Castle of Blood
| Danza macabra Castle of Blood | |
|---|---|
 Italian film poster for Castle of Blood | |
| Directed by | Antonio Margheriti |
| Produced by |
Leo Lax Marco Vicario |
| Written by |
Sergio Corbucci Giovanni Grimaldi |
| Starring |
Barbara Steele Georges Rivière |
| Music by | Riz Ortolani |
| Cinematography | Riccardo Pallottini |
| Edited by | Otello Colangeli |
| Distributed by | Woolner Brothers Pictures Inc (US) |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 87 min |
| Country | Italy |
| Language | Italian |
Castle of Blood (Italian title: Danza Macabra) is a 1964 Italian horror film directed by Antonio Margheriti, using the pseudonym Anthony M. Dawson. This film is also known as Coffin of Terror, Danse macabre, Dimensions in Death, La Lunga notte del terrore, Terrore, The Castle of Terror, The Long Night of Terror, Tombs of Horror, and Tombs of Terror.
Cast
- Barbara Steele as Elisabeth Blackwood
- Georges Rivière as Alan Foster
- Margarete Robsahm as Julia
- Arturo Dominici as Dr. Carmus
- Silvano Tranquilli as Edgar Allan Poe
- Sylvia Sorrente as Elsi
- Giovanni Cianfriglia as Herbert
- Umberto Raho as Lord Thomas Blackwood
- Salvo Randone as Lester
- Benito Stefanelli as William
Plot
A journalist challenges Edgar Allan Poe on the authenticity of his stories, which leads to him accepting a bet from Lord Blackwood to spend the night in a haunted castle on All Soul's Eve. Ghosts of the murdered inhabitants appear to him throughout the night, re-enacting the events that lead to their deaths. It transpires that they need his blood in order to maintain their existence. Barbara Steele plays a ghost who attempts to help the journalist escape.
Release
Although the film was based on an original script by Antonio Margheriti, Sergio Corbucci and Gianni Grimaldi, it was in the USA promoted as an adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe.[1] This is supported by the credits which refer to a non-existing short story by Poe. Moreover Silvano Tranquilli plays Poe recounting the end his story "Berenice" at the film's beginning.
Critical reception
Allmovie's review of the film was favorable, calling it an "eerie and effective early horror film".[2]
Remake
In 1971, director Antonio Margheriti remade Castle of Blood as Web of the Spider. In this version Poe was played by Klaus Kinski, and the movie claimed to be based on a different non-existent Poe story called "Night of the Living Dead".
Biography
- Hughes, Howard (2011). Cinema Italiano - The Complete Guide From Classics To Cult. London - New York: I.B.Tauris. ISBN 978-1-84885-608-0.
References
- ↑ Hughes, p.86
- ↑ Robert Firsching. "Castle of Blood (1964)". Allmovie. Retrieved 30 June 2012.