House on Haunted Hill

Plot synopsis:
Frederick Loren (Vincent Price) is an eccentric millionaire who has rented a Gothic stone house on a hill overlooking Los Angeles for a "haunted house" party that his fourth wife Annabelle (Carol Ohmart) had decided to throw. Over the opening credits, five people arrive at the house being driving in "funeral cars". They are: test pilot Lance Schroeder (Richard Long), magazine columnist Ruth Bridges (Julie Mitchum), psychiatrist Dr. David Trent (Alan Marshal), the house owner Watson Pritchard (Elisha Cook Jr.), and secretary/typist Nora Manning (Carolyn Craig). Except for the owner and for Dr. Trent (who wants to investigate the supernatural), they were all chosen because they wanted/needed the $10,000 that Loren was offering to anyone who could stay one night in the house. Add these five to Frederick and Annabelle Loren, and there are seven people in all -- three women and four men. Of course, some of them had underlying motives, too.During the gathering in the parlor, Watson Pritchard claims that seven people, three women and four men, including Watson Pritchard's brother, have been murdered in the house. Parts of the bodies were found all over the house, but the heads have never been found. Pritchard himself spent a night in the house and was found almost dead the next morning. He claims that the heads can be heard at night whispering to each other.Fredrick Loren enters who introduces himself and claims that he invited them to spend one night the house, with the stipulation that the power will be out and all doors will be locked at midnight, allowing no accessible escape. Anyone who stays in the house for the entire night, given that they are still alive, will each receive $10,000.He explains the rules of the party and gives each of the guests a .45 caliber pistol for protection. Loren's wife tries to warn the guests that her husband is psychotic, causing them to be very suspicious of him, especially Nora Manning, who becomes convinced that he's trying to kill her when she keeps seeing mysterious ghouls, including the ghost of Annabelle, who had hanged herself after being forced to attend the party.After being driven into a fit of hysteria by the ghosts haunting her, Nora shoots Mr. Loren, assuming he is going to kill her. Dr. Trent, another guest, tries to get rid of the body by pushing it into acid, but the lights go out, and when they come back on, both of the men are gone.Annabelle emerges, having faked her death with the help of Dr. Trent, and having apparently tricked Nora into killing Loren. Suddenly, a skeleton emerges from the acid accompanied by the voice of Loren. The specter approaches Annabelle as she recoils in terror. In this panic, the screaming Annabelle accidentally backs into the acid herself. The real Mr. Loren walks out of the shadow, holding the contraption that he was using to control the skeleton of Dr. Trent. In his triumph, he watches Annabelle disintegrate."Good night, Doctor. Good night, Annabelle," Frederick Loren says to himself. "The crime you planned was indeed perfect, only the victim is alive and the murderers are not. It's a pity you didn't know when you started your game of murder that I was playing, too." Loren turns himself over to the other guests, informing them that Nora's gun was loaded with blanks and that Trent and Annabelle were conspiring to kill him.In the final scene, Prichard looks into the acid vat and says, with a terrified expression on his face, "Now there are nine. There will be more...many more. They're coming for me now. And then they'll come for you."

Tags: murder

Review:
This classic version of "House on Haunted Hill" is one of the most entertaining examples of the low-budget, black-and-white horror films that used to be such a mainstay for movie fans.
It has few frills, but it does have some thrills, and in particular it has a cleverly written story that is told at a brisk pace, with a good deal of interesting and pleasingly macabre detail.Horror legend Vincent Price is in his element as the mysterious millionaire who invites a houseful of guests to spend the night in a supposedly haunted mansion, and his performance will give his fans everything that they expect.
William Castle has made several wonderful horror films; some obviously better than others, but at the top of the list are "Thirteen Ghosts" and "House on Haunted Hill." This movie might though have been all but forgotten if not one plucky guy recently remade this movie in to a much more gory movie.
Vincent Price plays Frederick Loren, an eccentric millionaire that invites five very different people to a haunted house for a party, and offers them $10,000 if they can stay the night...
The rest of the cast is largely made up of unknowns and b-grade actors, but they also all perform to relatively high standards in their respective roles.House on Haunted Hill's best feature other than the legendary Vincent Price, is undoubtedly the atmosphere of the house.
The walking skeleton is hilarious, though and worth watching film for alone.Overall, House on Haunted Hill is a lovely little b movie; it's creative, it's atmospheric and it stars Vincent Price.
William Castle liked to promote his films with gimmicks, and the gimmick for THE HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL was Emerg-O: at the peak of the action, a glowing skeleton "emerged from the screen" and flew out over the audience on a wire.
Millionaire Price and his wife Carol Ohmart give a "haunted house party" for five strangers chosen at random and promised ten thousand dollars if they last the night.
Of all the Castle films, THE HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL is my personal favorite, and it should rate very high with fans of cult, camp, and Vincent Price.
If one looks at things this way, "House on Haunted Hill" can be seen as the quintessential horror film.Start with having Vincent Price in it, hopefully no arguments there.
He plays Frederick Loren, the affluent host of a "party" in which he invites five people, not including himself and his wife, to a haunted mansion on a hill in a challenge for each person to win $10,000 (at today's value, about $100,000) if that person stays in the mansion all night.
William Castle, the Master Promoter of Low Budget Horror films of the 50's and60's , takes a step closer to immortality with this tasty little thriller starring Vincent Price and Elijah Cook Jr. Not a great movie by any means, but the performances and screen presence of the top two are well worth your time.
Like I said, it's somewhat lost it's edge, but still 'till this day, House on Haunted Hill will always remain a great movie to watch any stormy night.Five strangers have been invited to a house on Haunted Hill, they are being offered by Vincent price $10,000 each, the catch?
They have to spend the night at that house that has been cursed, thinking it's just a good old fashioned haunted party that Vincent's wife is throwing, they go along with it, especially since they could easily have $10,000.
I personally think that 1958's "House on Haunted Hill" is one of Vincent Price's best scary movies that he made over his long and storied career.
Directed by the incomparable shock master, William Castle, it has all the elements for a good scary movie.Vincent Price portrays Frederick Loren, a wealthy businessman who has rented out a haunted house that has been the scene of several murders for an all night party for several people.
Ghosts, an old woman who looks like a wicked witch, a walking skeleton, an acid pit in the dark and creepy basement and a suicide by Loren's beautiful wife Annabelle (played with frosty efficiency by Carol Ohmart) or is her death really a murder?
There are several good supporting actors such as Richard Long and Carolyn Craig who help keep the movie entertaining.The 1999 remake of this classic film simply cannot hold a candle to the original.
This is the real deal.Vincent Price is Frederick Loren, a reclusive millionaire who offers 5 people $10,000 each if they can survive one night in a creepy old house with a history of murders in many of the rooms.
Notable turns include Carol Ohmart as Annabelle Loren, Frederick's sexy wife; Elisha Cook, Jr. as Lawrence Pritchard, the expert on the house's history; and Carolyn Craig, the token screamer.I have loved this movie for years and always will, especially the intricate plot, the house itself being a prominent character, and the cliches that seem oddly new when presented here.
Vincent Price does his usual over the top great performance,, his is witty, and charming,, his wife on the other hand is cold , calculated , and cunning,, plot goes like this 5 strangers are invited to spend the night at an eccentric millionaire's house, if they survive they will be paid 10,000 dollars, not a bad offer, but apparently the house is very haunted, and people seem to have a bad habit of dying there,, each of the house guests are given one last chance to leave , but the caretakers take off a few minutes early so the house is thoroughly locked down,, the windows even have bars on them, and you just have to love all of the doors in the house,, and the acid pit,, that is just the cream of the crop ladies and gentleman..
Price said of William Castle: "He wasn't a great filmmaker, but he knew how to make this kind of film." His respect for the material shows, and he nails the part of the mysterious, morally ambiguous Fredrick Loren with every word that comes out of his mouth.
Castle's horror movies would become well-known for the innovative tricks it used to scare the audiences, however, his next film "House on Haunted Hill", showed not only an improved gimmick, but also a huge improvement in terms of the overall quality of the film.
Vincent Price is Frederick Loren, an eccentric multi-millionaire that decides to give a horror-themed party for his wife Annabelle (Carol Ohmart) in a very bizarre way.
As the challenge begins, strange events begin to happen and soon everyone wonders if there may be some true in the legend of the House on Haunted Hill.Written by Robb White, the story may be clichéd, but it's filled with excellent black comedy and has some very clever twists that give the film its very special charm.
To expect a terrifying horror experience is to watch the film with the wrong attitude, as "House on Haunted Hill" moves more on the lines of subtle dark comedy with a dose of campy fun instead of graphic horror.
Despite this tone, the film plays very good with the mystery that represents the House and the murders, and the ending still is one of the best surprises on film.William Castle directs this film following the conventions of the Gothic horror to the letter, but even when may had been a businessman first, he still was an artist, and shows off a very clever use of the camera to create mood an atmosphere.
The rest of the cast is somewhat effective, with Carolyn Craig and Richard Long playing the "heroes" of the story with good results, although some other members of the cast are pretty average when compared to the previously mentioned actors.The biggest mistake one can make when watching "House on Haunted Hill" is to expect a fright-fest, as this is not a movie to watch for the scares (as they play along the camp humor the film has), but to enjoy with its witty written black comedy and the excellent deliver of the cast.
House on Haunted Hill (1959) is a horror film directed by William Castle, written by Robb White, and starring Vincent Price as eccentric millionaire Fredrick Loren.
Released in 1959, "House on Haunted Hill" stars Vincent Price as the host of a "party" at a mansion where several people are invited (e.g. Richard Long and Elisha Cook Jr.) and offered $10,000 to stay the night.
But there's more: The corny floating heads; the overacting and over-screaming (mostly by Carolyn Craig); the fact that the house (actually a veritable castle) only has one door; and the ridiculous skeleton at the end that was shorter than Annabelle and was supposed to be the remains of Price's towering character.
Guthrie is the cinematographer.Eccentric millionaire Fredrick Loren (Price) and his latest wife, Annabelle (Ohmart), have invited 5 people to their house on Haunted Hill for a party.
But doing so will not be easy, because once midnight arrives they are trapped in the house, alone with each other, the ghosts and other unknown terrors.As the 1950's headed into its final straight, William Castle seized upon the idea to reinvigorate the horror genre with creepy films and cheapo gimmicks.
One such film is House on Haunted Hill, camp and at times funny, it still makes for a creepy night in by the fire with all the lights turned off.
Both of these scenes terrified me for years later.It is probably a good thing I didn't see this movie with William Castle's special Emergo effect (a skeleton would descend into the theater during an appropriate black-out section in the movie) because I would have created a new exit at the movie house.The basic plot of the movie is about a very rich man inviting several strangers to his wife's birthday party at a haunted house.
He's backed up by a solid cast that includes good turns from Carol Ohmart, Richard Long, Alan Marshal, and Elisha Cook, Jr. Carolyn Craig spends the whole movie scared out of her wits, screaming right and left.
To me that would be fun if offered that deal...knowing that it was a set-up and that all the "scares" and ghouls would be awaiting.But, then part way into the movie real murders start happening and waiting to see who is behind them is almost like a ghostly film noir.
velvet curtains and wallpaper, candle-filled chandeliers, big old wooden doors everywhere, lots of creepy dark corners, not the kind of place you'd want to spend the night alone, especially not after its owner tells you it's haunted, and that there are a couple of unaccounted for heads bouncing around the place..Okay so what makes a bad film so good?An awful lot of screen time is spent following the seven characters (the five guests, Price and his bitchy wife who wants his fortune) go in and out of bedrooms, up and down hallways, down to the basement, into closets, behind mysterious curtains..
A moody, atmospheric and surprisingly comedic chiller, this horror classic is an old-movie lover's dream come true: Terrific sets, great use of music, an intelligent and layered screenplay, a charismatic leading man in Vincent Price, and some intricate and downright unpredictable twists along the way.
Wealthy Frederick Loren (Vincent Price) invites five strangers to a party for his wife Annabelle in a haunted house.
It's also camp fun in a terrible kind of way but again what would you expect from a movie with Vincent Price in the lead and a ham-fisted cast that includes Carol Ohmart, Elisha Cook (at his hammiest) and Alan Marshall.
A melodramatic and wildly entertaining example of both fear and of camp, William Castle's 1959 release "House on Haunted Hill" is an indisputable classic of the horror genre.
With a low-budget charm, phenomenal performances from the likes of Vincent Price and some of the greatest old-school scares ever committed to film, it's still well-worth checking out for horror fans old and new alike.We follow eccentric millionaire Frederick Loren (Vincent Price), who at the urging of his spoiled wife Annabelle (Carol Ohmart), throws the most peculiar of parties late one night.
He rents out a supposed haunted house where seven people have been murdered, and offers a small group of guests $10,000 each if they can "survive the night." As the hours dwindle by, things begin to take a dark and twisted turn as doors open and close on their own, mysterious body-parts begin to appear...
And so begins the bat-on-a-string effects, as someone begins trying to scare them to death for their share of the money.This is one of Price's best roles, suave and silkily dangerous ("Do you remember the fun we had when you poisoned me?") The house itself, while it isn't exactly *haunted*, does have a wonderful film noir look about it, elegantly and stylishly dreadful looking, complete with candelabra chandelier, an acid bath in the basement, and an old bat being pulled around on a cart while making faces at the camera.Is it scary?
Well this movie, with the always creepy Vincent Price, follows a group of strangers who are spending the night in a haunted house for $10,000.
The film pays off very nicely in its second half.Vincent Price gives one of his best performances as a seemingly deranged millionaire playboy who is giving his wife a gift she apparently does not want - a night with several strangers locked into an allegedly haunted house which has a tendency to murder its occupants.
In this chilling haunted house tale eccentric millionaire Frederick Loren (Vincent Price) offers five strangers $10,000 to stay one night in a sinister house with a murderous history.
William Castle's classic haunted house flick is a testament to the quality of atmospheric, low-budget horror films that talented directors were able to produce back in the 1950's and 60's.
This film's plot revolves around Annabelle Loren's crazy slumber party where all the guests must live through the night in the supposedly haunted house, if they survive, her husband Frederick (Price) will pay them $10,000 each.
House on Haunted Hill is a great movie that delivers lots of entertainment,good acting,and brilliant story.Though some scenes of the movie are quite boring,it all makes up for it in entertainment.The movie isnt really all that scary,all the scares mostly come from when characters unexpectadly pop up in a scene,and the ending wasnt really all that good,but it is still a true classic.In the film,not many ghosts pop up,but like I said,the entertainment makes up for all that.For people who like old school suspense movies,watch this,but if your looking for more scares,watch the remake.Great acting,original plot,and great deal of entertainment makes House on Haunted Hill a great movie to watch.10 out of 10..
An eccentric millionaire invites five strangers to a haunted house with each receiving $10,000 if they last the night.This is a William Castle film so you know it's going to be genius.
If they can last the night, he will give them $10,000.Of course, there are signs that the house may indeed be haunted, but everything is not what it seems, and the guests may have more to fear than spooks.Aside from the indelible Vincent Price, the movie also stars Elisha Cook Jr., a character actor who looks like a smaller, traumatised Jack Nicholson, and Julie Mitchum (brother of Robert) in the last film of her negligible acting career.I was a little troubled by the ending, which seems to try for an open-ended lack of resolution, but doesn't quite get there.
A "scream" of laughter, that is.Filmed on a measly $200,000 budget - Directed by schlock movie-maker, William Castle - and - Starring that total Hollywood ham-actor, Vincent Price - Believe me - This demented, little fright flick takes the meaning of the word "cheesy" to a whole new level of unbridled lunacy.As the story goes - Price (with typical fiendish glee) plays Frederick Loren, a mean, sadistic and utterly eccentric millionaire, who offers $10,000 to five people who agree to be locked up in a large, spooky, rented house overnight with him and his "darling" wife.....
One of his most enjoyable roles is in William Castle's House on Haunted Hill, a film that embraces cliché and camp, yet undoubtedly inspired countless haunted house movies that came in the years that followed.Price plays a charismatic millionaire named Frederick Loren who, at the request of his wife Annabelle (Carol Ohmart), rents a supposedly haunted house to throw a party.
When the Image did First Appear, Vincent Price and Cook's Disembodied Heads Superimposed Over a Very Cold Looking Architecture (Frank Lloyd Wright), Inviting the Guests to Spend a Night in the House on Haunted Hill, is as Eerie as it Gets in This Type of Thing.
Director William Castle's fondly remembered haunted house film stars Vincent Price as multi-millionaire Frederick Loren, who, along with his current wife Annabelle(played by Carol Ohmhart) invite five strangers(played by Richard Long, Carolyn Craig, Alan Marshall, Julie Mitchum, and Elisha Cook Jr.) to stay the night in the title home and receive $10,000.
Carol Ohmart is great as Annabelle Loren, the wife of Vincent Price in this film.
Are all of the scares just a silly prank, or are the ghosts of the people murdered in the house haunting the living?This is a very fun and creepy little movie.
***SPOILERS*** Spooky haunted house movie with the person who rented it Frederick Loren, Vincent Price, inviting five perfect strangers to spend the night there and getting $10,000.00 each in they in fact survive!
Vincent Price is one of my favourite horror legends, William Castle's a helluva director, and I love haunted house movies.
The title of this review, spoken by the great Vincent Price in his trademark macabre voice, is one of my favorite lines in William Castle's "House On Haunted Hill" of 1959.
Vincent Price plays a millionaire who (for no discernible reason) offers five people $10,000 each IF they survive the night in a haunted house.