Own the rights?
13 out of 15 people found the following review useful: Amicus,Christopher Lee & Peter Cushing at their best., 2 October 2001 Author: lee hunt (lee.hunt2@btinternet.com) from manchester, england
The Skull is probably the best film Amicus produced,based on a chilling short story by Robert Bloch and directed with visual flair by Freddie Francis it tells the story of a writer on Demonology ; Christopher Maitland(Peter Cushing excellent as usual) who is offered a skull and a fleshbound book originally belonging to none other than the Marquis de Sade for a mere £500,at first he is skeptical of its provenance but finally agrees to buy it from Marco a shifty character(memorably played by Patrick Wymark)who previously stole the skull and book from Sir Matthew Phillips(Christopher Lee)who had fallen under it's sinister spell in the past and was glad the skull and book had been stolen,Matthew tries to convince Christopher of its evil power and advises him to get rid of it as soon as possible,but to no avail,Christopher keeps the skull and begins to come unstuck, he starts hallucinating and having bizarre dreams. All the performances are first rate,but this is Peter Cushings film,he is literally in every scene and gives a convincing performance of a man falling pray to evil. I can't help thinking this could have been a true classic if it had had a bigger budget. The whole cast and crew have worked wonders with what little money and resources they must have had,it also remains(in my opinion) Freddie Francis best film as a director....a must for a cold winters night.
8 out of 8 people found the following review useful: Skull-Duggery, 30 January 2006 Author: Dr_Faustus1500 from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
The initial scenes of the film THE SKULL are deceptive. Set in an early-19th century graveyard complete with grave robbers, hooting owls, and what is all too obviously a doctor about to delve into "things man was not meant to know;" one might be forgiven for expecting that this picture is going to walk-on the well-trodden path of Hammer Films. But such is not the case. Producers Max J. Rosenberg and Milton Subotsky, and screenwriter Robert Bloch have a surprise in store for the audience. What will follow this, by now, formulaic opening, will not be a Hammer 'ripoff.' Rather, the viewer will be treated to a unique psychological thriller with supernatural underpinnings. A film that will explore nightmare states and dreamscapes with a strong Kafkaesque flavor and a modernist sensibility.Adapted from his own short story, "The Skull of the Marquis De Sade," Robert Bloch's script parallels his own career as an author. Starting off as a disciple of H.P. Lovecraft in the 1930s, and publishing a number of well-received tales in the Cthulhu Mythos canon; Bloch later developed into a premier advocate of the modern, psychological horror story. Indeed, he is best known to laymen as the author of perhaps the most famous psychological horror novel of all time, "Psycho." Interestingly, the story arc of THE SKULL follows Bloch's literary trajectory in that it begins in the tradition of romantic gothicism but ends in the darkly absurdist realms of Kafka, Orwell, Dali, and Max Ernst.The basic plot of THE SKULL details the various unpleasant fates that befall subsequent owners of the skull of the infamous Napoleonic-era pornographer, the Marquis De Sade. Bloch's fictional construct is that Sade's historical excesses can be explained by the 'fact' that he was possessed by a demon. A demon who still dwells in the eponymous skull and who still retains a taste for dark ceremonies and murder.Peter Cushing plays Dr. Christopher Maitland, an occult researcher and collector who comes into possession of the skull through the offices of one Marco (Patrick Wymark), a shady 'dealer' in obscure objects d'art. Christopher Lee portrays Sir Matthew Phillips, friend of Maitland, and former owner of the skull, who warns its new possessor of the item's destructive powers. THE SKULL really is Cushing's movie. Mr. Cushing's performance carries the last 2/3 of the film and is of grueling intensity. Mr. Lee's role as the doomed Phillips, who meets a violent end at the hands of the friend he tries to help, is crucial to the overall structure of the plot and flawlessly performed.The highlight of the film is a nightmare sequence that could have been taken straight out of Kafka's "The Trial." Here Mr. Cushing gives a world class performance that echoes his earlier triumph as Winston Smith in the BBC television production of Orwell's "1984." This segment is gripping in the extreme and still carries a tremendous emotional wallop nearly 40 years later.With stellar performances by Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee; standout supporting and cameo roles by Jill Bennet, Patrick Wymark, Nigel Greene, Peter Woodthorpe, and Patrick Magee; a thoughtful and literate script by Bloch and Subotsky; and measured, restrained direction by Freddie Francis, THE SKULL is an outstanding example of contemporary, modernist horror. This movie is not only a must-see for any Christopher Lee/Peter Cushing fan, but a lesson in intelligent, stylish film making.
8 out of 9 people found the following review useful: Life after death for the Marquis de Sade....or at least for his skull, 12 December 2006 Author: The_Void from Beverley Hills, England
The Skull won't exactly knock you out of your seat with its brilliance, but despite that fact, it is still an enjoyable slice of British horror, with a number of things to recommend it for. Amicus may be better known for their omnibus films, and indeed this story does feel a little stretched over its 85 minute running time, but in spite of that; The Skull is undoubtedly one of the studio's better feature length efforts. The fact that Amicus have managed to get both Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee on board ensures interest from the beginning, and the plot isn't a let down. The Marquis de Sade isn't the most common horror figure, but nevertheless; this film focuses on his disembodied skull. Christopher Maitland is a collector of rare and occult items, and when his supplier; the dodgy Anthony Marco brings a skull to him one day; he is interested because it once belonged to the Marquis de Sade. When his friend, Sir Matthew Phillips, explains that the skull is dangerous, Maitland only becomes more intrigued. But he finds to his peril that skull is dangerous, as it leads its owner to kill...Freddie Francis directed a number of films for both the big British studios, Hammer and Amicus, and it's not hard to see why he often gets hired as the quality of his direction is not too far behind heavyweights Terence Fisher and Roy Ward Baker. He's got a good creative partner in novelist Robert Bloch, who wrote the story 'The Skull of the Marquis de Sade', upon which this film is based - as well as the far better known novel 'Psycho'. This film doesn't feature a career best performance from either horror heavyweight, but Peter Cushing fits his role as the occult collector brilliantly, while Christopher Lee delivers his usual forceful, scene-stealing, method of acting. Patrick Wymark is also worth a mention, as he is given the most intriguing role in the piece as the slightly sleazy dealer. It has to be said that the first two thirds of the film are more interesting than the third one, which is a shame as the film seems to run out of steam before the end. However, The Skull is still an interesting little film, and I'm sure that fans of classic horror will find lots to like about it.
4 out of 4 people found the following review useful: THE SKULL (Freddie Francis, 1965) ***, 19 October 2008 Author: MARIO GAUCI (marrod@melita.com) from Naxxar, Malta
This was among the first vintage horror films I recall watching, but it took me this long to re-acquaint myself with it (after I had foolishly abandoned the prospect of a second viewing as part of a late-night Italian TV program hosted by two amiable ghouls – the same thing would also happen with Hammer's FRANKENSTEIN AND THE MONSTER FROM HELL [1974], which I then had to wait some 13 years to catch up with!).Anyay, though the film's premise, in itself, is rather daft – that of a host of antiquarians being 'possessed' by the skull of the Marquis De Sade – the result is very stylish and altogether one of Hammer rival Amicus' most satisfying outings. Apart from director Francis, the men behind Amicus – Max J. Rosenberg and Milton Subotsky (the latter also scripted, from a story by Robert Bloch of PSYCHO [1960] fame) – again recruited Hammer's two most popular stars, Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, for this production. As ever, they play extremely well off each other – even if Lee, ostensibly, is only a "Guest Star" – delivering typically committed performances: Cushing has fun acting crazy – under the influence of the skull – towards the end (and also during a surreal nightmare sequence in which he's forcefully taken before a judge who promptly hands him a gun to play at Russian Roulette!), whereas Lee gives surprising poignancy to his role. Supporting them is a splendid cast indeed – led by Patrick Wymark, who actually matches the stars with his seedy supplier of generally weird artifacts, and the brief (albeit equally welcome) presence of the likes of George Coulouris, Michael Gough, Nigel Green and Patrick Magee!While Francis creates wonderful atmosphere via the cinematography (particularly when shooting through the skull's eyehole) and the set design (the film starts off as a period piece but then reverts to a modern-day setting for the central plot line), I do feel that the possibilities presented by the nonetheless intriguing theme are regrettably constrained by censorship and budgetary restrictions – so that the Marquis De Sade's legacy seems somehow to have been mixed up with that of Jack The Ripper! In any case, THE SKULL is generally considered nowadays as Francis' best directorial effort – though I personally feel NIGHTMARE (1964), THE PSYCHOPATH (1966) and THE CREEPING FLESH (1973) to be superior to it…
3 out of 3 people found the following review useful: An early gem from Britain's second house of Horror!, 29 May 2009 Author: RosemarysAbortedBaby from United States
If there was ever a writer more well-known for work which was unusual for him or not exemplary of his output, it was Robert Bloch. To John Q. Citizen, he was the guy who wrote 'Psycho' and some story called 'Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper' which he has never read. So one could assume, that Bloch was a dead-serious man who hated his mother and wrote dead serious stories about women haters who butchered their victims in a realistic fashion.Well, No. The mother part could be true, but the majority of his output consisted of SUPERNATURAL short stories that never took themselves seriously and were filled with bad puns and metaphors, he even wrote a series of humorous fantasy stories featuring a swindler named Lefty Feep. I found the book 'Psycho' to be rambling and tiresome. It would be forgotten if not for the film. Bloch's best work, was his short stories and novellas. And they could be just as grim as 'Psycho', and though mostly humorous, could be filled with just as much psychological anguish and mood. 'The Skull' adapted by Amicus studios, proves this, and it make's for one hell of a horror flick.The film begins with a memorable sequence featuring the theft of a skull from a cemetery at the dead of night. Then it becomes unbearably boring, and it only lasts for 3 minutes! Three of the longest minutes I've ever seen. It's like an endurance test. Sit through this, and you're in for an excellent film.The film then picks up in the(then)present where at a very symbolic auction, we meet the film's central character's; Christopher Maitland(Peter Cushing), Matthew Phillips(Christopher Lee) and the unscrupulous antique fence Marco(Patrick Wymark). Maitland is a rather callous man who researches the occult and fanatically collects corresponding memorabilia. And Marco keeps tempting him like a drug dealer tempting an addict. After talking Maitland into buying a book bound in human flesh on the Marquis De Sade, his interest piqued, Marco then offers Maitland the skull of...could you have guessed? The Skull of the Marquis De Sade!!!And since we've already seen several Point-of-view shots from the skull, that can't be good....Maitland refuses to accept the Skull because of the exorbitant price. then things get tricky. It turns out that Marco stole the Skull from Phillips, and Phillips couldn't be happier!! The Skull is possessed(What? You thought this film wasn't just going to be about a boy and his skull of an infamous depraved lunatic?), apparently, and acts up worst during the full moons. Now, Maitland's interest has REALLY piqued, he HAS to have it and now's where things get interesting....The plot becomes sketchy, but I won't spoil it. Through a chain of circumstances, Maitland gets the Skull, and quickly starts to wish he never had it. At this point, the film becomes a barking mad nightmare featuring some of the creepiest sequences I have ever seen. The final half-hour is a horror fan's dream come true. Cushing is excellent, and despite his character's poorly set-up relationship with his wife, when she starts becoming endangered by a periodically possessed Maitland, you can really feel his anguish. I have a feeling Cushing didn't watch this one much after his wife died.An eerie masterpiece that is ideal Halloween viewing, the film's climax makes up for all the tedium, and it truly becomes frightening. If you are patient, sit back, preferably with all the lights out, and let the Skull work it's power over YOU. It won't do to you what it does to Maitland, but I can guarantee every horror fan that it's an experience he'll never forget, he may forget the plot and it's details, but he will NEVER forget the mood.~
4 out of 5 people found the following review useful: A skull holds a diabolical influence over its owners., 27 December 1999 Author: Kenny Radishofski (kinetic1016@hotmail.com) from Drums, Pennsylvania
Based on the Robert Bloch's story "The Skull of the Marquis de Sade", this film really thrills and chills. The Skull is an unassuming title, but this little gem does has a lot to offer on a cold winter afternoon. Peter Cushing stars as Dr. Maitland, a demonologist who comes across the skull after it has been stolen from his friend Christopher Lee. Death or possession has come upon the past owners but Maitland is unconcerned with such superstitions. He must have this occult rarity to add to his large collection. Dr. Maitland has no idea what lies in store for him... I feel that "The Skull" is one of the finest films Cushing and Lee have ever done together, and the best horror film that Freddie Francis has directed. At a glance, one would almost definitely think it is a Hammer film. It was actually made by Amicus, but features such Hammer characteristics as a foggy opening scene portraying grave robbers, occasional bloodletting, a dreary score, and canyons of cleavage. Even by today's standards, The Skull is exciting. Highlights include a very inventive dream sequence, a harsh game of Russian roulette, and the riveting climax. Believe it or not, The Skull even has a few scenes where you tense up expecting someone to jump out and scare you. You don't often see that type of thing in the Hammer/Amicus flicks. The major thing that brings the movie down, though, are the fake-looking scenes where the skull floats in the air to terrorize Dr. Maitland. They could have been done better using shadows or long-distance shots. Also, the "camera inside the skull" scenes looked juvenile and took away some of the film's integrity. Bottom line: definitely worth a viewing. Thanks nm!
2 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Dug-Up Skull Leads To Skullduggery, 21 October 2008 Author: ferbs54 from United States
On paper, the 1965 Amicus production "The Skull" would seem to be a surefire winner. Based on a story by Robert "Psycho" Bloch, directed by horror veteran Freddie Francis, starring British horror icons Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, and featuring such sterling character actors as Michael Gough, Nigel Green, Patrick Wymark and Jill Bennett, it would seem like a can't-miss proposition. While the film is undeniably fun, however, it somehow falls short of greatness. In it, Cushing plays an occult investigator who comes into possession of the 150-year-old, particularly nasty-looking skull of the notorious libertine the Marquis de Sade, and comes under the influence of its baleful and hypnotic powers. (Indeed, it's more like the skull has come into possession of him!) The film features strikingly handsome sets, a justly celebrated and Kafkaesque dream sequence, stylish direction from Francis (dig those skull's head POV shots!), and, near the picture's end, a very interesting and suspenseful 20-minute segment largely devoid of dialogue. While some viewers have complained of visible strings attached to the levitating skull, that really didn't bother me (a single wire is barely visible for perhaps two seconds); what did vex me is that we never learn of the skull's evil doings between the time of its disinterment and its modern-day shenanigans. It MUST have been up to something during those 150 years, right? The film also seems a bit tentative in that it never lets Cushing become truly possessed and crazed; how much better the picture would have been if ol' Pete really went on a tear! Still, watching Cushing and Lee together has long been one of the supreme pleasures of horror cinema, and this little movie does have its winning ways. It's no "Creeping Flesh" or "Horror Express," but still most enjoyable.
3 out of 4 people found the following review useful: Head Cheese, 29 March 2005 Author: inspectors71 from The Man-Cave
I first saw this tasty little horror flick while working nights at McDonald's in 1979. I couldn't ever get used to sleeping during the day, so by mid-afternoon, I was up and rarin' to go! With all this useless information under your belt, accept that I was essentially wide awake in the middle of the night. I turn on the tube--cable in its early years--and watch The Skull on KSTW out of Seattle.And it scared the Big Mac sauce right out of me! I watched it again tonight and got the same chills as before. Now, in the grand scheme of horror things, The Skull is going to land right around the TV movie based on Stephen King's Salem's Lot--good fun, no nutritional value, but Freddie Francis crafted a nice, fast, mildly-moralistic movie out of a work by Robert Bloch(?), the author of Psycho. There are lots of familiar, comfort-food faces here--Cushing and Lee and the pudgy bad guy from Where Eagles Dare, plus a small army of British actors we've all seen in a bazillion other movies. It's like having a bunch of regular customers come in for a snack at Mickey Dee's--you know you got them and they have you.The Skull is the snack. Cushing plays the academician researching devil stuff, and gets the chance to own the skull of the Marquis de Sade (sp???). He, of course, is arrogant enough not to heed the warnings of Lee about all the negative vibes coming off the noggin, so, to make a short story even shorter, (sorry for the following, folks) all hell breaks loose.By the end of the 83 minutes, the body count is surprisingly low, the Marquis has punished Cushing for not following his orders (an actually passionate and suspenseful moment when Cushing goes to kill Mrs. Cushing and just can't do it; don't worry about the spoiler factor here--you just know he's not going to kill her), the cops are clueless (check the last line of the movie), and viewers from 1965 through 2005 have gotten a tidy little thrill.Who knew horror movies could be so nice?
1 out of 1 people found the following review useful: When the skull strikes you'll scream, 21 August 2009 Author: catfish-er from Orlando, Florida
Throughout the mid 60s and early 70s Amicus Productions churned out a series of wonderful little horror anthologies including: Dr. Terror's House of Horrors, Torture Garden, The House That Dripped Blood, Asylum, The Vault of Horror, From Beyond the Grave, and Tales from the Crypt.Unlike those movies, THE SKULL is not an anthology. Instead, it is a superb exception! Six minutes in; and, we've already gotten the back story, even before the titles roll! The opening is set in the early-19th century. We see a graveyard, with the requisite grave robbers; and, their client, a doctor (albeit a phrenologist).Peter Cushing plays Dr. Christopher Maitland, an occult researcher and collector who comes into possession of the skull by way of a suspicious dealer in such objects. Christopher Lee portrays Sir Matthew Phillips, a friend of Dr. Maitland; and, coincidentally a former owner of the skull! THE SKULL details the ghastly misfortunes that befall each successive owner of the skull. That is the skull of the infamous Marquis De Sade. According to the story, the Marquis De Sade was not insane, as many believed; but, was possessed by an evil spirit. And, that spirit still dwells in the skull.Moving from the literal form seamlessly into dreams and fantasies, THE SKULL is a marvelous example of modern, psychological horror. It was years ahead of its time.
1 out of 1 people found the following review useful: Colourful photography, excellent script - and a skull on wires, 30 November 2008 Author: sheenafilm from Hamburg, Germany
Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee working together again here, though for Amicus this time, not Hammer. Despite the good cast, "The Skull" looks like a low budget studio production, quickly shot - and with the "monster" being a skull flying on visible wires, this easily could have gone awry. But the movie works surprisingly well, first of all due to an excellent script based on a story by Robert Bloch ("Psycho"): Maitland (Cushing) shares an interest in the occult with Phillips (Lee) who warns him to get rid of a skull possessed by a demonic spirit. Of course Maitland doesn't listen and gets into trouble. Because the skull hasn't got any claws to catch victims, the terror has to be mostly psychological, and this is done brilliantly for example in the surreal dream sequence when Maitland believes a judge asks him for a Russian roulette. The extremely colorful photography of John Wilcox ("Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires") makes "The Skull" look really good - knowing that, they let the caretaker fall through coloured glass, not simply on the floor. In opposite to other horror films of the 1960s, "The Skull" still seems quite original, not a story you saw a dozen times before. Well worth watching.
Add another review
