The ghosts are moving tonight, restless… hungry. May I introduce myself? I’m Watson Pritchard. In just a moment I’ll show you the only really haunted house in the world. Since it was built a century ago, seven people including my brother have been murdered in it, since then, I’ve owned the house. I only spent one night then and when they found me in the morning, I… I was almost dead. – Watson Pritchard’s opening lines

Our first look at Vincent Price’s rather large list of hits is House on Haunted Hill, the 1959 classic from director William Castle (who should get a themed week of his own someday!).  In keeping with this being one of William Castle’s films, it featured an in-theatre gimmick.  The gimmick for this film was called Emergo, which featured a skeleton emerging from the screen and actually flying over the heads of the audience (suspended on wires).  Being a classic horror fan, I wish I could’ve seen how that worked.

The film takes place over the course of a night in the titular House on Haunted Hill.  Frederick Loren and his wife, Annabelle, invite five strangers to the house for a Haunted House party: Lance Schroeder, a pilot; Dr. David Trent, who feels that hauntings and ghosts are nothing more than a form of hysteria; Nora Manning, a writer; Watson Pritchard, the owner of the house who has lost two family members to the ghosts inside; and Ruth Bridgers, an employee of one of Mr. Loren’s many businesses.  In return for spending the night in a haunted house, each of the five guests will receive $10,000 once the night is up.  The question has to be asked, though… will anyone survive to reap the rewards of Mr. Loren’s generosity?

This film is a classic example of atmospheric horror.  The house where it takes place is beautiful and spooky all at the same time.  The acting is great, as well, with Vincent Price (Frederick Loren) leading the cast as the host of the party.  Carol Ohmart (Annabelle Loren) played the host’s wife… well, fourth wife (with the previous wives disappearing or meeting death under mysterious circumstances).  Richard Long (Lance Schroeder) played the hero figure well.  He also played in Cult of the Cobra and several television shows such as Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Boris Karloff’s Thriller.  Elisha Cook (Watson Pritchard) played the cowardly owner of the house to a tee.  His other films include ‘Salem’s Lot, Voodoo Island and Rosemary’s Baby, among others too numerous to mention here.

Normally, after the cast, I just go right to the ratings, but I wanted to say a few things about the DVD I watched the film on.  This copy of the film is presented by Johnny Legend (who fans of 2001 Maniacs will recognize as one of the Strolling Minstrels of that film).  Just loading the DVD into the machine was different, as the FBI Warning that’s usually shown at the beginning of films was actually read by Johnny Legend.  The film itself is digitally remastered and put into a widescreen format, plus restored to its original black and white glory.  As for the special features, it has this:

Original Theatrical Trailers for House on Haunted Hill
Return to the House (showing what the house looks like today, hosted by Johnny Legend who reminsces about it)
Castle & Price Previews (Various trailers showing movies of both Vincent Price and William Castle)
Surprise William Castle TV Spot
Carol Ohmart Profile
Golden Age Price (two comedy sketches from The Jack Benny Show and Red Skeleton Show, plus a dramatic appearance in The Brainwashing of John Hayes)

Truly a classic film, and I have no qualms over giving it the full 5 out of 5 that it deserves.  Tune in next time, when we look at one of Vincent Price’s more villainous roles.  Take care, everyone, and this is Red Hawk signing out!