The Haunted Palace (1963)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Roger Corman

Writers:

H.P. Lovecraft (story)
Charles Beaumont (writer)

Release Date:

28 August 1963 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

A warlock's home is his castle...Forever!

Plot:

Charles Dexter Ward arrives at a small village to visit the house he inherited from his ancestor who died there 100 years ago.

Plot Keywords:

Curse | Ancestor | Mutant | Palace | New England

Cast

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

Also Known As:

Edgar Allan Poe's The Haunted Palace (USA) (promotional title)
The Case of Charles Dexter Ward (USA) (original script title)
The Haunted Village

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Pathécolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Ryder Sound Services)

Certification:

Norway:16 | UK:18 (Video rating) | UK:X (theatrical rating) (cut) | Netherlands:16 (DVD rating) | Argentina:13 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #20528)

Company:

American International Pictures (AIP)

Trivia:

Roger Corman decided to do an H.P. Lovecraft story as a break from his Edgar Allan Poe series while keeping the elements that made it successful. American-International took no chances. It gave the film a "Poe" title and marketed it as another in the series.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The film is billed as "Edgar Allen Poe's The Haunted Palace." While Poe did write "The Haunted Palace," the film is actually based on the story by H.P. Lovecraft, "The Case of Charles Dexter Ward."

Quotes:

Ann Ward: Charles? You ready?
[comes outside to join him on the balcony]
Charles Dexter Ward: I've decided to stay.
Ann Ward: What?
Charles Dexter Ward: Just long enough to fix the place up. With a little work it could bring a good price. Don't you think?
Ann Ward: I should imagine. I don't know.
[disappointed]
Charles Dexter Ward: I estimate two weeks, perhaps three. To get things started, anyway. Do you mind, Ann?
Ann Ward: No, not exactly. But I can't say it pleases me.
Charles Dexter Ward: Well, then you go home!
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in Madhouse (1974)

Wonderful Gothic horror.

In 1765,evil warlock Joseph Curwen(Vincent Price)is lynched by the villagers and burnt alive for performing sorcery and for abducting some of the local women.Before he perishes,he puts a curse on the inhabitants of Arkham and their offspring.One hundred and ten years later,his kind descendant Charles Dexter Ward(Price again),visits Arkham with his beautiful young wife to claim the inheritance of Curwen's castle.The spirit of Curwen begins to possess him".The Haunted Palace" is actually based on H.P.Lovecraft's story.The film relies heavily on Gothic atmosphere with plenty of fantastic,cobwebby and shadowy sets.Price is amazing in the dual role and Curwen is one of his most despicable characters.The film offers some creepy scenes and is simply great.Give it a look.9 out of 10.