The Old Dark House

1963
Approved
1h 26m

IMDb RATING

5.4/10

2.6K

YOUR RATING

In England, an American car salesman ends-up spending a stormy night at the mysterious and deadly mansion of a client's family.

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Comedy Horror Mystery Thriller

In England, an American car salesman ends-up spending a stormy night at the mysterious and deadly mansion of a client's family.In England, an American car salesman ends-up spending a stormy night at the mysterious and deadly mansion of a client's family.In England, an American car salesman ends-up spending a stormy night at the mysterious and deadly mansion of a client's family.

Director
- William Castle
Writers
- Robert Dillon
- J.B. Priestley
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.4/10

2.6K

YOUR RATING

Director
- William Castle
Writers
- Robert Dillon
- J.B. Priestley
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 nomination

Gambler
(uncredited)

Joyce Everson

Casino Patron
(uncredited)

Angela Kay

Casino Patron
(uncredited)

Aileen Lewis

Casino Patron
(uncredited)

John Lynn

Croupier
(uncredited)

Director
- William Castle
Writers
- Robert Dillon
- J.B. Priestley
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The drawings in the title sequence were by Charles Addams, whose whole career was inspired by the 1932 version of The Old Dark House (1932) (of which this is a remake). This is The Addams Family Charles Addams. Creator of the whole film and TV series.

Goofs
When Jasper claims his mother "never spent a penny!", the dubbed word we hear is 'penny', yet the word he clearly says with his mouth is 'shilling', probably because American audiences would not understand what a 'shilling' is.

Quotes
Agatha Femm: [Knitting] I capture time and space in my stitches. Sometimes I wonder what would happen if I stopped.
Tom Penderel: Happen? To you?
Agatha Femm: No, no. To the world.

Crazy credits
During the opening credits, "Produced and directed by William Castle" is followed by "Directed by William Castle."

Alternate versions
This film was filmed in Eastmancolor, however it was released in American theaters in black and white. Color prints were released to American television, however.

Connections
Featured in Fright Night Theater: Christmas Show! (2012)

User reviews71

Review

Featured review

6/10

Oranges and lemons...

Owing little to either James Whale's 1932 chiller, or to J.B. Priestly's original source novel, "Benighted", THE OLD DARK HOUSE is a small, off-beat and pleasantly daffy scare-comedy, a change-of-pace for director William Castle. Filmed and set in England, Tom Poston stars as a hapless American who, on a visit to a curious roommate's even curiouser family home, is caught up in a murderous merry-go-round of mayhem, nursery rhymes, love and (very possibly) the end of the world (including an Ark!). British stalwarts Robert Morley, Joyce Grenfell, Mervyn Johns, and Peter Bull have a charming good time playing the various members of the Femm family, along with Janette Scott and an unforgettably slinky Fenella Fielding as romantic interests. None of the usual Castle gimmicks for this release--just a bit of eccentricity and a pleasant, creepy, multi-murder mystery, with a puzzle to solve, a couple of surprises, and some good solid chuckles.

A note to fans of Charles Addams--the film's poster and its main titles contain some choice Addams artwork.

An additional note: the film was shot in color, but released in a very faintly tinted black-and-white version. The color version of the film was only seen on subsequent television release.

This movie really does deserve a DVD release, not only for its place in the William Castle canon, but for the performances and the fun.