House of the Long Shadows
| House of the Long Shadows | |
|---|---|
 "The screen's masters of terror together for the first time." |
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| Directed by | Pete Walker |
| Produced by | Jenny Craven, Yoram Globus, Menahem Golan |
| Written by | Screenplay by Michael Armstrong Based on the novel Seven Keys to Baldpate by Earl Derr Biggers |
| Starring | Vincent Price Christopher Lee Peter Cushing John Carradine Desi Arnaz, Jr. |
| Music by | Richard Harvey |
| Cinematography | Norman G. Langley |
| Editing by | Robert C. Dearberg |
| Distributed by | Cannon Film Distributors |
| Release date(s) | 17 June, 1983 |
| Running time | 100 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $7,500,000 (estimated) |
House of the Long Shadows is a (1983) horror-parody film directed by Pete Walker. The screenplay by Michael Armstrong is based on the novel Seven Keys to Baldpate by Earl Derr Biggers. The original music score is composed by Richard Harvey.[1]
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[edit] Plot summary
Desi Arnaz Jr. plays Kenneth Magee, the young writer who bets $20,000 that he can write a Wuthering Heights-caliber novel in 24 hours. To give him the mood for the undertaking he goes to a remote, deserted Welsh manor. Upon his arrival, however, the writer discovers that the manor is not as empty as he was told. Still there, are Lord Grisbane and his daughter, Victoria, who have been maintaining the mansion on their own. As the stormy night progresses, more people come to the mansion including Lord Grisbane's sons Lionel and Sebastian, Magee's publisher's secretary, Mary Norton, who was sent to scare Magee into failing his task, and Corrigan, a potential buyer of the property. After much coaxing, the Grisbanes reveal that they are here to release their brother, Roderick, who was imprisoned in his room for 40 years because he seduced a village girl when he was 14 and killed her when he found out she was pregnant. When they go to release him, they find the room empty and conclude that he broke out recently by breaking the bars in front of the window. Moments later, Lord Grisbane has a heart attack and dies soon afterward. As Magee talks about getting the police, screams are heard and they find Victoria strangled to death. When Corrigan, Magee, and Mary decide to leave, they discover all of their cars have slashed tires. Soon, Diane and Andrew, a young couple that Magee met at the train station earlier arrive seeking shelter from the storm. They are soon killed when Diane washes her face with water that has been replaced by acid and Andrew drinks poisoned punch. The remaining five decide to find Roderick and kill him before he kills them. Magee, Sebastian, and Mary search a series of tunnels behind a bookcase. During their search, they get separated and Sebastian gets killed by being hanged from the ceiling. Mary makes it back to Corrigan and Lionel while Magee remains lost in the tunnels. Corrigan soon reveals that he, in fact, is Roderick and that he escaped his prison decades ago but returned every now and then to make them think he was still trapped. He then proceeds to kill Lionel with a battle axe and chase Mary throughout the manor. Magee soon finds then them and after the ensuing fight, knocks Roderick down the stairs which causes Roderick to stab himself with the axe. As Roderick is dying, everyone that has died suddenly walks in to the room and it is revealed that all it was a joke put on by Magee's publisher. The next morning, Magee finishes his novel and returns to give it to his publisher. When his publisher gives him his $20,000 he proceeds to rip it up as he has learned that some things are more important than money.
[edit] Main cast
- Vincent Price as Lionel Grisbane
- Christopher Lee as Corrigan/Roderick Grisbane
- Peter Cushing as Sebastian Grisbane
- John Carradine as Lord Grisbane
- Desi Arnaz, Jr. as Kenneth Magee
- Julie Peasgood as Mary Norton
- Sheila Keith as Victoria Grisbane
- Richard Todd as Sam Allyson
- Louise Enlish as Diane
- Richard Hunter as Andrew
[edit] Cast notes
- Of historical importance is the fact that this film is the only co-starring effort of the four masters of terror: Vincent Price, Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee and John Carradine.
- This is also the last film in which Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee appeared together.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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