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| Bad things always happen after there's talk of a will |
CASTLE OF EVIL (1966). Director: Francis D. Lyon.
On an isolated island near Nassau, a woman named Lupe (Shelley Morrison) gathers together a group of people who knew her late employer, Kovic (William Thorlby). Lupe, who was the housekeeper, tells the assemblage that Kovic blamed one of them -- all of whom he hated and vice versa -- for an accident that disfigured and eventually killed him, and that the others must uncover who the culprit is before they can inherit his vast fortune.
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| Virginia Mayo |
Here is where you might imagine that someone starts killing off the heirs one by one, but, alas, that is not the case, although at least one person does kick off. Kovic has built a mechanical man in his own image and it begins to stalk the heirs in the film's final minutes. The most interesting thing about
Castle of Evil is its cast, which is comprised of a few former movie stars who perform with perhaps more professional polish than the picture deserves: Virginia Mayo, as a former lover of Kovic; David Brian as a lawyer; Hugh Marlowe [
Earth vs. the Flying Saucers]
as a doctor; Scott Brady [
They Were So Young] as a former associate of Kovic's; and Lisa Gaye as his girlfriend. Gaye gives the most vivid performance, but the others are all good as well, with attractive Mayo being the most appealing. They all deserved a better script and more vital director. Francis D. Lyon also directed
Cult of the Cobra.
Verdict: Minimal excitement. **.
I need to see this, of course. Did not know that Miss Virginia Mayo joined the ranks of the Grand Guignol as well, but not a bit surprised. She's Working her Way Through The Programmers!
ReplyDelete-Chris
LOL! I always thought Ms. Mayo was under-rated. She offered zesty and sexy performances in many musicals and comedies and has zip in other kinds of movies. She acquits herself nicely in this.
ReplyDelete