Tales from the Crypt (1972)

Director:

Freddie Francis

Writers:

Johnny Craig (comic book stories Tales From The Crypt and The Vault of Horror)
Al Feldstein (comic book stories Tales From The Crypt and The Vault of Horror)

Release Date:

9 March 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

DEATH LIVES in the Vault of Horror!

Plot:

Five people get lost in a crypt and meet up with a strange crypt keeper who tells them stories of how they died.

Plot Keywords:

Jealousy | Atmospheric | Future | Misfortune | Fortune Teller

Cast

Joan Collins	...	Joanne Clayton (segment "All Through The House")
Peter Cushing	...	Arthur Edward Grimsdyke (segment "Poetic Justice")
Roy Dotrice	...	Charles Gregory (segment "Wish You Were Here")
Richard Greene	...	Ralph Jason (segment "Wish You Were Here")
Ian Hendry	...	Carl Maitland (segment "Reflection of Death")
Patrick Magee	...	George Carter (segment "Blind Alleys")
Barbara Murray	...	Enid Jason (segment "Wish You Where Here")
Nigel Patrick	...	Maj. William Rogers (segment "Blind Alleys")
Robin Phillips	...	James Elliott (segment "Poetic Justice")
Ralph Richardson	...	The Crypt Keeper
Geoffrey Bayldon	...	Guide
David Markham	...	Father (segment 'Poetic Justice')
Robert Hutton	...	Neighbour (segment 'Poetic Justice')
Angela Grant	...	Susan Blake (segment "Reflection of Death") (as Angie Grant)
Susan Denny	...	Mrs. Maitland (segment "Reflection of Death")

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Finland:(Banned) (1972) (original rating) | Finland:K-18 (cut) (re-rating) | West Germany:18 | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Sweden:15 | UK:18 (video rating) (1988) (cinema version) (cut) | UK:X (original rating) (cut) | USA:PG | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:AA (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Company:

Amicus Productions

Trivia:

'Richard Greene' was second choice to play Ralph Jason.

Goofs:

Plot holes: In the fourth segment, Enid wishes for her husband Jason exactly like he was before the accident. However, when he's brought in by the undertakers, he's been embalmed, which isn't how he was just before the accident.

Quotes:

The Crypt Keeper: Who's next?
[looks at camera]
The Crypt Keeper: Perhaps... you?

Movie Connections:

Version of "Tales from the Crypt: And All Through the House (#1.2)" (1989)

Soundtrack:

Toccata and Fugue in D minor

Great for the fans of its genre.

The movie tells 5 different creepy stories. It's the same concept used later in "Twilight Zone: The Movie".

Of course some of the stories are good and some of the them are bad. Once you start thinking about it, all of the stories are actually kind of ridiculous in a way but that doesn't mean it is not entertaining to watch, especially not for those that are fan of the genre.

Unlike so many other old horror movies, this movie actually gets creepy and scary at times.

Peter Cushing plays a role in which I have never seen him before. Mostly he always plays the same character, the bad guy, or when Christopher Lee is also in the movie he plays the good guy, it's as simple as that. However not in this movie, he really plays an heartwarming and charming character which was a real surprise to me. Can I say that this is one of Cushing's best roles ever?

An enjoyable horror flick that is prefect to kill some time with.

7/10