From Beyond the Grave (1973)

Director:

Kevin Connor

Writers:

R. Chetwynd-Hayes (stories)
Raymond Christodoulou (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

1975 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy | Horror

Tagline:

Terror to delight worshippers of the Macabre.

Plot:

Anthology film from Amicus adapted from four short stories by R. Chetwynd-Hayes strung together about...

Plot Keywords:

Supernatural Powers | Extramarital Affair | Antique Dealer | Tense | Revenge

Cast

Ian Bannen	...	Christopher Lowe (segment "An Act of Kindness")
Ian Carmichael	...	Reggie Warren (segment "The Elemental")
Peter Cushing	...	Antique Shop Proprietor
Diana Dors	...	Mabel Lowe (segment "An Act of Kindness")
Margaret Leighton	...	Madame Orloff (segment "The Elemental")
Donald Pleasence	...	Jim Underwood (segment "An Act of Kindness")
Nyree Dawn Porter	...	Susan Warren (segment "The Elemental")
David Warner	...	Edward Charlton (segment "The Gate Crasher")
Ian Ogilvy	...	William Seaton (segment "The Door")
Lesley-Anne Down	...	Rosemary Seaton (segment "The Door")
Jack Watson	...	Sir Michael Sinclair (segment "The Door")
Angela Pleasence	...	Emily Underwood (segment "An Act of Kindness")
Wendy Allnutt	...	Pamela (segment "The Gate Crasher")
Rosalind Ayres	...	Prostitute / Edward's first victim (segment "The Gate Crasher")
Tommy Godfrey	...	Mr. Jeffries
Ben Howard	...	Paul Briggs
John O'Farrell	...	Stephen Lowe
Marcel Steiner	...	The Mirror Demon (segment "The Gate Crasher")
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Rietty	...	Dubbed Marcel Steiner / Dallas Adams (voice)
Dallas Adams	...	2nd young male new flat owner (segment "The Gate Crasher") (uncredited)
Michael Crane	...	2nd Workman (segment "The Door") (uncredited)
Shaun Curry	...	1st Workman (segment "The Door") (uncredited)
Helen Fraser	...	Guest (uncredited)
Scott Fredericks	...	Man at Seance (uncredited)

Directed by
Kevin Connor

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
R. Chetwynd-Hayes		stories
Raymond Christodoulou		writer
Robin Clarke		writer

Produced by
John Dark	....	associate producer
Max Rosenberg	....	producer
Milton Subotsky	....	producer

Original Music by
David Gamley

Cinematography by
Alan Hume

Film Editing by
John Ireland

Production Design by
Maurice Carter

Art Direction by
Bert Davey

Set Decoration by
Simon Wakefield

Costume Design by
John Hilling

Makeup Department
Mibs Parker	....	hair stylist
Neville Smallwood	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Teresa Bolland	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Graham Easton	....	second assistant director
John Peverall	....	first assistant director
Vic Smith	....	third assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Vic Simpson	....	construction manager

Sound Department
Peter Handford	....	sound mixer
Peter Keen	....	sound editor
Nolan Roberts	....	dubbing mixer

Camera and Electrical Department
Derek V. Browne	....	camera operator (as Derek Browne)
Mike Frift	....	camera focus

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ruth Knight	....	wardrobe mistress

Music Department
Douglas Gamley	....	conductor

Other crew
Penny Daniels	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Amicus Productions

Distributors

• Columbia-Warner Distributors (1974) (UK) (theatrical)
• Ambassador Film Distributors (1975) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Howard Mahler Films (1975) (USA) (theatrical)
• Teitel Amusement (1975) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (1986) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1987) (UK) (VHS)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1991) (Finland) (TV)
• Image Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Quantum Leap Group Ltd. (200?) (UK) (DVD)
• Shocking Videos (????) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)

Also Known As:

Creatures (USA) (reissue title)
Creatures from Beyond the Grave
Tales from Beyond the Grave
Tales from the Beyond
The Undead

Runtime:

Spain:94 min | USA:97 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | France:-12 | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | USA:PG | UK:X (original rating) | UK:15 (video rating)

Company:

Amicus Productions

Trivia:

Marcel Steiner was dubbed by Robert Rietty

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): In the segment "Act of Kindness", the ex-service man's sign is misspelt (the R is missing).

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Horror Business (2005) (V)

Excellent Amicus anthology

Amicus are famous for the anthology films, and that's hardly surprising since they made so many. The majority of the anthologies they made are entertaining, and I don't think I've ever really seen a bad one; Asylum, The Vault of Horror and The House That Dripped Blood usually, and rightly, are the highest regarded among the films that Amicus made. From Beyond the Grave is one of the lesser known anthology films; but don't let that faze you, because this collection of four short horror tales is good fun, and while I cant say this is the best Amicus omnibus, it's definitely up there! These films usually feature some sort of creepy wraparound story, and the one here focuses on an old antique store. Not very original, but the store is staffed by Peter Cushing (complete with dodgy accent!) so I could forgive the lack of originality. Cushing antique shop owner doesn't like it when people try and rip him off, but plenty of his customers do; and they all come a cropper when they discover the terrible secret of the item they've just bought (or robbed) from his store!

These films don't usually put the best story first, and this one doesn't either. The first tale, titled "The Gate Crasher" stars David Warner and has a sort of Hellraiser feel about it, as he buys an old mirror from the antique store and it turns out to be inhabited by a ghost like thing that entices Warner into bringing it fresh blood. It's not a bad story, though I feel that more could have been made of it. Story number two is the best and focuses on a man who steals a war medal from the antique store to impress a former army man and ends up getting more than he bargained for. This tale is very strange and stars Donald Pleasance in one of his weirder roles. It's imaginative and inventive, and therefore interesting as it's impossible to tell where it's going. Story number three, "The Elemental" is a fun little story, though there isn't really a great deal of point to it. The fourth and final tale would appear to be the centrepiece and focuses on an old wooden door that gives way to an expansive blue room. This is a decent little story and we get to watch Lesley-Anne Down wielding an axe, which makes it worthwhile. Overall, From Beyond the Grave is everything an anthology should be: it's fun and interesting in the right places. There's plenty of plot holes, but also no need to pay them any mind. From Beyond the Grave comes highly recommended to horror fans!