The Screaming Skull (1958)

Director:

Alex Nicol

Writer:

John Kneubuhl (written by)

Release Date:

January 1958 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

FREE!! We guarantee to bury you without charge if you die of fright during SCREAMING SKULL!

Plot:

A newlywed couple arrives at the home of the husband's late wife, where the gardens have been maintained by a gardener faithful to the dead woman's memory. Soon eerie events lead the new wife to think she is going out of her mind.

Plot Keywords:

Gardener | Newlywed | Mansion | Mental Illness | Skull

Cast

John Hudson	...	Eric Whitlock
Peggy Webber	...	Jenni Whitlock
Russ Conway	...	Reverend Edward Snow
Tony Johnson	...	Mrs. Snow
Alex Nicol	...	Mickey

Directed by
Alex Nicol

Writing credits
John Kneubuhl		(written by)

Produced by
John Coots	....	associate producer
John Kneubuhl	....	producer
Thomas F. Woods	....	executive producer (as T. Frank Woods)

Original Music by
Ernest Gold

Cinematography by
Floyd Crosby		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Betty J. Lane		(as Betty Jane Lane)

Makeup Department
Donald W. Roberson	....	makeup artist (as Don Roberson)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Maurice Vaccarino	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Al Overton	....	sound
Mandine Rogne	....	sound editor

Camera and Electrical Department
Charles Hannawalt	....	chief grip (as Chuck Hanawalt)
John Millman	....	lighting supervisor (as John Milman)
Kenneth Peach	....	second unit photographer (as Kenny Peach)

Editorial Department
Florence Williamson	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Ernest Gold	....	conductor
Jerry Roberts	....	music editor (as Gerald Roberts)

Other crew
Betty Fancher	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• American International Pictures (AIP)
• Madera Productions

Distributors

• American International Pictures (AIP) (1958) (USA) (theatrical)
• Elite Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• GoodTimes Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Madacy Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Madacy Entertainment (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• Reel Media International (2005) (worldwide) (all media)
• Reel Media International (2007) (worldwide) (all media)
• Something Weird Video (SWV) (????) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Ryder Sound Services  sound by (as Ryder Sound Service)
• Screen Time Images  film restoration

Runtime:

68 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Unrated | UK:X (original rating) | UK:PG (re-rating) (2005)

Company:

American International Pictures (AIP)

Trivia:

The newlyweds' car is a rare mid-50's gull-wing Mercedes.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: Boom mic can be seen when Mickey is spying on Eric and Jenni at the beginning of the film.

Quotes:

Narrator: "The Screaming Skull" is a motion picture that reaches its climax in shocking horror. It's impact is so terrifying that it may have an unforeseen effect. It may *kill* you!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Svengoolie: The Screaming Skull (25th Anniversary Show)" (2004)

Is there a word for 'fear of finding skulls in unusual places'?

I *love* this movie. It terrified me deliciously on late-night TV when I was 12 or so, and when I discovered it on video in recent years I found it just as enjoyable as I remembered. [I admit that I no longer have to whip back the sheets to reassure myself that there's no skull in the bed, but as a kid I enjoyed several highly dramatic bedtimes because of "The Screaming Skull"...]

And the ghost in the greenhouse (plus funky theme music) still strikes me as a standout spook clip. Over the top? Maybe - but if a horror movie can't be over the top, what can?