Complete credited cast: | |||
Vincent Price | ... | Nicholas Medina / Sebastian Medina | |
John Kerr | ... | Francis Barnard | |
Barbara Steele | ... | Elizabeth Barnard Medina | |
Luana Anders | ... | Catherine Medina | |
Antony Carbone | ... | Doctor Charles Leon | |
Patrick Westwood | ... | Maximillian | |
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Lynette Bernay | ... | Maria (as Lynne Bernay) |
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Larry Turner | ... | Nicholas as a Child |
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Mary Menzies | ... | Isabella |
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Charles Victor | ... | Bartolome |
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. Written by Leon Wolters <wolters@strw.LeidenUniv.nl>
I just recently "discovered" the "Pit and the Pendulum" after a friend recommended it. I watched the video on a dark and windy night and I was absolutely chilled! It was wonderfully atmospheric, beautifully filmed, and the suspense kept mounting right up until the climatic end. >
Vincent Price was terrific, bringing such sympathy to this role. I think any other actor would have easily been over the top, but Price keeps it in check. John Kerr was properly aggressive as the over wrought brother and the other actors were just as impressive.
This type of movie making just confirms to me that you don't need a shameless amount of blood and guts to be terrified. I know I'm going to have a grand old time checking out Price's other movies!