The Premature Burial (film)

Infobox Film
name = The Premature Burial


image_size =
caption = DVD cover
director = Roger Corman
producer = Roger Corman
Samuel Z. Arkoff
Gene Corman (Exec Prod)
writer = Short story:
Edgar Allan Poe
Screenplay:
Charles Beaumont
Ray Russell
narrator =
starring = Ray Milland
Hazel Court
Alan Napier
Heather Angel
Richard Ney
music = Ronald Stein
Les Baxter
cinematography = Floyd Crosby
editing = Ronald Sinclair
distributor = American International Pictures
released = flagicon|USA 7 March 1962
runtime = 81 min.
country = USA
language = English
budget =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0056368

"The Premature Burial" (1962 ) is an American International Pictures horror film starring Ray Milland in a story about a man's fears of being buried alive and his construction of a special tomb to avoid such a fate. The screenplay by Charles Beaumont and Ray Russell was based upon the tale, "The Premature Burial" by American author Edgar Allan Poe. The film was directed by Roger Corman, and is the third in his series of eight Poe film adaptations and the only one in the series not starring Vincent Price. The film won one award.

Cast

* Ray Milland as Guy Carrell
* Heather Angel as Kate Carrell, Guy's sister
* Hazel Court as Emily Gault, Guy's wife
* Alan Napier as Dr. Gideon Gault
* Richard Ney as Miles Archer
* John Dierkes as Sweeney
* Dick Miller as Mole
* Clive Halliday as Judson
* Brendan Dillon as Clergyman

Plot

Guy Carrell (Ray Milland) is a tormented man who believes his father was entombed alive after suffering a cataleptic attack. In order to avoid a similar fate, he constructs a special tomb that will allow him to escape. In an attempt to allay her husband's fears, Emily Carrell (Hazel Court) encourages Guy to open his father's tomb to determine whether the elder man died peacefully. When the tomb is opened, Guy's worst suspicions are realized and he falls into a cataleptic seizure. The doctors determine Guy has died of a heart attack and he is buried alive.

Reception

Cavett Binion in "All Movie Guide" notes, "Milland's performance conveys the requisite amount of hand-wringing torment (in the mode of "The Lost Weekend"), even if he fails to capture the manic intensity that Price brought to the other Poe films. Corman's deft direction, employing a rich palette of colors and superb widescreen compositions, is on a par with the series' finest installments." [ [http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/39038/The-Premature-Burial/overview "New York Times" Overview] . Retrieved 26 September 2008.]

Awards and nominations

The film won a 1962 Golden Laurel Sleeper of the Year Award.

ee also

* Edgar Allan Poe in television and film

References