THE HAUNTED PALACE (1963) was the sixth of the 8 films based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe made by producer-director Roger Corman for American International Pictures between 1960 and 1964. It may be the best of the lot after THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH (1964) which is usually considered the number one adaptation along with PIT & THE PENDULUM (1961). There is one very significant difference between PALACE and the seven other films in the series and that is the story is not by Poe but by H.P. Lovecraft. That story is Lovecraft’s only full length novel. THE CASE OF CHARLES DEXTER WARD. The title of the movie was taken from a poem by Poe which is found in THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER.
Corman wanted to take a break from Poe after 5 features and felt that Lovecraft (who was just beginning to be rediscovered by a new generation) would be the ideal author to film as many of his early stories had a number of similarities to Poe. As a result he took a slightly different approach to the look of PALACE. Unlike the dream-like quality of the earlier Poe films, this one featured Noiresque lighting devoid of bright color with lots of swirling fog, dead trees, and neglected graveyards. The entire movie has a malignant atmosphere which Lovecraft would have appreciated. However, since Lovecraft was still relatively unknown, the producers at AIP marketed it as another Poe adaptation and PALACE did very well at the box office.
The film has a strong cast. In addition to Vincent Price, the film co-starred the then well known 1950s actress Debra Paget and Lon Chaney Jr in one of his last good roles.The supporting cast included Leo Gordon and Elisha Cook Jr., The camerawork by F.W. Murnau veteran Floyd Crosby (father of singer David Crosby) is more realistic with sharper angles and images then the previous films (which he also photographed) and the fine orchestral score by Ronald Stein stays with you after the movie is over.. Price, in what is essentially two different roles one good the other evil, gives an outstanding portrayal that showcases his acting capabilities. Paget is lovely in her final film and rarely has Chaney Jr been this quietly menacing.
The title credits show a spider slowly weaving its web before trapping a butterfly at the end. That’s a perfect visualization of the plot of HAUNTED PALACE. In 18th century New England, the townspeople of the small community of Arkham burn Joseph Curwen as a warlock but not before he pronounces a curse over the town. 100 years later Charles Dexter Ward, Curwen’s great-great grandson and the spitting image of his ancestor, inherits his castle The townspeople don’t want him and Ward discovers that many of them are deformed. Once inside the palace, Ward then becomes possessed by a portrait of Curwen. Aided by his minions he continues Curwen’s dark goings on while enacting revenge on the descendants of those who burned him.
This would be the last Poe movie that Corman would make in America. The last two, MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH and TOMB OF LIGEIA (both 1964) would be made in England using, outside of Price, British casts and technicians. This gave Corman access to greater resources and cheaper labor costs. While these last two movies are considered by critics to be the best in the series, I prefer the American made features. Like producer Val Lewton’s RKO horror movies made 20 years earlier, I find the American Poe pictures to be more creative with less resources. HAUNTED PALACE is where they all came together. It also provided Vincent Price with a trial run for his Matthew Hopkins in the infamous WITCHFINDER GENERAL 5 years later.
The Capsule Critic 