House of Usher

Original title: The Fall of the House of Usher

1960
Approved
1h 19m

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

16K

YOUR RATING

Upon entering his fiancée's family mansion, a man discovers a savage family curse and fears that his future brother-in-law has entombed his bride-to-be prematurely.

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Drama Horror

Upon entering his fiancée's family mansion, a man discovers a savage family curse and fears that his future brother-in-law has entombed his bride-to-be prematurely.Upon entering his fiancée's family mansion, a man discovers a savage family curse and fears that his future brother-in-law has entombed his bride-to-be prematurely.Upon entering his fiancée's family mansion, a man discovers a savage family curse and fears that his future brother-in-law has entombed his bride-to-be prematurely.

Director
- Roger Corman
Writers
- Edgar Allan Poe
- Richard Matheson
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

16K

YOUR RATING

Director
- Roger Corman
Writers
- Edgar Allan Poe
- Richard Matheson
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 3 wins total

Ghost
(uncredited)

Mario Bellini

Ghost
(uncredited)

Bill Borzage

Ghost
(uncredited)

Eleanor LeFaber

Ghost
(uncredited)

Nadajan

Ghost
(uncredited)

Ruth Oklander

Ghost
(uncredited)

George Paul

Ghost
(uncredited)

Géraldine Paulette

Ghost
(uncredited)

Phil Sulvestre

Ghost
(uncredited)

John Zimeas

Ghost
(uncredited)

Director
- Roger Corman
Writers
- Edgar Allan Poe
- Richard Matheson
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Roger Corman learned that there was an old barn in Orange County, CA that was about to be demolished. He was able to strike a deal that would allow him to burn the barn at night and film it. The resulting footage was so good that it was used not only in the climax of this film but in later "Poe" films as well.

Goofs
In the church, Roderick has the head of Madeline's coffin, but while going down the stairs he has the foot of the coffin. In the next shot, entering the crypt, Roderick has the head of the coffin again.

Quotes
Roderick Usher: Last night you asked me about the singular aridity of the land around this house. Once this land was fertile, farms abounded. Earth yielded her riches at harvest time. There were trees and plant life, flowers. Fields of grain. There was great beauty here. At that time this water was clear and fresh. Swans glided upon its crystal surface. Animals came to its bank, trustingly, to drink. But this was long before my time.
Philip Winthrop: Why do you tell me these things?
Roderick Usher: And then something crept across the land and blacked it. The trees lost their foliage. The flowers languished and died. Shrubs grew brown and shrivelled. The grain fields perished. And the lakes and ponds became black and stagnant. And the land withered as before a plague.
Philip Winthrop: [puzzled] A plague?
Roderick Usher: Yes, Mr. Winthrop: a plague of evil.
Roderick Usher: [showing some pictures of his ancestors] Anthony Usher: thief, usurer, merchant of flesh. Bernard Usher: swindler, forger, jewel thief, drug addict. Francis Usher: professional assassin. Vivian Usher: blackmailer, harlot, murderess, she died in a madhouse. Captain David Usher: smuggler, slave trader, mass murderer.
Philip Winthrop: [reluctant] Mr. Usher, I don't see that this has anything to do with Madeline and myself. I don't believe in the sins of the fathers being visited upon the children.
Roderick Usher: [ironic] You do not, Sir?

Alternate versions
The original UK cinema version was cut by the BBFC to remove a shot of Madeline's bloodstained hands held to her face. All later versions were uncut.

Connections
Edited into The Trip (1967)

User reviews129

Review

Featured review

9/10

A Gothic classic and one of Roger Corman's best films.

Corman's first Poe film (out of eight) is one of the best adaptations of the familiar story (rivaled only by French director Jean Epstein's superb, yet completely different, 1928 version) and was a critical and commercial success in its day on a meager $125,000 budget. Vincent Price is superb as Roderick Usher, an eternally tortured soul who lives in a crumbling castle with his sister Madeline (Myrna Fahey) and faithful butler Bristol (nicely etched by Harry Ellerbe). When Philip Winthrop (bland Mark Damon) shows up to take Madeline away, Roderick's incestuous feelings come to surface and the terror begins. Highlights include Damon's colorful nightmare sequence and Price's explanation of the Usher family history.

HOUSE OF USHER is intelligent, subtle and effective, with good sets and costumes and excellent work from scripter Richard Matheson, composer Les Baxter, cameraman Floyd Crosby and art director Daniel Haller--all united by Corman's smart, stylish, fluent direction. Truly deserving of it's reputation as horror classic.