The Pit and the Pendulum
|
Our Price: $21.45 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $4.59 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Canada
Movie Reviews of The Pit and the Pendulum
Movie Review: Secrets down below
Summary: 5 Stars
The Pit and the Pendulum. One of the most popular supense/horror films of all time comes back in a completely restored edition on DVD. In comparison to the VHS, you may see things you never did before, considering things are much more clear.When Francis Barnard (John Kerr) here's his sister Elizabeth (Barbara Steele) has strangly died in Spain where she and her husband Nicholas Medina (Vincent Price) resided, he goes to find out more of the details. When he gets to the mysterious place, he knows that Nicholas is keeping something from him. He is even more shocked to hear that she died 3 months from the date he arrived. When the family doctor (Antony Carbone) arrives, Mr. Barnard is informed of what really happened after the Dr. Leon unintentionally tells him what happened. It turns out that Elizabeth became obsessed with the torture chamber that was inherited by Nicholas from his father who was a Grand Inquisitor.
Then, one day Elizabeth accidentally locked herself inside the iron maiden and died of shock. Nicholas' sister Catherine (Luana Anders), who is visting the castle for the time being, tells Mr. Barnard to take pity on her brother for he witnessed their father torture their Mother and Uncle when he was a little boy. Strange things soon start to happen around the Medina castle. The Harpsicord, which Elizabeth used to play, is heard being played throughout the castle even though no one visiting, or who lives there can play. Elizabeth assumingly whispers to Maria the maid while she was cleaining a room. Elizabeths room is in smitherings after presumably being destroyed by her. While Catherine, Mr. Barnard, and Dr. Leon are all in hot pursuit to find out what's going on, Nicholas seems to be going crazy. But there's more to this story then meets the eye, for is Elizabeth really dead?
The acting in this movie I have to say was wonderful. It couldn't have been any better. When you watch the trailer on the DVD, it is true when the narrorater says John Kerr has a challenging roll, for I thought he may have had a little trouble doing it. Vincent Price, now he was great at his part. He could change his personality so well, it kind of makes you think. Luana Anders and Barbara Steele, both very beautiful and talented actresses make this movie an even better addition to your collection. Antony Carbone, now there's a man that can act like a deciever and a friend at the same time. I can understand why this movie was a hit. It keeps you at the egde of your seat and never gets boring. Luana Anders just mesmerized me in her beauty. By the way, she's my cousin.
Movie Review: Sins of the Father
Summary: 5 Stars
The best of Roger Corman's AIP Edgar Allen Poe flicks, and a superior horror film.Vincent Price is a Spanish nobleman haunted by the sins of his Inquisitor father. While a small boy, Price accidentally witnessed his sadistic sire murder his uncle and wall-up his mother alive, believing them to have committed adultery together. His greatest fear, since that day, has been that his evil father's genes will somehow evidence themselves in him. Now an adult, the gentle Price discovers he has accidentally buried loving wife Barbara Steele while still alive, and is near suicidal with grief. But his suffering has only begun. His wife's spirit seems to be coming after him - or is it something worse?
Vincent Price and Barbara Steele never turned in better performances. Before the story is done, each of them get to play both victim and vengeful ghost - which can't be explained without ruining the sinisterly splendid plot, penned by veteran horror screenwriter Richard Matheson. The imagery is hauntingly grotesque, the atmosphere and mood often unbearably intense. Price has a mad scene that is simply unforgettable.
The movie gets off to a slow start, but once it kicks into high gear, it grabs you by the vitals and won't let go. Young hero John Kerr is a bit wooden, but performs capably enough to further the frightening plot. The always wonderful Luana Anders plays Price's sister, who gets to narrate the tale - with stylishly done flashbacks - of her and Price's evil progenitor. The sets are gorgeous. The soundtrack is especially effective, a combination of low, lengthy bass notes and frenetic, atonal percussion.
This is Gothic and psychological horror at its finest. The ending is chilling, and will haunt your nightmares for a long time to come.
Movie Review: THE PENDULUM SWINGS......
Summary: 5 Stars
The second of the Corman/Price/Poe films is a masterwork of Gothic horror and features one of Vincent Price's most outre' performances. He's Don Nicolas Medina, son of an infamous Spanish inquisitioner going mad in an eerie castle off the coast of Spain after the unusual "death" of his wife Elizabeth (Barbara Steele). Elizabeth's brother Francis comes to the castle seeking information on his sister's death and the terror begins as the ghost of Elizabeth seems to be roaming around causing Nicolas to feel he buried her prematurely. Flashbacks explain Elizabeth's weird "death" and Nicolas's own childhood trauma witnessing his insane father (also Price) torture his mother and wall her up alive in the torture chamber. But Elizabeth is anything but dead and Nicolas goes over the edge becoming his own father in madness and putting the dreaded Pendulum kept in the Pit to use...with Francis as his victim. Elizabeth gets her own just rewards in the torture chamber. Beautiful Gothic mounting, costumes and a tight script by Richard Matheson keep this completely watchable throughout. Good acting from Steele, John Kerr as Francis and Luana Anders ("Dementia 13") as Dona Catherine Medina--Nicolas's worried sister, and Corman regular Antony Carbone as the evil Dr.Leon. But it's Price who keeps things humming---going mad scene by scene until he's full blown insane and working the Pendulum on poor Kerr. Excellent moody music score from Les Baxter, too. I consider this a classic along with "Masque of the Red Death", "House of Usher" and "Tomb of Ligeia". All of them are first-rate films from the Corman/Poe cycle of the 60's. Just enjoy....Movie Review: Vincent's Finest Hour? I Think It Might Be!
Summary: 5 Stars
"Pit And The Pendulum" is definitely one of those "watch it late at night with the lights out during a thunderstorm" kind of motion pictures. All the elements are present here to elicit the appropriate "scary movie" emotions from the viewer -- Shock, terror, suspense, fright, uneasiness, and fear. (And maybe a few others as well.)The setting of this 1961 film couldn't have been better presented on screen if they had tried. And Vincent Price, who was 50 years of age when the film was first released, gives a lively performance as "Don Nicholas Medina", a man who is slowly but surely going out of his mind.
The climactic scene in the "Pit" is simply astonishing. One of the best scenes in any horror film ever made!
This MGM DVD contains a Widescreen version of this color film (2.35:1 ratio). And, although not an Anamorphic (enhanced for 16x9 TV sets) disc, this DVD still offers up better-than-average video quality. The audio is Dolby Digital Mono (English and French tracks). Plus: this cover art is exceptional.
A few bonus items are on the disc, including a fun audio commentary by Director Roger Corman. The Original Theatrical Trailer and an "Original Theatrical Prologue" are also included here.
Before his death on October 25, 1993 (at age 82), Vincent Price appeared in 127 feature films (plus hundreds and hundreds of TV shows and radio plays) --- with "Pit And The Pendulum" being one of his very best, in my view.
If you like scary, atmospheric motion pictures, you have no choice but to be entranced when watching this DVD of "Pit And The Pendulum".
Movie Review: The Razor Edge of Destiny!
Summary: 5 Stars
Edgar Allen Poe would have been amazed at Richard Matheson's version of Edgar's original story about a 16th century nobleman, who meets despair, grief and insanity upon the death of his wife, or so we suppose.
One of Roger Corman's better horror films, after the success of The House of Usher. Vincent Price starts the story in deep grief, some critics say "whimpiness" (not really) as he relates to the brother of Elizabeth (his wife) the goings on since her death.
At first he makes up some story about her blood being bad, but then recants and spins a tale or two about her, some thinking that the castle may be haunted.
Eventually we find that Elizabeth is alive after all, faked her death and drives Nicholas crazy a day early since she has the hots for Nicholas' best friend, the doctor.
And darn wouldn't you know it, the same thing happened to his father. Except his father was a torturer for the Grand Inquisition.
Vincent Price is horrifically deviously delicious as a torturer who makes good use of the Iron Maiden and the Pendulum with such gleeful abandon, it's fun to watch. I have read where the Pendulum originally was hard rubber, but they decided to go for painted STEEL. That was some brave actor under the blade.
Corman's use of tinted frames, ocean storms, and distorted camera views makes for a fairly horrific tale. The "one-star wonders" on Amazon have not a clue what true horror is, when you put Corman, Price and Matheson in the same box.
Add this ghastly film to your repertoire of horror soon!