Misterios de ultratumba (1959)

Director:

Fernando Méndez

Writer:

Ramón Obón (writer)

Release Date:

1959 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy | Horror | Mystery

Tagline:

Plunges you into a new concept of terror ... and sudden shocks!!

Plot Keywords:

Acid | Asylum | Death | Disfigured Face | Ghost

Cast

Gastón Santos	...	Dr. Eduardo Jimenez
Rafael Bertrand	...	Dr. Mazali
Mapita Cortés	...	Patricia Aldama
Carlos Ancira	...	Elmer, the orderly
Carolina Barret	...	La Gitana
Luis Aragón	...	Dr. Gonzalez
Beatriz Aguirre	...	Rosario
Antonio Raxel	...	Dr. Jacinto Aldama
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Guillermo Álvarez Bianchi	...	Don anselmo (uncredited)
Lupe Carriles	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Fernando Méndez

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Ramón Obón		writer

Produced by
Alfredo Ripstein hijo	....	producer
César Santos Galindo	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Gustavo César Carrión		(as Gustavo C. Carrion)

Cinematography by
Víctor Herrera

Film Editing by
Charles L. Kimball		(as Charles Kimball)

Production Design by
Gunther Gerszo

Makeup Department
Evangelina Garibay	....	makeup artist
Agripina Lozada	....	hair stylist (as Pina Lozada)

Production Management
Jorge Cardeña	....	production chief
Armando Solís	....	assistant production chief
Carlos Ventimilla	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Américo Fernández	....	assistant director

Sound Department
James L. Fields	....	sound
Rodolfo Solís	....	dialogue recordist (as Rodolfo Solis C.)

Camera and Electrical Department
Regina Cárdenas	....	lighting technician (as Regino Cardenas)
Lupe García	....	camera operator (as Guadalupe Garcia)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Julio Chávez	....	wardrobe
Consuelo Múgica	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Jorge Azcárate	....	assistant editor
Raúl Portillo	....	synchronization editor

Music Department
Galdino R. Samperio	....	music recordist (as Galdino Samperio 'Cruci')

Production Companies

• Alameda Films

Distributors

• Alameda Films (1959) (Mexico) (theatrical)
• Clasa-Mohme (1959) (USA) (theatrical) (Spanish)
• United Producers Releasing Organization (1961) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• CasaNegra Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD) (Spanish language version)
• Joseph Brenner Associates (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Something Weird Video (SWV) (199?) (USA) (VHS) (Spanish language only)

Other Companies

• Screen Time Images  DVD menus and authoring
• Screen Time Images  audio restoration
• Screen Time Images  film restoration

Also Known As:

Mysteries from Beyond the Grave (USA) (informal literal English title)
Mysteries from Beyond the Tomb (informal alternative title)
Mysteries of the Afterlife (informal alternative title)
The Black Pit of Dr. M (USA) (dubbed version)

Runtime:

Mexico:82 min | USA:71 min

Country:

Mexico

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Mexico

Company:

Alameda Films

Trivia:

The English dubbed version of this film is believed lost. Please check your attic.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Dusk to Dawn Drive-In Trash-o-Rama Show Vol. 9 (2002) (V)

A Masterpiece! Plain and Simple...

The US release of this film was called "The Black Pit of Dr M." and was brought to the US (along with several other great Mexican horror classics) from Mexico by B movie maven, K Gordon Murray. As far as I am concerned this film is one of the absolute treasures of Mexican Cinema. How often would you hear that about a Horror film? Fernando Mendez's great horror masterpiece is so rich in atmosphere and boasts such beautiful, Gothic "mise en scene" that it looks like a true Gothic fairy tale painting has been struck right on the screen. I've seen scores of classic horror films and I have yet to see one that matches the almost over-the-top lush style and atmosphere that Mendez has created here. The setting is an old Hacienda, shrouded in mist, filled with exotic plants and photographed with such care it is almost mesmerizing to see. This Hacienda is an insane asylum headed up by Dr. M. When a spirit conjurer is called in to resurrect the life of a man who was wrongly executed, vengeance, murder and mayhem from beyond the grave ensues. A wonderful, supernatural tale, told in a lyrical yet almost surreal fashion combined with unrelenting, spooky visuals makes this greatly under-appreciated film an absolute must see.