Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Moody Gothic Interpretation Of H.P. Lovecraft Story, July 4, 2004
"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".
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Remembered best as one of the better Lovecraft adaption, February 29, 2000
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.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Price, Poe and Lovecraft-How Can You Go Wrong?, September 3, 2002
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.
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