The Old Dark House (1963 film)

Infobox Film
name = The Old Dark House


caption =
imdb_rating =
director = William Castle
producer = William Castle Anthony Hinds
writers = Robert Dillon
starring = Tom Poston
Robert Morley
Janette Scott
music = Benjamin Frankel
cinematography = Arthur Grant
editing = James Needs
distributor = Columbia Pictures
released = flagicon|USA 1963
runtime = 86 min.
country = USA
language = English
budget =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
amg_id = 1:104582
imdb_id = 0057379

"The Old Dark House" is a 1963 comedy-horror film directed by William Castle. It is a remake of the 1932 film of the same name. The film was based on the novel by J.B. Priestley and the new screenplay was written by Robert Dillon. It was shown for the first time on 30 October 1963 on USA and on 16 September 1966 at the UK.

Cast

*Tom Poston as Tom Penderel
*Robert Morley as Roderick Femm
*Janette Scott as Cecily Femm
*Joyce Grenfell as Agatha Femm
*Mervyn Johns as Petiphar Femm
*Fenella Fielding as Morgana Femm
*Peter Bull as Caspar/Jasper Femm
*Danny Green as Morgan Femm
*John Harvey as Club Receptionist
*Amy Dalby as Gambler (uncredited)

Plot synopsis

Tom Penderel, an American car salesman in London, delivers a car to an old mansion in Wales and discovers that his eccentric client, Casper Femm, is dead. The car crashes in a raging storm, and Tom is invited to stay at the house by members of Casper's family, including his nieces, the demure young Cecily and the seductive Morgana, and his Uncle Potiphar, who has been building an ark in anticipation of another great flood.

Each of the relatives is required to return to the dilapidated mansion before midnight each evening or forfeit his share of the family fortune. During the night, one of the Femm family dies every hour. First Agatha Femm, Casper's mother, is discovered with her knitting needles stuck in her throat. Casper's twin brother, Jasper, is the next victim, followed by Roderick, the head of the family.

Tom stumbles upon the fact that the killer is a woman, and he accuses Morgana, but Cecily confesses, explaining that she wanted the entire family estate. Cecily runs from the house, and Tom discovers that she has placed time bombs in all of the clocks in the house. Racing against time, he frantically defuses each of the bombs. With moments to spare, he hurls the last bomb out of the window, and it explodes at Cecily's feet.

External links

*imdb title|id=0057379|title=The Old Dark House (1963)
* [http://classic-horror.com/reviews/old_dark_house_1963 Classic-Horror review]