THE PREMATURE BURIAL

THE PREMATURE BURIAL (1962). Produced and directed by Roger Corman. 

Convinced that his own father suffered from catalepsy and was buried alive, Guy Carrell (Ray Milland of The Sea Serpent) has a morbid fear of the same fate and takes elaborate steps to prevent it. His wife, Emily (Hazel Court), father-in-law Gideon (Alan Napier), and friend Miles (Richard Ney) convince him to cast off his fears and live life on its own terms. His crypt, with a variety of safety devices should he be entombed while alive, is burnt to the ground, and he starts out on a new life. But he may find that certain forces could be conspiring against him ... 

Guy on the moors

The Premature Burial is one of the best of Roger Corman's "Poe"-influenced vehicles, although the screenplay -- by Ray Russell [The Horror of It All] and Charles Beaumont -- seems more influenced by Robert Bloch or Jimmy Sangster than Poe. Although at first Milland, filling in for Vincent Price, seems a bit stiff, he eventually settles in and gives a good performance, underplaying as if afraid of being too hammy as Price could be. (Originally this was not going to be released by American International, and since Price had an exclusive contract with AIP, Milland had to be hired -- then the film was released by AIP.) Court, Ney, Napier and Heather Angel as Guy's sister, Kate, all give notable performances, as do John Dierkes and Dick Miller (whom I did not recognize) as gravediggers. The moody film is well-shot by Floyd Crosby and Ronald Stein's score adds to the considerable atmospherics. Both gentleman also worked on Attack of the Crab Monsters. 

Verdict: Classy, well-acted, absorbing horror melodrama. ***. 

THE MAN WHO COULD CHEAT DEATH

Anton Diffring

THE MAN WHO COULD CHEAT DEATH (1959). Director: Terence Fisher.

In Paris of 1890, doctor and sculptor Georges Bonnet (Anton Diffring), is anxiously awaiting the arrival of an old friend, Dr. Ludwig Weiss (Arnold Marle). Elderly Weiss, who is actually younger than Georges, performed a certain operation on the latter that has kept him young for many decades. The operation needs to be repeated periodically and now it is time for Weiss to perform it again, only a stroke has made this impossible. Now Georges is desperate to find another doctor who might look the other way and save Georges' life. But will Dr. Pierre Gerard (Christopher Lee) agree to do what Georges' requires? Complicating matters is a woman named Janine (Hazel Court), who is in love with Georges but may find his secrets a bit too much to bear.

Arnold Marle and Anton Diffring

The Man Who Could Cheat Death is a notable Hammer production, well-directed by Terence Fisher, and with a splendid lead performance from Anton Diffring, who makes the most of both the characters' arrogance and his near-hysterical desperation. Court and Lee are also memorable, and Arnold Marle is excellent as the originally compliant doctor who becomes increasingly appalled by his old friend's attitude and actions, which include murder. Based on a play by Barre Lyndon, this was originally filmed as The Man in Half Moon Street. This is the superior of the two versions.

Verdict: Lurid and entertaining with a superb Diffring. ***.