House of Usher (1960)

Director:

Roger Corman

Writers:

Richard Matheson (writer)
Edgar Allan Poe (story)

Release Date:

22 June 1960 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Edgar Allan Poe's overwhelming tale of EVIL & TORMENT

Plot:

After a long journey, Philip arrives at the Usher mansion seeking his loved one, Madeline. Upon arriving...

Plot Keywords:

Curse | Death | Mansion | Cult Director | Grave

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Vincent Price	...	Roderick Usher
Mark Damon	...	Philip Winthrop
Myrna Fahey	...	Madeline Usher
Harry Ellerbe	...	Bristol
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Eleanor LeFaber	...	Ghost
Ruth Oklander	...	Ghost
Géraldine Paulette	...	Ghost
David Andar	...	Ghost (uncredited)
Bill Borzage	...	Ghost (uncredited)
Mike Jordan	...	Ghost (uncredited)
Mike Jordor	...	Ghost (uncredited)
Nadajan	...	Ghost (uncredited)
George Paul	...	Ghost (uncredited)
Phil Sulvestre	...	Ghost (uncredited)
John Zimeas	...	Ghost (uncredited)

Directed by
Roger Corman

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Richard Matheson		writer
Edgar Allan Poe		story "The Fall of The House of Usher"

Produced by
Roger Corman	....	producer
James H. Nicholson	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Les Baxter

Cinematography by
Floyd Crosby

Film Editing by
Anthony Carras

Production Design by
Daniel Haller

Makeup Department
Fred B. Phillips	....	makeup artist (as Fred Phillips)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jack Bohrer	....	assistant director

Art Department
Richard M. Rubin	....	properties (as Dick Rubin)
Burt Shonberg	....	painter: paintings (as Burt Schoenberg)

Sound Department
Alfred R. Bird	....	sound editor (as Al Bird)
Philip Mitchell	....	sound

Special Effects by
Lawrence W. Butler	....	process photography director (as Larry Butler)
Pat Dinga	....	special effects
Ray Mercer	....	photographic effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Frank Tanner	....	still photographer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marjorie Corso	....	wardrobe

Music Department
Eve Newman	....	music editor

Production Companies

• Alta Vista Productions

Distributors

• American International Pictures (AIP) (1960) (USA) (theatrical)
• Comptoir Français du Film Production (CFFP) (1960) (France) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1972) (USA) (TV) (network premiere) (pan/scan)
• Control Productions (Australia) (DVD) (as "Fall of the House of Usher")
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (????) (USA) (DVD) (as "Fall of the House of Usher")
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (video)

Also Known As:

The Fall of the House of Usher (UK) (USA) (alternative title)
The Mysterious House of Usher (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

79 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Norway:(Banned) (1960 - 1974) | Netherlands:16 (DVD rating) | UK:15 | Argentina:16 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 (1974) | USA:Unrated | Australia:PG | UK:X (original rating) | Canada:PG

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Company:

Alta Vista Productions

Trivia:

Vincent Price dyed his hair to play Roderick Usher.

Goofs:

Continuity: When asked to remove his boots, Phillip sits down and starts to remove his right boot, but stops when he realizes Bristol has disappeared. He then stands up and walks away in socks.

Quotes:

Roderick Usher: Madeline and I are like figures of fine glass. The slightest touch and we may shatter. Both of us suffer from a morbid acuteness of the senses. Mine is the worst for having existed the longer, but both of us are afflicted with it. Any sort of food more exotic then the most pallid mash is unendurable to my taste buds...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Addams Family (1991)

A Gothic classic and one of Roger Corman's best films.

Corman's first Poe film (out of eight) is one of the best adaptations of the familiar story (rivaled only by French director Jean Epstein's superb, yet completely different, 1928 version) and was a critical and commercial success in its day on a meager $125,000 budget. Vincent Price is superb as Roderick Usher, an eternally tortured soul who lives in a crumbling castle with his sister Madeline (Myrna Fahey) and faithful butler Bristol (nicely etched by Harry Ellerbe). When Philip Winthrop (bland Mark Damon) shows up to take Madeline away, Roderick's incestuous feelings come to surface and the terror begins. Highlights include Damon's colorful nightmare sequence and Price's explanation of the Usher family history.

HOUSE OF USHER is intelligent, subtle and effective, with good sets and costumes and excellent work from scripter Richard Matheson, composer Les Baxter, cameraman Floyd Crosby and art director Daniel Haller--all united by Corman's smart, stylish, fluent direction. Truly deserving of it's reputation as horror classic.