The Old Dark House (1963 film)

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The Old Dark House

Directed by	William Castle
Produced by	William Castle Anthony Hinds
Starring	Tom Poston Robert Morley Janette Scott
Music by	Benjamin Frankel
Cinematography	Arthur Grant
Editing by	James Needs
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release date(s)	1963
Running time	86 min.
Country	United States
Language	English
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The Old Dark House is a 1963 comedy-horror film directed by William Castle. It is a remake of the 1932 film of the same name. The film was based on the novel by J.B. Priestley and the new screenplay was written by Robert Dillon. It was shown for the first time on 30 October 1963 on USA and on 16 September 1966 at the UK.

[edit] Cast

Tom Poston as Tom Penderel
Robert Morley as Roderick Femm
Janette Scott as Cecily Femm
Joyce Grenfell as Agatha Femm
Mervyn Johns as Petiphar Femm
Fenella Fielding as Morgana Femm
Peter Bull as Caspar/Jasper Femm
Danny Green as Morgan Femm
John Harvey as Club Receptionist
Amy Dalby as Gambler (uncredited)

[edit] Plot synopsis

Tom Penderel, an American car salesman in London, delivers a car to an old mansion in Wales and discovers that his eccentric client, Casper Femm, is dead. The car crashes in a raging storm, and Tom is invited to stay at the house by members of Casper's family, including his nieces, the demure young Cecily and the seductive Morgana, and his Uncle Potiphar, who has been building an ark in anticipation of another great flood.

Each of the relatives is required to return to the dilapidated mansion before midnight each evening or forfeit his share of the family fortune. During the night, one of the Femm family dies every hour. First Agatha Femm, Casper's mother, is discovered with her knitting needles stuck in her throat. Casper's twin brother, Jasper, is the next victim, followed by Roderick, the head of the family.

Tom stumbles upon the fact that the killer is a woman, and he accuses Morgana, but Cecily confesses, explaining that she wanted the entire family estate. Cecily runs from the house, and Tom discovers that she has placed time bombs in all of the clocks in the house. Racing against time, he frantically defuses each of the bombs. With moments to spare, he hurls the last bomb out of the window, and it explodes at Cecily's feet.