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Haunted Palace [VHS]

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"The Haunted Palace", has always been my favourite of the A.I.P productions that marked a highly successful collaboration between Director/Producer Roger Corman and veteran Hollywood star Vincent Price. Often using the unique stories by Edgar Allan Poe as their basis here the story is actually an adaptation of H. P. Lovecraft's "The Case of Charles Dexter Ward". which involves scorcery, curses, and evil doings over many generations in a dammed town in New England. Corman, famed for producing his efforts with minimal expense and an abundance of reusable footage here has seemingly extended his range with a solid, atmospheric and highly polished version of the horror tale that is as always greatly aided by Vincent Prices' mastery of the suspense /horror genre. Here he plays a dual role of 18th Century warlock Joseph Curwen, burnt by angry villagers but not before laying a curse on them, and his great great grandson Charles Dexter Ward who claiming his inheritance unknowingly stumbles into the curse and suffers the consequences of it.

The story begins in the 18th century township of Arkham, where the town is bedevilled by strange occurences where the women of the town are being lured away at night to the mysterious castle owned by Joseph Curwen. Once there they are made part of Curwen's attempts to make contact with the greater gods that once ruled the earth and offer unlimited power to those who feed their needs. The outraged menfolk soon take matters into their own hands and Edgar Weeden (Leo Gordon), has a particular axe to grind with Curwen in that he has stolen his ladylove Hester and is using her as his assistant in his deadly rituals. The men storm the castle and drag Curwen outside and burn him as a warlock. Before dying however Joseph places a curse on the town, its inhabitants and its decendants. The story then jumps foward 110 years where we find Arkham an accursed place where the descendants of the original villagers lead a fearful cursed existence. Into this unsavory environment comes Charles Dexter Ward and his wife Ann (Debra Paget), who have come to Arkham unknowingly to claim the family inheritance. He is met by hostility by the fearful locals who see that Charles has an exact likeness to the still feared Great Great Grandfather Joeph. Warned about the evil that lurks in the castle Charles rebuffs these supersitions. The only townsperson who tries to help the couple is Dr. Willet (Frank Maxwell), who fills Charles and Ann in on the centuries old curse. At the Castle Charles finds an eerie portrait of his great great grandfather which has a strange feel to it and before long Joseph Curwen's spirit begins to invade Charles' body. He vows much to Ann's distress to stay in the Castle and makes the acquaintance of the centuries old caretaker of the castle Simon (Lon Chaney Jr.), who begins to help Charles/Joseph in his devilish practices. Charles now almost totally taken over by Joseph's spirit sets out on a campaign to wreak revenge on the ancestors of the towns people who burnt him at the stake. First Ezra Weeden in killed by a mutant creature he has been keeping locked up for years. In a struggle with the creature he is pushed into a fire to burn just as his ancestor burnt Joseph Curwen. Micah Smith (Elisa Cook Jr.), is next and suffers a horrific death when Charles pours petrol over him and sets him alight. The townsfolk decide once again to take matters into their own hands and invade the castle where Charles/Joseph has not only resurrected Hester but is planning to sacrifice Ann, to the demon Gods. In the resulting blaze Dr. Willet manages to get Ann and a suddenly freed Charles out of the blazing castle however the spirit of Joseph Curwen is still strong as in an eerie moment it appears Charles is actually still possessed by Curwen.

"The Haunted Palace", boasts an expensive look to it that belies the usual small budgeted productions associated with Roger Corman. Certainly the casting of many seasoned veterans helps tremendously to lift the standard of this production. After his triumph in the classic "House of Wax", Vincent Price enjoyed a highly profitable second career as a horror star and his work for AIP and Roger Corman cemeted his stardom in this field. Debra Paget, a regular in films throughout the 1950's had her last screen appearance in "The Haunted Palace", before retiring and here makes a beautiful and spirited herione. Veterans Lon Chaney Jr., Elisha Cook Jr. and especially Frank Maxwell lend their well seasoned talents to the scenerio and add great weight to the supporting characters. Rich in atmosphere the castle scenes, those in the eerie graveyard and the frightening scenes showing the mutated townsfolk give "The Haunted Palace", an "A" class feel to what is essentially a "B" horror effort it. On the technical side Ronald Stein produced one of his most effective musical scores here which works greatly to highlight the scenes of uncertainity and fear that arise after Charles' arrival in the town. Like in his earlier "The Fall of the House of Usher", Corman shows his expertise often with limited budgets in producing satisfying mist shrouded landscapes and musty suffocating interiors and thi sfilm boasts some of his best work in that area.

First and formost "The Haunted Palace", is a great vehicle for the often underestimated talents of the legendary Vincent Price who was expert at colouring his interpretations with equal doses of charm and menace. In the dual role of Charles/Joseph he delivers a terrific performance which switches from a gentlemanly presence to one of pure evil. It is him that makes this Corman production stand out as great horror entertainment If you like richly atmospheric horror tales based on interestign literary sources dont fail to catch Vincent Price up to all his old evil in Roger Corman's "The Haunted Palace".

For those of you out there who have been seeking a film adaption of horror author H.P. Lovecraft's work that does not do a disservice to the inexplicably effective power of the original story, then this might satisfy you. An amalgamtion of "The Case of Charles Dexter Ward"'s plot with visual references from "The Shadow over Innsmouth", Roger Corman manages to weave it all into a symphony of mood and building fear. Its not "bethoven's fifth" mind you, but its well sustained and acted by its key players: Vincent Price (as the villainous sorcere Joseph Curwen) and Debrah Page (as his confused and stricken wife). Sadly, the supporting players (including the antiquated Lon Chaney Jr. - looking quite dessicated in his old age), are not nearly so effective. The make-up and effects are never quite convincing, but having sad as much they are used rarely, and always to maximum effect considering. All in all, a happy surprise for those Lovecraft admires amongst us who have suffered through the likes of "The Lurking Fear", and "The Unnameable." Ugh. A few other films I'd recommend for the Lovecraft enthusiasts: "The Resurrected", another adaption of "The Case..." with Chris Sarandon putting in a terrific performance as Curwen; "Cast a Deadly Spell"; an amusing romp through an alternate 40s-universe full of murder, mystery, magic, demons and a detective named Harry Lovecraft (just don't take it too seriously-its also quite hard to find); and finally, "From Beyond", a thoroughly ridiculous yet enjoyable tale of inter-dimensional mayhem. Other films, such as "John Carpenter's 'The Thing'", "The Last Wave", and "The Haunting" possess a distinctly Lovecraft feel without being adapted from one of the writer's stories.

You can't. This movie combines Price's terrific interpretation of Poe and Lovecraft into a New England horror. Price has two roles in this one.
He plays J. Curwen-a sorceror burned for witchcraft in New England. It seems that Curwen has ensorcered the women of Arkham into becoming receptacles for the children of the Elder Gods- a race of dieties that ruled Earth before being defeated and banished. Curwen has found a way to contact them and serve them in exchange for power. He dies? but not before cursing Arkham and his burners and vows revenge.
Fast Forward 110 years. Charles D. Ward (also Price) comes to Arkham with his wife to claim an ancestral home. Amazingly, Ward looks exactly like Curwen (the towspeople look exactly like their ancestors, too). The townspeople believe that it is Curwen, returned from the grave, to wreak his vengeance. The town is home to a collection of malformed people, supposedly that way from the curse (of course inbreeding could account for it, too).

At the palace, they meet Simon(Lon Chaney) the caretaker, who's been taking care of the palace for the last 110 years. He looks it, too! Ward is taken over by Curwen through a painting and, after resurrecting his dead mistress, starts killing those who burned him. The leaders are killed by burning (not very original) but Curwen must obey the Eldes Gods, who want their freedom. While performing a ritual to impregnate his wife with the demon offspring, Ward comes to his senses, frees his wife who is rushed from the burning palace by the village doctor. The townspeople set the palace afire to smoke out Curwen and destroy the evil of the place. The doctor risks going back for Ward, saves him and brings him out. Ward thanks the doctor but the ending leaves you wondering if it is Ward or Curwen who survived?!?!
This movie is typical of the Poe/Lovecraft era by Corman/Price. Richly decorated with mood and atmosphere in abundance. It is an enjoyable piece of work.
One question-did Price do the painting of Joseph Curwen for the movie? I would like to find out the answer.

This is considered one of Roger Corman's Poe films, but really the story is based on an H.P. Lovecraft story and only the film's title is taken from a poem by Poe. This film sometimes goes over looked, but I think it is one of the better of the series. Vincent Price does a fine job ecspecially with the Jekyll-Hyde transformation that takes place when a mild natured gentlemen is taken over by the spirit of his great grandfather who was also a warlock. Originally they wanted Boris Karloff in this film, but he declined due to his health and they got Lon Chaney Jr. instead. Pretty good supporting cast help the story flow along well. The sets and the palace itself are great, the local pub is called the burning man (there is a very good reason for it). This is one of the better films that follows the sins of the fathers theme. The opening theme is good, but they keep playing it over and over throughout the movie. This is a very good film to watch late at night.

An American couple travel abroad to haunted olde England to claim an inheritance, which is a strikingly beautiful castle high up on a hill overlooking a gloomy peasant village.

When entering the town pub for some directions, the resident drunken peasants are rude, fearful, & stuporstitious, when finally, a doctor explains the peasants' actions, & guides them to their inheritance.

The castle carries a nefarious connotation, a veritable "place that god forsook", where a Warlock bearing a frightening resemblence to the visiting American once resided, & who in fact, is the ancestor, whose dark magic left freakish anomeles upon the descendants of those who murdered him by the stake's flame. And indeed, his "generational curse" is plainly evident upon the deformed peasants to this day, who ironically, resemble zombies themselves.

Arkham Palace is a magnificent lair, filled with what you would expect to see in a Warlock's abode - ornate furnishings, frescoes, tapestries, stark gothesque chambres, lit with candles, torches, fireplaces, & to add to its charm, veiled in cobwebs.

He is fixated - veritably mesmerized by the portrait of the excarnate Lord of the castle, which hangs {where else?}, above the main fireplace. Slowly but surely, the essence of the warlock takes possession of his mind, until he fully gains carnate composition again within the body of his descendant. Then he goes about to summon up 'The Old Ones' {from Lovecraftian Lore}, taking up the 'forbidden rites' of The Necronomicon, that he may resurrect his beloved wife, long since in necrotic catatonia. Of course, she is eventually revived, his companion sorceress, to aid him in his diabolical experimentations.

David's initial companion becomes very disturbed by his personality fluctuations, that she seeks out the doctor who helped them before - eventually, they both become prisoners, she is subsequently scheduled for sacrifice. A pit leading directly to Hell is opened, revealing a growling, demonic spechtre awaiting to take his prize.

The film concludes in the ubiquitous D.P. manner, as the peasants, drunken with liquid courage & fear, form a mob, eventually setting the castle ablaze, although David is spared the fate of his ancestor.

However, at the very ende, that sinister gleam returns once again to his eyes - the warlock prevails.

American International Pictures made the first stab at adapting H. P. Lovecraft to screen with this little goodie, which succeeds more than it fails.

The atmosphere and production are terrific, typical of AIP at its best. Price is good and sinister, as always, and Debra Paget is effective as his haunted wife. Numerous famous character actors play Curwen's resurrected former associates and present-day victims, such as Lon Chaney, Jr. and Elisha Cook, Jr. Charles Beaumont's script adaptation is not bad, limited by the production capacities of the day to reproduce Lovecraft's variety of cosmic horrors believably on the screen. The music score is excellent, but a bit repetitive. There's a pretty decent (for the time) Lovecraftian beastie thrown briefly into the mix, and an even creepier, barely-glimpsed one of its "offspring" which appears long enough to work a little mayhem.

Neither the best Lovecraft nor Vincent Price film, but still a good one, and well worth watching.

This entry in the American International - Poe adaptions is often overlooked. The film opens with Vincent Price playing a man who is accused of witchcraft and burned alive, but not before promising a curse on the town. Years later, Price plays his own ancestor who comes to claim his ancestrial home. The townspeople think he is evil and has come to carry out the curse. An eerie painting proceeds to take over Price during brief periods and odd things start to happen within the house and people in the town start dying in brutal ways. The title of this film was taken from the Poe poem, but the story is from H.P. Lovecraft. The acting is very good, ecspecially Price in his transformations from good to evil. Lon Chaney Jr. has a small supporting role that was originally intended for Boris Karlof who turned it down for health reasons. The costumes and sets are also very good. This is definitely worth a viewing because it is better than it's reputation.

This is a screen adaption of H.P. Lovecraft's "The Case of Charles Dexter Ward". It is reasonably faithful, but lacks the heavy atmosphere of horror that all of Lovecraft's stories have. Still, for one of the first attempts at bringing such a difficult story to the screen, it's a better than average try. No excess nudity or unnecessary violence are added, but certain scenes do have the requisite level of creepiness to satisfy most Lovecraft fans. Not a masterpiece, but a good effort.

The start of the movie says it's a Poe, but every reader knows its clearly HP Lovecraft's Charles Dexter Ward. Despite that false citation it is a good flick about the nameless Gods. Vincent Price plays the mad necromancer conducting his weird breeding experiments through his grandson. The scenes with the various mutant townsfolk are way cool. Lon Chaney plays a sidekick. You will also see a cameo by the actor who played Kirk's lawyer in the episode where he was court-martialed.

good solid vincent price vehicle with lon chaney jr too. no way you can go wrong with this combination! quite enjoyable with price doing what he does best. if you liked "house of wax", "fall of the house of usher", or "the pit and the pendulum", you'll like this. it's another 'man on the edge of madness' flick with an evil entity/monster too. have fun!