Mysterious and intriguing 'omnibus' film, blending various horror tales providing entertainment enough. Architect Walter Craig (Mervyn Johns) is summoned down to a house called Pilgrim's Farm by a prospective client whom he does not know. On arrival, he experiences strongly the feeling that he has been to the place before. He is taken into the house and introduced by his host to a group of people. He is welcomed by the owner, Eliot Foley (Roland Culver). Foley introduces him to psychiatrist Dr. Van Straaten (Frederick Valk), his friend Joan Cortland (Googie Withers), his young neighbor Sally O'Hara (Sally Ann Howes), among others. These also are familiar, though none of them appear to know him. After somewhat constrained greetings, he tells them that he has met them all, and the house, and the situation is a recurring dream. Craig tells he has a sensation of déjà vu, he explains how this dream always starts quietly and pleasantly, at the present moment, but after a certain small incident invariably starts to darken into a ghastly nightmare, culminating in horror. There are several histories: an undertaker (Miles Malleson) may have saved his life, young Sally (Sally Ann Howes) may have encountered a sad young ghost and Mrs. Courtland (Googie Withers) buys an antique mirror, in it , her husband, but only her husband, could see a room from the previous century. Even greater than "Seventh Veil"!. The unexpected Unexpected, The Tragic, The Comic, The Romantic, The Dramatic.....Like Nothing!. In This World You've Ever Thrilled To Before !.
A classic terror film financed by Ealing Studios with a great British cast and formed by several segments full of creepy events , chills, thrills, suspense and surprises. A must for chiller addicts and still revered as one of the biggest pieces of ghost-story telling ever to come from the British cinema. The film goes back to the original group for an ending that has influenced several antology movies since, specially from the Brit companies: 'Hammer', 'Amicus' , 'Tigon' and US production: 'American International Pictures' from James H Nicholson and Samuel Z. Arkoff. The best part is , of course, the final story, in which Michael Redgrave unnervingly plays a ventriloquist who appears to be exchanging personalities with his demonic dummy, Hugo, who supposedly has a mind of its own, and that the mind is evil. And the worst one is the whimsical tale of two golfing friends who play a round of golf to see who win the hand of the girl they both love. But the final scene, in its disturbing and and surrealist way, is most frightening than any of the tales told to Mervyn Johns by the inhabitants of the dark old cottage.
Various thrilling episodes reach shattering climaxes thanks to knife-edge direction by Alberto Cavalcanti, Charles Crichton, Basil Dearden , though the tale directed by Charles Crichton, intented as comic relief, is somewhat less successful. A vintage film which is really worthy of that adjective, will have little appeal for younger children, but older kids who are open-minded enough to attempt something both old and British will be well rewarded.
Well produced by Michael Balcon, Director and Head of Production at Ealing Studios from 1937-59. Including a tense and thrilling musical score by classic composer Georges Auric. The motion picture was professionally directed by the best British filmmakers: Alberto Cavalcanti, Charles Crichton, Basil Dearden, Charles Crichton who had long cinematic careers. Rating: 7/10. Above average. Worthwhile watching.
A classic terror film financed by Ealing Studios with a great British cast and formed by several segments full of creepy events , chills, thrills, suspense and surprises. A must for chiller addicts and still revered as one of the biggest pieces of ghost-story telling ever to come from the British cinema. The film goes back to the original group for an ending that has influenced several antology movies since, specially from the Brit companies: 'Hammer', 'Amicus' , 'Tigon' and US production: 'American International Pictures' from James H Nicholson and Samuel Z. Arkoff. The best part is , of course, the final story, in which Michael Redgrave unnervingly plays a ventriloquist who appears to be exchanging personalities with his demonic dummy, Hugo, who supposedly has a mind of its own, and that the mind is evil. And the worst one is the whimsical tale of two golfing friends who play a round of golf to see who win the hand of the girl they both love. But the final scene, in its disturbing and and surrealist way, is most frightening than any of the tales told to Mervyn Johns by the inhabitants of the dark old cottage.
Various thrilling episodes reach shattering climaxes thanks to knife-edge direction by Alberto Cavalcanti, Charles Crichton, Basil Dearden , though the tale directed by Charles Crichton, intented as comic relief, is somewhat less successful. A vintage film which is really worthy of that adjective, will have little appeal for younger children, but older kids who are open-minded enough to attempt something both old and British will be well rewarded.
Well produced by Michael Balcon, Director and Head of Production at Ealing Studios from 1937-59. Including a tense and thrilling musical score by classic composer Georges Auric. The motion picture was professionally directed by the best British filmmakers: Alberto Cavalcanti, Charles Crichton, Basil Dearden, Charles Crichton who had long cinematic careers. Rating: 7/10. Above average. Worthwhile watching.