Home | Space Watch Murders | Her Films | Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 | Photo 4

The Pit and the Pendulum (1961)  Buy The DVD
Directed by Roger Corman

Francis Barnard goes to Spain, when he hears his sister Elizabeth has died. Her husband Nicholas Medina, the son of the brutest torturer of the Spanish Inquisition, tells him she has died of a blood disease, but Francis finds this hard to believe. After some investigating he finds out that it was extreme fear that was fatal to his sister and that she may have been buried alive! Strange things then start to happen in the Medina castle.

Roger Corman's "Pit and the Pendulum" is a fabulous movie. Made on a small budget of 200,000, it looks like a multi-million dollar film. That is a testament to Corman, who had a gift to make a cheap movie look like an expensive one.

The film owes little to Poe's story, but in a way, that's a plus. Who would want a wholly faithful adaptation? If you're looking for accuracy, read the book. If you're looking for a moody, atmospheric thriller, this is your movie.

It stars Vincent Price as Nicholas Medina, a conquistador in the 1600s.  It is a performance of great restraint and power. 

The cinematography (by Floyd Crosby, in Panavision and Pathecolor) is gorgeous and must be seen in the widescreen edition. The sets (by Daniel Haller, are impressive for a low budget film like this.

This may be the best of the Poe films, but more importantly, this is further proof that Corman is an important director and that given a good budget, he can turn out important work. Working here with experienced technicians and strong actors, he makes one of the very best films of the 1960s.

Home | Space Watch Murders | Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 | Photo 4

Email