For this year’s 31 Nights of Horror Challenge, the Day 24 prompt was Vincent Price.I have watched a lot of Vincent Price movies and most of them have been of the Dracula variety so it was fun to find something different . I chose The House of Usher (1960) which is obviously different than the one on Netflix right now.
Storyline
Philip Winthrop calls upon his fiancée, Madeline Usher, at her family home. His presence is unwelcome, especially to Madeline’s brother, Roderick. Roderick explains that the Ushers are cursed, suffering from hereditary physical defects. By Madeline marrying Winthrop this would only likely continue the affliction. It soon becomes clear that something sinister is afoot: not only due to Roderick’s determination to prevent Madeline from leaving but also due to the evil that seems to lurk in the house itself.
Our Thoughts on The House of Usher
I am a fan of Vincent Price and Edgar Allen Poe stories so I thought this would be a fun watch and it should give me the story when I watch the new version on Netflix later.
This film was part of his early 60s formula – get a bankable horror star – in this case Vincent Price, make the film a period piece and borrow at least the theme from Poe, have at least one beautiful lady who has an affliction or is in danger or both, and have some handsome knight in shining armor show up who feels he just has to save the girl. This film has only a loose association with the Poe story – siblings Madeleine and Roderick (Price), their strange physical afflictions of an unnamed origin, and their decaying house.
Price is always fun to watch in these late 50s early 60s horror films. His character Roderick Usher has menace, but he is just so interesting it is impossible to dislike him. Even though these Corman films have a low budget, they always seem to deliver plenty of atmosphere. I’d recommend it.
6 out of 10
Trivia
Roger Corman learned that there was an old barn in Orange County, CA that was about to be demolished. He was able to strike a deal that would allow him to burn the barn at night and film it. The resulting footage was so good that it was used not only in the climax of this film but in later “Poe” films as well.
Roger Corman learned that there was an old barn in Orange County, CA that was about to be demolished. He was able to strike a deal that would allow him to burn the barn at night and film it. The resulting footage was so good that it was used not only in the climax of this film but in later “Poe” films as well.
Burt Shonberg‘s paintings were given to various cast and crew members after the film was wrapped. Roger Corman took the portrait of Vincent Price.
