Twice-Told Tales (1963)

Director:

Sidney Salkow

Writers:

Nathaniel Hawthorne (novel) (story "Heidegger's Experiment") (story "Rappaccini's Daughter")
Robert E. Kent (writer)

Release Date:

September 1963 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Romance

Tagline:

A trio of terror!

Plot:

3 horror stories based on the writings of Nathaniel Hawthorne. In the 1st story titled "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment"...

Plot Keywords:

Poison | Friend | Youth | Experiment | Curse

Cast

Vincent Price	...	Alex Medbourne / Rappaccini / Gerald Pyncheon
Sebastian Cabot	...	Dr. Carl Heidigger
Brett Halsey	...	Giovanni Guasconti
Beverly Garland	...	Alice Pyncheon
Richard Denning	...	Jonathan Maulle
Mari Blanchard	...	Sylvia Ward
Abraham Sofaer	...	Prof. Pietro Baglioni
Jacqueline deWit	...	Hannah Pyncheon, Gerald's Sister
Joyce Taylor	...	Beatrice Rappaccini
Edith Evanson	...	Lisabetta, the landlady
Floyd Simmons	...	Ghost of Mathew Maulle
Gene Roth	...	Cabman

Directed by
Sidney Salkow

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Nathaniel Hawthorne		novel "The House of the Seven Gables" (story "Heidegger's Experiment") (story "Rappaccini's Daughter")
Robert E. Kent		writer

Produced by
Robert E. Kent	....	producer

Original Music by
Richard LaSalle

Cinematography by
Ellis W. Carter

Art Direction by
Franz Bachelin

Set Decoration by
Charles S. Thompson

Makeup Department
Gene Hibbs	....	makeup artist
Jane Shugrue	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Joseph Small	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Al Westen	....	assistant director

Art Department
Irving W. Sindler	....	property master

Sound Department
Alfred R. Bird	....	sound effects editor
Lambert E. Day	....	sound

Special Effects by
Milton Olsen	....	special effects

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marjorie Corso	....	costumes

Editorial Department
Grant Whytock	....	supervising editor

Music Department
Edna Bullock	....	music editor

Other crew
Jean Dowling	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Robert E. Kent Productions (as Admiral Pictures)

Distributors

• United Artists (1963) (USA) (theatrical)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (video)

Also Known As:

Nathaniel Hawthorne's Twice-Told Tales
Nights of Terror
The Corpse-Makers

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:PG | USA:Approved

Company:

Robert E. Kent Productions

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: In the 'Dr. Heidegger's Experiment' segment of the film, while Vincent Price and Beverly Garland are having a conversation in front of the portrait of Garland's character, the shadow of a boom microphone can clearly be seen moving back and forth above and between the shadows of Price and Garland.

at least two third satisfying

Episodic films, such as this one are not always winners. At times they feel like there wasn't enough material for a feature, so they kind of flubbed it. I'm mainly thinking of films like "Four Rooms" and others along those lines. I think the horror genre is the exception to this rule(think "Tales from the Crypt" (1972) and "Creepshow" (1982)). With "Twice-Told Tales" there are three stories to enjoy and there's a fair chance that at least two of the three will excite your imagination. The first is a story about friendship, love, and immortality. The third is a variation on the old haunted house seen in many old chillers. The second, and my favorite of the three, is just so twisted I don't know if anything can be said about it to not spoil it for you. Here's an attempt ... it's an extreme version of Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter" 'A'. Well worth a look!