This started out as a Poe movie made by Roger Corman for people other than AIP (which is why Vincent Price isn’t in it) but then Sam K Arkoff blackmailed the producers into giving distribution rights over to AIP. It is very similar to other the ones – essentially a bunch of people walking around a dark and murky house. Milland is a polished actor who gives a fine performance but less fun than Price, especially when he goes mad.
The plot has Milland terrified of premature burial to such an extent he doesn’t want to marry Hazel Court and he builds a super crypt that is premature burial-proof. Of course he ends up buried anyway. This is a pretty decent effort, and all the stuff about being buried prematurely is creepy. It’s not top-line Corman/Poe but it is fun.
Court is OK (a really top line actor could have knocked this out of the park but at least she was pretty). Richard Ney is really weak – is there ever a gothic type film where the character of the man-who-loves-the-insane-guy’s-wife is interesting? Is it the actor or do I just not like the type of person? I think here’s its Ney – he’s the kid from Mrs Miniver and if he was wet there he’s wet and older here.
Script wise I think it is a mistake to have Court’s villainy revealed at the very end and then by proxy – better to have shown it up front, or at the beginning of the third act, I feel. Also some lazy writing – if the sister knew all about it why didn’t she tell? “I knew you wouldn’t believe me” isn’t enough. And how did Milland figure it out?
Alan Napier and Dick Miller strengthen the support cast.
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