The Pit and the Pendulum (1961)
Jul 26 7:30pm PT
Roger Corman
Tue, 07/26/2016 - 19:30

Samuel Goldwyn Theater
8949 Wilshire Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90212

 

With special guest Roger Corman 

We featured a new 35mm print made by the Academy Film Archive with support from Roger Corman, Julie Corman, and Jon Davison. Special thanks to MGM/UA and Scott Grossman. Four newly restored Roger Corman trailers will precede the film.

Based on the classic shocker by Edgar Allan Poe, The Pit and the Pendulum, with a screenplay by Richard Matheson, deviates somewhat from the original, but Roger Corman, who also produced and directed, succeeds in translating Poe’s eerie mood to the screen. Set in the 16th century, horror film icon Vincent Price stars as a Spanish nobleman whose wife (Barbara Steele) dies under mysterious circumstances.  Despite its modest budget of $300,000 over 15 shooting days, Corman employs his legendary “bag of tricks” and the mastery of cinematographer Floyd Crosby to create a colorful, visually impressive and atmospheric film.

Produced and directed by Roger Corman. Written by Richard Matheson, based on the short story by Edgar Allan Poe.

Cast: Vincent Price, John Kerr, Barbara Steele, Luana Anders, Antony Carbone, Patrick Westwood, Lynn Bernay, Larry Turner, Mary Menzies, Charles Victor.

85 minutes. 35mm. Filmed in Panavision.