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The Pit and the Pendulum

starring: Vincent Price, Barbara Steele, John Kerr, Luana Anders, Antony Carbone
directed by: Roger Corman

: The Pit and the Pendulum
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Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Audience Rating: Unrated
Binding: DVD
EAN: 9780792850045
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Letterboxed, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
ISBN: 0792850041
Label: American International Pictures (AIP)
Manufacturer: American International Pictures (AIP)
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: American International Pictures (AIP)
Region Code: 1
Release Date: June 05, 2001
Running Time: 80 minutes
Sales Rank: 17735
Studio: American International Pictures (AIP)
Theatrical Release Date: August 12, 1961



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Editorial Review:

Amazon.com:
The Fall of the House of Usher's success in 1960 spurred American International Pictures to quickly launch another production based on an Edgar Allan Poe story. While producer-director Roger Corman had hoped to next adapt 'The Masque of the Red Death' (which wasn't produced until 1964), Pit and the Pendulum (the onscreen title) became the second in AIP's long-running Poe series. Set in post-Inquisition Spain, the film stars John Kerr as a young Englishman who travels to the seaside castle of his brother-in-law (Vincent Price) to uncover the circumstances behind the death of his sister (a dubbed Barbara Steele). Price is tormented by memories of his mother's premature burial by his inquisitor father (also Price) and fears that this sadistic legacy has contributed to Steele's demise. Furthermore, he believes that Steele was also buried alive--a belief compounded by the mysterious destruction of her room, and the sound of her harpsichord playing in the night...

Structured almost identically to Usher, Richard Matheson's script fleshes out the brief original text with a fast-paced and twist-filled plot that never loses sight of the psychological themes of Poe's work. It also provides Price with the richest of his many AIP/Poe roles, a sympathetic, deeply emotional man who is unhinged by the sins of his father. Corman's direction is equally driven and fluid, and features some impressive quasi-psychedelic visuals in the tense climax. Also noteworthy is art director's Daniel Haller's impressive design of the title set piece. MGM's widescreen DVD features commentary by Corman, which focuses primarily on the film's technical aspects. Also included is the original trailer and a prologue (shot by Norma Rae producer Tamara Asseyev) featuring costar Luana Anders, which was added to fill out the film's 1968 television broadcast. --Paul Gaita



Customer Reviews
Average Rating: out of 5 stars

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - Great
Great experience with this group. Quick response and turn around. Excellent Job!


Rating: 3 out of 5 stars - The Pit and the Pendulum Not Satisfying!
My opinion on "The Pit and the Pendulum" is not very satisfying. I liked the storyline, but not the ... Read More


Rating: 4 out of 5 stars - HOUSE OF USHER 2
Success breeds excess, so following HOUSE OF USHER, AIP asked Roger Corman for a follow-up. Some films ... Read More


Rating: 4 out of 5 stars - "The shrieking of the mutilated victims became the music of his life."
Pit and the Pendulum (1961) was the 2nd of numerous successful Edgar Allan Poe inspired collaborations (the ... Read More


Rating: 4 out of 5 stars - GUILT, LUST, REVENGE, INSANITY
An Englishman journeys to Spain to investigate the circumstances of his sister's untimely death. At his brother ... Read More

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Copyright ©2003, Mark Carey.