The House of 1,000 Dolls
| The House of 1,000 Dolls | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Jeremy Summers |
| Produced by |
Louis M. Heyward (executive) Harry Alan Towers (producer) |
| Written by | Harry Alan Towers (as "Peter Welbeck") |
| Starring | Vincent Price |
| Music by | Charles Camilleri |
| Cinematography | Manuel Merino |
| Edited by | Allan Morrison |
| Distributed by | American International Pictures |
Release dates | 1967 |
Running time | 95 min. |
| Country |
United States Spain Italy West Germany |
| Language | English |
The House of 1,000 Dolls is a 1967 thriller starring Vincent Price. It has been described as "quite possibly the sleaziest movie AIP ever made".[1] The film is set in Tangier. Released initially in Spain under the Spanish title La casa de las mil muñecas, it wasn't released in the United States until March 1968.
Synopsis
Stephen Armstrong, vacationing with his wife Marie in Tangiers, runs into an old friend and learns he is searching for his missing girlfriend who was kidnapped by an international gang of white slavers.
The kidnappers are nightclub magician Manderville and his mentalist partner Rebecca. Under the guise of their nightclub performances they hypnotize and kidnap young women for the white slavers, and spirit them to the House of 1000 Dolls.
Stephen continues the investigation when his friend is murdered.
Cast
- Vincent Price as Felix Manderville
- Martha Hyer as Rebecca
- George Nader as Stephen Armstrong
- Ann Smyrner as Marie Armstrong
- Wolfgang Kieling as Inspector Emil
- Sancho Gracia as Fernando
- Maria Rohm as Diane
- Luis Rivera as Paul
- José Jaspe as Ahmed
- Juan Olaguivel as Salim
- Herbert Fux as Abdu
- Yelena Samarina as Madame Viera
- Diane Bond as Liza
- Andrea Lascelles as Doll
- Ursula Janis as Doll
Production
The film originated with Harry Alan Towers, who shot the movie in Madrid and got Samuel Arkoff at AIP to contribute to finance.[1]
At one stage Terence Fisher was announced as director.[2] Vic Damone was mentioned as going to support Vincent Price and Martha Hyer,[3] but he ended up being replaced by George Nader.
Filming began in November 1966. Knowing that local censors would prohibit filming, Towers gave them a copy of Abe Lincoln in Illinois and hired an actor to walk around the set dressed like Abraham Lincoln in case the censors dropped by.[1]
According to Price in a 1984 interview, he had been signed on to the project without full knowledge of what the film would be about. After his scenes were shot, "Martha Hyer and I were led off...so we went to visit on the set and we found that they were remaking all of the scenes we'd been in, but a pornographic version of it." He added, "I never got to see it."[4]
Reception
The Chicago Tribune called the film "not even bad enough to be good... [a] bargain basement backfire that is strictly discount Price."[5]
The New York Times said it had "routine sleuthing, double-crossing and chasing."[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Mark McGee, Faster and Furiouser: The Revised and Fattened Fable of American International Pictures, McFarland, 1996 p273
- ↑ MOVIE CALL SHEET: Turnabout in 'Peter Gunn' Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 11 Nov 1966: D21.
- ↑ MOVIE CALL SHEET: 'Battle Horns' for Nielsen Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 22 Nov 1966: c11.
- ↑ Aspel & Co. on YouTube, July 1984
- ↑ Bargain Basement Backfire Clifford, Terry. Chicago Tribune (1963-Current file) [Chicago, Ill] 04 Dec 1967: d17.
- ↑ Maryjane' Tops a Bill Thompson, Howard. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 14 Mar 1968: 51.
- James Robert Parish, Steven Whitney, Vincent Price Unmasked, (1974).