Murders in the Rue Morgue (1971 film)

Murders in the Rue Morgue
Directed by	Gordon Hessler
Produced by	Louis M. Heyward
Written by	Edgar Allan Poe (story) Christopher Wicking Henry Slesar
Starring	Jason Robards Herbert Lom Christine Kaufmann Adolfo Celi Maria Perschy Lilli Palmer Michael Dunn
Music by	Waldo de los Ríos
Cinematography	Manuel Berenguer
Editing by	Max Benedict
Distributed by	American International Pictures
Release date(s)	September 1971
Running time	87 min / 98 min restored director's cut
Country	United States
Language	English

Murders in the Rue Morgue is a 1971 American horror film directed by Gordon Hessler, starring Jason Robards and Herbert Lom. ^[1] It is ostensibly an adaptation of the Edgar Allan Poe story of the same name, although it departs from the story in several significant aspects, at times more resembling Gaston Leroux's Phantom of the Opera. In an interview on the film's DVD, Hessler said that he thought everyone already knew the ending of the story, so he felt it necessary to reinvent the plot. According to IMDB.com, the film was banned in Finland in 1972.

Plot

The story revolves around a 19th century theatre troupe in Paris specializing in gory, naturalistic horror plays in the fashion of the Grand Guignol. The director, Jason Robards, is presenting Poe's "Murders in the Rue Morgue". Robard's wife, the actress Madeline (Christine Kauffman), whose mother (Lilli Palmer) had been murdered by axe, is haunted by nightmares of an ax-wielding man. Rene Marot (Herbert Lom), a former lover of Madeline's mother thought long dead after being horribly disfigured on stage, mysteriously returns and begins murdering members and ex-members of the acting troupe, confounding the Paris police, who initially suspect Robards.

Cast

• Jason Robards as Cesar Charron
• Herbert Lom as Rene Marot
• Christine Kaufmann as Madeleine Charron
• Adolfo Celi as Inspector Vidocq
• Maria Perschy as Genevre
• Michael Dunn as Pierre Triboulet
• Lilli Palmer as Mrs. Charron
• Peter Arne as Aubert
• Rosalind Elliot as Gabrielle
• Marshall Jones as Luigi Orsini
• María Martín as Madam Adolphe
• Ruth Plattes as Orsini's Assistant
• Rafael Hernández as Member of Repertory Company
• Pamela McInnes as Member of Repertory Company
• Sally Longley as Member of Repertory Company
• ( (john mansell) as Member of Repertory company

Restored director's cut

American International Pictures cut the film against Gordon Hessler's wishes, removing 11 minutes of footage and adding color tints to the flash forwards and flashbacks. The ending was also slightly altered. In 2002, a director's cut appeared on American cable television, restoring the missing footage and the film's ending.

References

1. ^ Thompson, Howard. "New York Times: Murders in the Rue Morgue". NY Times. http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/33861/Murders-in-the-Rue-Morgue/overview. Retrieved 2008-08-31. 

External links

• Murders in the Rue Morgue at the Internet Movie Database