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{{Short description|1963 film by Roger Corman}}
{{All plot|date=September 2010}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| name = The Haunted Palace
| name = The Haunted Palace
| image = Thehauntedpalaceposter.png
| image = Thehauntedpalaceposter.png
| caption = Original US [[film poster]] by [[Reynold Brown]]
| caption = Theatrical release poster by [[Reynold Brown]]
| director = [[Roger Corman]]
| director = [[Roger Corman]]
| producer = [[Samuel Z. Arkoff]]<br>[[James H. Nicholson]]<br>[[Roger Corman]]
| producer = Roger Corman
| writer = '''Story:'''<br>[[H. P. Lovecraft]]<br>'''Screenplay:'''<br>[[Charles Beaumont]]
| screenplay = [[Charles Beaumont]]
| based_on = {{plainlist|
| based on = ''[[The Case of Charles Dexter Ward]]'' by [[H. P. Lovecraft]]
*{{based on|"[[The Haunted Palace (poem)|The Haunted Palace]]"|[[Edgar Allan Poe]]}} ([[De-jure]])
| starring = [[Vincent Price]]<br>[[Debra Paget]]<br>[[Lon Chaney Jr.]]
*{{based on|''[[The Case of Charles Dexter Ward]]''|[[H. P. Lovecraft]]}} ([[De-facto]])
}}
| starring = {{plainlist|
*[[Vincent Price]]
*[[Debra Paget]]
*[[Lon Chaney Jr.]]}}
| music = [[Ronald Stein]]
| music = [[Ronald Stein]]
| cinematography = [[Floyd Crosby]]
| cinematography = [[Floyd Crosby]]
| editing = [[Ronald Sinclair]]
| editing = [[Ronald Sinclair]]
| color_process = Pathécolor
| studio = Alta Vista Productions
| distributor = [[American International Pictures]]
| distributor = [[American International Pictures]]
| released = {{Film date|1963}}
| released = {{Film date|1963|08|28}}
| runtime = 87 minutes
| runtime = 87 minutes
| country = United States
| country = United States
| language = [[English language|English]]
| language = [[English language|English]]
| budget =
| budget =
| gross = $1,200,000 (US/ Canada)<ref>"Top Rental Features of 1963", ''Variety'', 8 January 1964 p 71. Please note figures are rentals as opposed to total gross.</ref><br>184,700 admissions (France)<ref>[http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&prev=search&rurl=translate.google.com.au&sl=fr&u=http://www.boxofficestory.com/box-office-roger-corman-c25219334&usg=ALkJrhhPRR4k6t8SO7XOpFPK6Cs9OEHuHQ Box office information for Roger Corman films in France] at Box Office Story</ref>
| gross = $1,200,000 (US/ Canada)<ref>"Top Rental Features of 1963", ''Variety'', 8 January 1964 p 71. Please note figures are rentals as opposed to total gross.</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Variety|url=https://archive.org/details/variety-1963-10/page/n104/mode/1up?q=%22beach+party%22|date=9 October 1963|page=17|title=Poe & Bikinis}}</ref>
<br>184,700 admissions (France)<ref>[http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&prev=search&rurl=translate.google.com.au&sl=fr&u=http://www.boxofficestory.com/box-office-roger-corman-c25219334&usg=ALkJrhhPRR4k6t8SO7XOpFPK6Cs9OEHuHQ Box office information for Roger Corman films in France] at Box Office Story</ref>
}}
}}
'''''The Haunted Palace''''' is a 1963 gothic [[fantasy film|fantasy]] [[horror film]] released by [[American International Pictures]], starring [[Vincent Price]], [[Lon Chaney Jr.]] and [[Debra Paget]] (in her final film), in a story about a village held in the grip of a dead [[Necromancy|necromancer]]. Directed by [[Roger Corman]], it is one of [[American International Pictures#List of Corman-Poe films|his series of eight films]] based largely on the works of American author [[Edgar Allan Poe]].


'''''The Haunted Palace''''' is a 1963 [[horror film]] released by [[American International Pictures]], starring [[Vincent Price]], [[Lon Chaney Jr.]], and [[Debra Paget]] (in her final film), in a story about a village held in the grip of a dead necromancer. The film was directed by [[Roger Corman]] and is often regarded as one in [[American International Pictures#List of Corman-Poe films|his series of eight films]] largely based on the works of American author [[Edgar Allan Poe]]. Although marketed as "Edgar Allan Poe's ''The Haunted Palace''", the film actually derives its plot from ''[[The Case of Charles Dexter Ward]]'', a novella by [[H. P. Lovecraft]]. The title ''The Haunted Palace'' is borrowed from a [[The Haunted Palace (poem)|poem by Poe]], published in 1839 (which was later incorporated into Poe's horror short story "[[The Fall of the House of Usher]]").
Although marketed as "Edgar Allan Poe's ''The Haunted Palace''", the film actually derives its plot from ''[[The Case of Charles Dexter Ward]]'', a novella by [[H. P. Lovecraft]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Comedy-Horror Films: A Chronological History, 1914-2008 |url=https://archive.org/details/comedyhorrorfilm00hall|url-access=limited |last=Hallenbeck |first=Bruce G.|publisher=[[McFarland & Company]]|year=2009 |isbn=9780786453788|page=142}}</ref> The film's title is derived from a [[The Haunted Palace (poem)|6-stanza poem by Poe]], published in 1839 (which was later incorporated into Poe's horror short story "[[The Fall of the House of Usher]]"), and the film uses eight lines from the poem within the framing of the story.


==Plot==
==Plot==
In 1765, the inhabitants of [[Arkham]] are suspicious of the strange phenomena surrounding the grand "palace" that overlooks the town. They suspect the palace's owner, Joseph Curwen, is a [[warlock]].
In 1765, the inhabitants of [[Arkham]], [[Massachusetts]], are suspicious of the strange phenomena surrounding the grand "palace" that overlooks the town. They suspect the palace's owner, Joseph Curwen, is a [[warlock]].


A young girl wanders up to the palace in a trance-like state. She is led by Curwen and his mistress, Hester, down into the dungeons. The girl is subjected to a strange ritual, in which an unseen creature rises up from a covered pit. The townspeople observe the girl wandering off, and they storm the palace to confront its owner. Though the girl appears unharmed, the townspeople surmise that she has been bewitched to forget what happened to her. They drag Curwen out to a tree where they intend to burn him. The mob leader, Ezra Weeden, insists that they do not harm Hester (to whom he had been previously engaged to marry). Before dying, Curwen puts a [[curse]] on Arkham and its inhabitants and their descendants, promising to rise from the grave to take his revenge.
A young girl wanders up to the palace in a trance-like state. She is led by Curwen and his mistress, Hester, down into the dungeons. The girl is subjected to a strange ritual, in which an unseen creature rises up from a covered pit. The townspeople observe the girl wandering off, and they storm the palace to confront its owner. Though the girl appears unharmed, the townspeople surmise that she has been bewitched to forget what happened to her. They drag Curwen out to a tree where they intend to burn him. The mob leader, Ezra Weeden, insists that they do not harm Hester (to whom he had been previously engaged to marry). Before being burned alive, Curwen puts a [[curse]] on Arkham and its inhabitants and their descendants, promising to rise from the grave to take his revenge.


In 1875, 110 years later, Curwen's great-great-grandson, Charles Dexter Ward, and his wife Anne arrive in Arkham after inheriting the palace. They find the townsfolk hostile towards them and are disturbed by the horrific [[Deformity|deformities]] that afflict many of Arkham's inhabitants. Charles is surprised by how well he seems to know the palace and struck by his strong resemblance to a portrait of Curwen. He and Anne meet Simon, the palace caretaker, who persuades them to stay at the palace and to forget the townspeoples' hostility. Charles becomes more and more obsessed with the portrait of Curwen, and at times seems to change in his personality.
In 1875, 110 years later, Curwen's great-great-grandson, Charles Dexter Ward, and his wife Anne arrive in Arkham after inheriting the palace. They find the townsfolk hostile towards them and are disturbed by the horrific [[Deformity|deformities]] that afflict many of Arkham's inhabitants. Charles is surprised by how well he seems to know the palace and struck by his strong resemblance to a portrait of Curwen. He and Anne meet Simon, the palace caretaker, who persuades them to stay at the palace and to forget the townspeople's hostility. Charles becomes more and more obsessed with the portrait of Curwen, and at times seems to change in his personality.


Charles and Anne befriend the local doctor, Dr. Marinus Willet. He explains the circumstances surrounding Curwen's death, and that the townspeople blame the deformities on the curse. He tells them of a [[black magic]] book, the ''[[Necronomicon]]'', believed to have been in Curwen's possession, and which Curwen used to summon the [[Great Old Ones|Elder Gods]] [[Cthulhu]] and [[Yog-Sothoth]]. Curwen's plan was to mate [[Human|mortal]] women with these beings in order to create a race of super-humans, which led to the deformities. The townspeople are terrified that Curwen has come back in the form of Charles to seek his revenge. Dr. Willet advises Charles and Anne to leave the town.
Charles and Anne befriend the local doctor, Marinus Willet. He explains the circumstances surrounding Curwen's death, and that the townspeople blame the deformities on the curse. He tells them of a [[black magic]] book, the ''[[Necronomicon]]'', believed to have been in Curwen's possession, and which Curwen used to summon the [[Great Old Ones|Elder Gods]] [[Cthulhu]] and [[Yog-Sothoth]]. Curwen's plan was to mate [[Human|mortal]] women with these beings in order to create a race of super-humans, which led to the deformities. The townspeople are terrified that Curwen has come back in the form of Charles to seek his revenge. Dr. Willet advises Charles and Anne to leave the town.


Charles seems to be falling under the control of something and insists that they stay in Arkham. One night, Charles is [[Spirit possession|possessed]] by the spirit of Joseph Curwen. Curwen reunites with two other warlocks, Simon and Jabez, who also have possessed their descendants. They make plans to continue their work and resurrect Hester. Curwen's hold on Charles is limited, and he tells Simon and Jabez that Charles is fighting him.
Charles seems to be falling under the control of something and insists that they stay in Arkham. One night, Charles is [[Spirit possession|possessed]] by the spirit of Joseph Curwen. Curwen reunites with two other warlocks, Simon and Jabez, who also have possessed their descendants. They make plans to continue their work and resurrect Hester. Curwen's hold on Charles is limited, and he tells Simon and Jabez that Charles is fighting him.


Curwen begins his revenge on the descendants. He kills Weeden's descendant by releasing Weeden's monstrously deformed son from his locked room and attacks Leach's descendant with fire. Curwen takes complete control of Charles and he [[rape]]s Anne. Anne seeks help from Dr. Willet. Curwen and his associates succeed in resurrecting Hester. Curwen attempts to persuade Willet that Anne is insane.
Curwen begins his revenge on the descendants. He kills Ezra Weeden's descendant Edgar by releasing Weeden's monstrously deformed son from his locked room and attacks Micah Smith's descendant Peter with fire. Curwen takes complete control of Charles and he attempts to rape Anne. Anne seeks help from Dr. Willet, whom Curwen then attempts to persuade that Anne is insane. Curwen and his associates succeed in resurrecting Hester.


The townspeople discover Leach's charred corpse and storm the palace. Dr. Willet and Anne try to rescue Charles and discover a secret entrance to the dungeons. They are ambushed by Curwen, Simon, Jabez, and Hester. Anne is offered as a sacrifice to the creature in the pit, while the residents break in and begin to raze the palace. The portrait of Curwen is destroyed, breaking Curwen's hold over Charles. Charles releases Anne, then urges Dr. Willet to take her away from the palace. While Curwen's associates seize Charles, Dr. Willet shepherds Anne from the burning palace. He returns to rescue Charles, and finds that Simon, Jabez, and Hester have escaped and left him to die. Charles and Willet barely escape the flames. Charles and Anne fervently thank Willet for saving their lives. However, it is apparent that Joseph Curwen still inhabits Charles' mind.
The townspeople discover Peter Smith's charred corpse and storm the palace. Dr. Willet and Anne try to rescue Charles and discover a secret entrance to the dungeons. They are ambushed by Curwen, Simon, Jabez, and Hester. Anne is offered as a mate to the creature in the pit, while the residents break in and begin to raze the palace. The portrait of Curwen is destroyed, breaking Curwen's hold over Charles. Charles releases Anne, then urges Dr. Willet to take her away from the palace. While Curwen's associates seize Charles, Dr. Willet shepherds Anne from the burning palace. He returns to rescue Charles, and finds that Simon, Jabez, and Hester have escaped and left him to die. Charles and Willet barely escape the flames. Charles and Anne fervently thank Willet for saving their lives. However, it is apparent that Joseph Curwen still inhabits Charles' body.


==Cast==
The film ends with the final verse of Poe's poem: "...While, like a ghastly rapid river, through the pale door, a hideous throng rush out forever and laugh - But smile no more."
*[[Vincent Price]] as Joseph Curwen / Charles Dexter Ward

==Characters and cast==
Characters are used [[anachronism|anachronistically]], and the descendants of the past events are portrayed by the same actors.

*[[Vincent Price]] as Joseph Curwen/Charles Dexter Ward
*[[Debra Paget]] as Anne Ward
*[[Debra Paget]] as Anne Ward
*Cathie Merchant as Hester Tillinghast
*Cathie Merchant as Hester Tillinghast
*[[Frank Maxwell]] as Dr. Marinus Willet/Priam Willet
*[[Frank Maxwell]] as Priam Willet / Dr. Marinus Willet
*[[Lon Chaney Jr.]] as Simon Orne
*[[Lon Chaney Jr.]] as Simon Orne (credited as Lon Chaney)
*[[Milton Parsons]] as Jabez Hutchinson
*[[Milton Parsons]] as Jabez Hutchinson
*[[Elisha Cook, Jr.]] as Peter Smith/Micah Smith
*[[Elisha Cook, Jr.]] as Micah Smith / Peter Smith (credited as Elisha Cook)
*[[John Dierkes]] as Jacob West/Benjamin West
*[[John Dierkes]] as Benjamin West / Jacob West (credited as John Dierkies)
*[[Leo Gordon]] as Edgar Weeden/Ezra Weeden
*[[Leo Gordon]] as Ezra Weeden / Edgar Weeden
*[[Barboura Morris]] as Edgar Weeden's wife
*[[Barboura Morris]] as Edgar's wife
*Guy Wilkerson as Gideon Leach/Mr. Leach
*[[Guy Wilkerson]] as Gideon Leach / Mr. Leach
*Bruno VeSota as Bruno
*[[Bruno VeSota]] as Bruno the bartender (credited as Bruno Ve Sota)
*[[I. Stanford Jolley]] as Mr. Carmody the coachman (credited as Stanford Jolley)
*Darlene Lucht as Miss Fitch


==Production notes==
==Production notes==
Producer and director Roger Corman, best known for his Poe horror film series for [[American International Pictures]], wanted to do something different with ''The Haunted Palace'' and selected a Lovecraft story. AIP changed the film's name, against Corman's wishes, to suggest continuity with the popular Poe series. The only connection the film has with the Edgar Allan Poe poem is a brief quotation at the end of the film read by Vincent Price. The credits misspell the author of the poem as by "Edgar Allen Poe"; in true Corman Poe movies, the author's middle name is spelled correctly.
Producer and director [[Roger Corman]], best known for his Poe horror film series for [[American International Pictures]], originally envisioned the project when making ''The Premature Burial'' for Pathe. He intended to cast the stars of that film, Ray Milland and Hazel Court, along with [[Boris Karloff]]. Pathe sold its interest in ''The Premature Burial'' to AIP and the Lovecraft story would be made by Corman for that studio. Milland, Court and Karloff were replaced by Vincent Price, Debra Paget and Lon Chaney.<ref>{{cite book| page=113|url= https://archive.org/details/rogercormanbesto0000mcge/page/112/mode/1up?|title= Roger Corman, the best of the cheap acts|last=McGee|first= Mark Thomas|year=1988}}</ref>


The film paired Price with [[Debra Paget]] and [[Lon Chaney Jr.]]. Paget retired from acting after this film. Chaney, famous for playing ''[[The Wolf Man (1941 film)|The Wolf Man]]'', made only this one appearance in a Roger Corman film. He had co-starred with Price in ''[[Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein]]'' fifteen years before, but they didn't share any scenes; Price's participation was a voice over role (as The Invisible Man) and he never appeared on-screen. Chaney's role in ''The Haunted Palace'' was originally meant to be played by [[Boris Karloff]], but Karloff had contracted an illness while making ''[[Black Sabbath (film)|Black Sabbath]]'' in Italy.<ref name="AIP">Mark McGee, ''Faster and Furiouser: The Revised and Fattened Fable of American International Pictures'', McFarland, 1996 p206</ref>
AIP changed the film's name, against Corman's wishes, to suggest continuity with the popular Poe series. The only connection the film has with the Poe poem are two brief quotes read by Price. The credits misspell the author of the poem as by "Edgar {{Typo|Allen}} Poe"; in Corman's other Poe films, the author's middle name is spelled correctly.
The film paired Price with [[Debra Paget]] and [[Lon Chaney Jr.]]; Paget retired from acting following completion of the film, and Chaney, famous for playing ''[[The Wolf Man (1941 film)|The Wolf Man]]'', made only this one appearance in a Corman film. He had co-starred with Price in ''[[Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein]]'' fifteen years earlier, but they didn't share any scenes; Price's participation was a voiceover role (as The Invisible Man) and he never appeared on-screen. Chaney's role in ''The Haunted Palace'' was originally meant to be played by [[Boris Karloff]], but Karloff had contracted an illness while making ''[[Black Sabbath (film)|Black Sabbath]]'' in Italy.<ref name="AIP">Mark McGee, ''Faster and Furiouser: The Revised and Fattened Fable of American International Pictures'', McFarland, 1996 p206</ref>


The set for the village of Arkham was quite small, and used [[forced perspective]] to appear larger. Both the front of the palace and the underground dungeon later appeared in Corman's ''[[The Terror (1963 film)|The Terror]]'', which was shot on sets from other AIP films.
The set for the village of Arkham was quite small, and used [[forced perspective]] to appear larger. Both the front of the palace and the underground dungeon later appeared in Corman's ''[[The Terror (1963 film)|The Terror]]'', which was shot on sets from other AIP films.
Line 67: Line 77:
Clips from ''The Haunted Palace'' are among the stock footage from various Corman features used for the Vincent Price film ''[[Madhouse (1974 film)|Madhouse]]'' (1974), in which Price plays a horror film actor. The clips are presented as the early work of Price's character.
Clips from ''The Haunted Palace'' are among the stock footage from various Corman features used for the Vincent Price film ''[[Madhouse (1974 film)|Madhouse]]'' (1974), in which Price plays a horror film actor. The clips are presented as the early work of Price's character.


This was Corman's first film to use the then new [[zoom lens]], which created issues as more light than normal had to be used on the set.<ref>Frank, A. (1998) The Films of Roger Corman. Batsford</ref>
==Critical reaction==


After the 18th-century portion of the story, [[Vincent Price]] recites lines 41 through 44 of the final stanza of the eponymous poem: "And travelers now within that valley though the red-litten windows see vast forms that move fantastically to a discordant melody," and the film ends with lines 45 through 48: "...While, like a ghastly rapid river, through the pale door, a hideous throng rush out forever and laugh – But smile no more."
In their book ''[[Lurker in the Lobby: The Guide to the Cinema of H. P. Lovecraft|Lurker in the Lobby: A Guide to the Cinema of H. P. Lovecraft]]'', [[Andrew Migliore]] and John Strysik write: "''The Haunted Palace'' is a seminal film for Lovecraft lovers; it is the first major motion picture to introduce [Lovecraft's] creation[s] – the ''[[Necronomicon]]'', and those cosmic abominations [[Cthulhu]] and [[Yog-Sothoth]] – to a general audience. [Lovecraft's] obsession with the past is clearly presented, and in a heartfelt passage at the end of the film, so is his belief that mankind is a minor species adrift in a malevolent universe. The film strikes a good balance between narrative and action, and Vincent Price is, well, priceless as Ward/Curwen. The supporting cast is solid and the art direction by Daniel Haller is really quite good for such a low-budget film. Roger Corman did an admirable job as the first American feature-film director to stake out some cinematic high ground for the cosmos-crushing adaptations of [H. P. Lovecraft] to follow."<ref>[[Andrew Migliore]] & John Strysik, ''[[Lurker in the Lobby: The Guide to the Cinema of H. P. Lovecraft|Lurker in the Lobby: A Guide to the Cinema of H. P. Lovecraft]]'', Night Shade Books, February 1, 2006, ISBN 978-1892389350</ref>

==Critical reaction==
{{expand section|date=December 2017}}
In their book ''Lurker in the Lobby: A Guide to the Cinema of H. P. Lovecraft'', Andrew Migliore and John Strysik write: "''The Haunted Palace'' is a seminal film for Lovecraft lovers; it is the first major motion picture to introduce [Lovecraft's] creation[s] – the ''[[Necronomicon]]'', and those cosmic abominations [[Cthulhu]] and [[Yog-Sothoth]] – to a general audience. [Lovecraft's] obsession with the past is clearly presented, and in a heartfelt passage at the end of the film, so is his belief that mankind is a minor species adrift in a malevolent universe. The film strikes a good balance between narrative and action, and Vincent Price is, well, priceless as Ward/Curwen. The supporting cast is solid and the art direction by Daniel Haller is really quite good for such a low-budget film. Roger Corman did an admirable job as the first American feature-film director to stake out some cinematic high ground for the cosmos-crushing adaptations of [H. P. Lovecraft] to follow."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Migliore |first1=Andrew |last2=Strysik |first2=John |title=Lurker in the Lobby: A Guide to the Cinema of H. P. Lovecraft |publisher=Night Shade Books |date=February 1, 2006 |ISBN=978-1892389350}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
*[[The Resurrected]] (1991)
*''[[The Case of Charles Dexter Ward]],'' a novella by H.P. Lovecraft
*"[[The Haunted Palace (poem)|The Haunted Palace]]", a poem Edgar Allan Poe


==References==
==References==
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{{Wikiquote}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{IMDb title|0057128|The Haunted Palace}}
* {{IMDb title|0057128|The Haunted Palace}}
* {{Amg movie|21677|The Haunted Palace}}
* {{TCMDb title|77475|The Haunted Palace}}
* {{tcmdb title|77475|The Haunted Palace}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|haunted_palace|The Haunted Palace}}
*[http://trailersfromhell.com/the-haunted-palace/ Joe Dante on ''The Haunted Palace''] at [[Trailers from Hell]]
*[http://trailersfromhell.com/the-haunted-palace/ Joe Dante on ''The Haunted Palace''] at [[Trailers from Hell]]


{{Media based on H. P. Lovecraft works}}
{{Cormanpoe}}
{{Roger Corman}}
{{Roger Corman}}
{{Charles Beaumont}}
{{Charles Beaumont}}
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[[Category:1963 horror films]]
[[Category:1963 horror films]]
[[Category:1963 films]]
[[Category:1963 films]]
[[Category:1960s supernatural horror films]]
[[Category:Gothic horror films]]
[[Category:Gothic horror films]]
[[Category:Cthulhu Mythos films]]
[[Category:Cthulhu Mythos films]]
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[[Category:Films based on works by H. P. Lovecraft]]
[[Category:Films based on works by H. P. Lovecraft]]
[[Category:Films based on works by Edgar Allan Poe]]
[[Category:Films based on works by Edgar Allan Poe]]
[[Category:Films set in the 1760s]]
[[Category:Films set in 1765]]
[[Category:Films set in 1875]]
[[Category:Films set in 1875]]
[[Category:Haunted house films]]
[[Category:Films set in country houses]]
[[Category:Supernatural horror films]]
[[Category:Films set in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:American haunted house films]]
[[Category:American supernatural horror films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Roger Corman]]
[[Category:Films directed by Roger Corman]]
[[Category:Screenplays by Charles Beaumont]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Charles Beaumont]]
[[Category:Films produced by Roger Corman]]
[[Category:Films produced by Roger Corman]]
[[Category:American International Pictures films]]
[[Category:1960s historical horror films]]
[[Category:American historical horror films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Ronald Stein]]
[[Category:1960s English-language films]]
[[Category:1960s American films]]
[[Category:Films about spirit possession]]
[[Category:Resurrection in film]]
[[Category:English-language horror films]]
[[Category:English-language historical films]]

Latest revision as of 09:33, 22 December 2024

The Haunted Palace
Theatrical release poster by Reynold Brown
Directed byRoger Corman
Screenplay byCharles Beaumont
Based on
Produced byRoger Corman
Starring
CinematographyFloyd Crosby
Edited byRonald Sinclair
Music byRonald Stein
Color processPathécolor
Production
company
Alta Vista Productions
Distributed byAmerican International Pictures
Release date
  • August 28, 1963 (1963-08-28)
Running time
87 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$1,200,000 (US/ Canada)[1][2]
184,700 admissions (France)[3]

The Haunted Palace is a 1963 gothic fantasy horror film released by American International Pictures, starring Vincent Price, Lon Chaney Jr. and Debra Paget (in her final film), in a story about a village held in the grip of a dead necromancer. Directed by Roger Corman, it is one of his series of eight films based largely on the works of American author Edgar Allan Poe.

Although marketed as "Edgar Allan Poe's The Haunted Palace", the film actually derives its plot from The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, a novella by H. P. Lovecraft.[4] The film's title is derived from a 6-stanza poem by Poe, published in 1839 (which was later incorporated into Poe's horror short story "The Fall of the House of Usher"), and the film uses eight lines from the poem within the framing of the story.

Plot

[edit]

In 1765, the inhabitants of Arkham, Massachusetts, are suspicious of the strange phenomena surrounding the grand "palace" that overlooks the town. They suspect the palace's owner, Joseph Curwen, is a warlock.

A young girl wanders up to the palace in a trance-like state. She is led by Curwen and his mistress, Hester, down into the dungeons. The girl is subjected to a strange ritual, in which an unseen creature rises up from a covered pit. The townspeople observe the girl wandering off, and they storm the palace to confront its owner. Though the girl appears unharmed, the townspeople surmise that she has been bewitched to forget what happened to her. They drag Curwen out to a tree where they intend to burn him. The mob leader, Ezra Weeden, insists that they do not harm Hester (to whom he had been previously engaged to marry). Before being burned alive, Curwen puts a curse on Arkham and its inhabitants and their descendants, promising to rise from the grave to take his revenge.

In 1875, 110 years later, Curwen's great-great-grandson, Charles Dexter Ward, and his wife Anne arrive in Arkham after inheriting the palace. They find the townsfolk hostile towards them and are disturbed by the horrific deformities that afflict many of Arkham's inhabitants. Charles is surprised by how well he seems to know the palace and struck by his strong resemblance to a portrait of Curwen. He and Anne meet Simon, the palace caretaker, who persuades them to stay at the palace and to forget the townspeople's hostility. Charles becomes more and more obsessed with the portrait of Curwen, and at times seems to change in his personality.

Charles and Anne befriend the local doctor, Marinus Willet. He explains the circumstances surrounding Curwen's death, and that the townspeople blame the deformities on the curse. He tells them of a black magic book, the Necronomicon, believed to have been in Curwen's possession, and which Curwen used to summon the Elder Gods Cthulhu and Yog-Sothoth. Curwen's plan was to mate mortal women with these beings in order to create a race of super-humans, which led to the deformities. The townspeople are terrified that Curwen has come back in the form of Charles to seek his revenge. Dr. Willet advises Charles and Anne to leave the town.

Charles seems to be falling under the control of something and insists that they stay in Arkham. One night, Charles is possessed by the spirit of Joseph Curwen. Curwen reunites with two other warlocks, Simon and Jabez, who also have possessed their descendants. They make plans to continue their work and resurrect Hester. Curwen's hold on Charles is limited, and he tells Simon and Jabez that Charles is fighting him.

Curwen begins his revenge on the descendants. He kills Ezra Weeden's descendant Edgar by releasing Weeden's monstrously deformed son from his locked room and attacks Micah Smith's descendant Peter with fire. Curwen takes complete control of Charles and he attempts to rape Anne. Anne seeks help from Dr. Willet, whom Curwen then attempts to persuade that Anne is insane. Curwen and his associates succeed in resurrecting Hester.

The townspeople discover Peter Smith's charred corpse and storm the palace. Dr. Willet and Anne try to rescue Charles and discover a secret entrance to the dungeons. They are ambushed by Curwen, Simon, Jabez, and Hester. Anne is offered as a mate to the creature in the pit, while the residents break in and begin to raze the palace. The portrait of Curwen is destroyed, breaking Curwen's hold over Charles. Charles releases Anne, then urges Dr. Willet to take her away from the palace. While Curwen's associates seize Charles, Dr. Willet shepherds Anne from the burning palace. He returns to rescue Charles, and finds that Simon, Jabez, and Hester have escaped and left him to die. Charles and Willet barely escape the flames. Charles and Anne fervently thank Willet for saving their lives. However, it is apparent that Joseph Curwen still inhabits Charles' body.

Cast

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Production notes

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Producer and director Roger Corman, best known for his Poe horror film series for American International Pictures, originally envisioned the project when making The Premature Burial for Pathe. He intended to cast the stars of that film, Ray Milland and Hazel Court, along with Boris Karloff. Pathe sold its interest in The Premature Burial to AIP and the Lovecraft story would be made by Corman for that studio. Milland, Court and Karloff were replaced by Vincent Price, Debra Paget and Lon Chaney.[5]

AIP changed the film's name, against Corman's wishes, to suggest continuity with the popular Poe series. The only connection the film has with the Poe poem are two brief quotes read by Price. The credits misspell the author of the poem as by "Edgar Allen Poe"; in Corman's other Poe films, the author's middle name is spelled correctly.

The film paired Price with Debra Paget and Lon Chaney Jr.; Paget retired from acting following completion of the film, and Chaney, famous for playing The Wolf Man, made only this one appearance in a Corman film. He had co-starred with Price in Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein fifteen years earlier, but they didn't share any scenes; Price's participation was a voiceover role (as The Invisible Man) and he never appeared on-screen. Chaney's role in The Haunted Palace was originally meant to be played by Boris Karloff, but Karloff had contracted an illness while making Black Sabbath in Italy.[6]

The set for the village of Arkham was quite small, and used forced perspective to appear larger. Both the front of the palace and the underground dungeon later appeared in Corman's The Terror, which was shot on sets from other AIP films.

Francis Ford Coppola provided additional dialogue for the film.

Clips from The Haunted Palace are among the stock footage from various Corman features used for the Vincent Price film Madhouse (1974), in which Price plays a horror film actor. The clips are presented as the early work of Price's character.

This was Corman's first film to use the then new zoom lens, which created issues as more light than normal had to be used on the set.[7]

After the 18th-century portion of the story, Vincent Price recites lines 41 through 44 of the final stanza of the eponymous poem: "And travelers now within that valley though the red-litten windows see vast forms that move fantastically to a discordant melody," and the film ends with lines 45 through 48: "...While, like a ghastly rapid river, through the pale door, a hideous throng rush out forever and laugh – But smile no more."

Critical reaction

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In their book Lurker in the Lobby: A Guide to the Cinema of H. P. Lovecraft, Andrew Migliore and John Strysik write: "The Haunted Palace is a seminal film for Lovecraft lovers; it is the first major motion picture to introduce [Lovecraft's] creation[s] – the Necronomicon, and those cosmic abominations Cthulhu and Yog-Sothoth – to a general audience. [Lovecraft's] obsession with the past is clearly presented, and in a heartfelt passage at the end of the film, so is his belief that mankind is a minor species adrift in a malevolent universe. The film strikes a good balance between narrative and action, and Vincent Price is, well, priceless as Ward/Curwen. The supporting cast is solid and the art direction by Daniel Haller is really quite good for such a low-budget film. Roger Corman did an admirable job as the first American feature-film director to stake out some cinematic high ground for the cosmos-crushing adaptations of [H. P. Lovecraft] to follow."[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Top Rental Features of 1963", Variety, 8 January 1964 p 71. Please note figures are rentals as opposed to total gross.
  2. ^ "Poe & Bikinis". Variety. 9 October 1963. p. 17.
  3. ^ Box office information for Roger Corman films in France at Box Office Story
  4. ^ Hallenbeck, Bruce G. (2009). Comedy-Horror Films: A Chronological History, 1914-2008. McFarland & Company. p. 142. ISBN 9780786453788.
  5. ^ McGee, Mark Thomas (1988). Roger Corman, the best of the cheap acts. p. 113.
  6. ^ Mark McGee, Faster and Furiouser: The Revised and Fattened Fable of American International Pictures, McFarland, 1996 p206
  7. ^ Frank, A. (1998) The Films of Roger Corman. Batsford
  8. ^ Migliore, Andrew; Strysik, John (February 1, 2006). Lurker in the Lobby: A Guide to the Cinema of H. P. Lovecraft. Night Shade Books. ISBN 978-1892389350.
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