you will see in this movie keep you at the end of your seat. This is trueley Vincent Price at his best. The ghost in the basement, the hanged body in the stairwell and the skeleton which appears at the end of the film. Also stars Carol O'Mart,Richard Long, Alan Marshall and Carolyn Craig. This film never has a dull part. So, If you you don't have this movie,you need to buy it.

"House on Haunted Hill (1959) ... William Castle ... 20th Century Fox (2005)":
20th Century Fox present "HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL" (released: February 17, 1959) (75 mins) (B & W/Color Versions) - Under William Castle (Director / Producer), Robb White (Screenwriter), Carl Guthrie (Cinematographer), Von Dexter (Composer (Music Score), Roy Livingston (Editor), Dave Milton (Art Director), Jane Huizenga (Production Director), David D. Martin (Technical Director) - - - - - - our star Vincent Price plays Frederick Loren, an eccentric millionaire that invites five very different people to a haunted house for a party, and offers them $10,000 if they can stay the night --- As usual, Price gives a commanding performance and completely steals every scene he's in --- Elisha Cook in particular gives excellent support playing the wimpy owner of the house; much the same character that he played in the Stanley Kubrick masterpiece; 'The Killing" (1956) --- The rest of the cast is made up of unknown actors, but they also all perform to relatively high standards in their respective roles --- House on Haunted Hill is topped off by a brilliant double twist, and it is also given certain originality --- the atmosphere and uneasiness of this film makes for an incredible who done it story as you wonder who will get it --- The set is intoxicating inasmuch as you never really see all of it, nor is it really explained what such a dangerous acid pit is doing in such a precarious spot in the basement --- Throughout the movie, there is an abundant sense of dread that is perpetually present and it serves the film well in that it brings the house to life --- at every point in the film, the audience is made to believe that there is something unseen in the house that will cause bad things to happen --- Director William Castle and actor Vincent Price are at their best! the cast includes: Vincent Price ... Frederick Loren Carolyn Craig ... Nora Manning Richard Long ... Lance Schroeder Elisha Cook Jr. ... Watson Pritchard (as Elisha Cook) Carol Ohmart ... Annabelle Loren Alan Marshal ... Dr. David Trent Julie Mitchum ... Ruth Bridgers Leona Anderson ... Mrs. Slydes Howard Hoffman ... Jonas Slydes BIOS: 1. Vincent Price Date of Birth: 27 May 1911 - St. Louis, Missouri Date of Death: 25 October 1993 - Los Angeles, California 2. Carolyn Craig Date of Birth: 27 October 1934 - Green Acres, Long Island, New York Date of Death: 12 December 1970 - Culver City, California 3. Richard Long Date of Birth: 17 December 1927 - Chicago, Illinois Date of Death: 21 December 1974 - Los Angeles, California 4. Elisha Cook Jr. Date of Birth: 26 December 1903 - San Francisco, California Date of Death: 18 May 1995 - Big Pine, California 5. Carol Ohmart Date of Birth: 3 July 1927 - Salt Lake City, Utah Date of Death: Still Living 6. Alan Marshal Date of Birth: 29 January 1909, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Date of Death: 13 July 1961 - Chicago, Illinois 7. Julie Mitchum Date of Birth: 23 July 1914 - Bridgeport, Connecticut Date of Death: 21 February 2003 - Sun City, Arizona 8. William Castle (Director) Date of Birth: 24 April 1914 - New York, New York Date of Death: 31 May 1977 - Los Angeles, California SPECIAL FEATURES: 1. Hilarious Audio Commentary by Mike Nelson of TV's "Mystery Science Theater 3000" 2. All-New Clorized Version 3. Restored Black and White Version 4. Original Theatrical Trailer, Carnival of Souls, Night of the Living Dead, Reefer Madness and The Three Stooges in Color. Hats off and thanks to Barry B. Sandrew Ph.D. (Founder, COO, CTO & Board Member) and his Legend Films Staff --- looking forward to more high quality releases from the vintage era of the '20s, '30s & '40s --- order your copy now from Amazon where there are plenty of copies available on DVD --- if you enjoyed this title, why not check out Legend Films where they are experts in releasing long forgotten films and treasures to the collector --- all my heroes have been cowboys! Total Time: 75 mins on DVD ~ 20th Century Fox ~ (9/06/2005)