Director
Pete Walker
Pete Walker
Cast
Vincent Price - Lionel Grisbane
Christopher Lee - Mr. Corrigan/Roderick Grisbane
Peter Cushing - Sebastian Grisbane
Desi Arnaz, Jr. - Kenneth Magee
John Carradine - Lord Elijah Grisbane
Sheila Keith - Victoria Grisbane
Julie Peasgood - Mary Norton
Vincent Price - Lionel Grisbane
Christopher Lee - Mr. Corrigan/Roderick Grisbane
Peter Cushing - Sebastian Grisbane
Desi Arnaz, Jr. - Kenneth Magee
John Carradine - Lord Elijah Grisbane
Sheila Keith - Victoria Grisbane
Julie Peasgood - Mary Norton
Not to be confused with "House of Dark Shadows" from 1970, "House of Long Shadows" is a bit of an underrated and underappreciated horror/thriller flick from 1983.
The best thing it has going for it is that it brings big horror legends into one movie. It stars Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing and John Carradine. It also has Desi Arnaz, Jr. Lucy and Desi's kid. Is he still around?
This movie feels like one last big hurray for all these legendary horror stars.
The movie begins as a budding writer named Kenneth Magee (Desi Arnaz, Jr.) makes a $20,000 wager with his publisher that he can write an amazing novel in just 24-hours. He claims it can be a novel as respected as "Wuthering Heights." But like most writers (including myself) Kenneth has to get in the right frame of mind. So, to do that, he decides to dive into this project at the creepy Welsh Manor.
He arrives on a dark stormy night because of course it's a dark stormy night. And the place isn't empty as he was promised it would be. Lord Elijah Grisbane (John Carradine) and his daughter, Victoria (Sheila Keith) are still lurking around the place, maintaining it and all that.
Kenneth is irked -who wouldn't be - that he doesn't have the solitude he thought he would.
The best thing it has going for it is that it brings big horror legends into one movie. It stars Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing and John Carradine. It also has Desi Arnaz, Jr. Lucy and Desi's kid. Is he still around?
This movie feels like one last big hurray for all these legendary horror stars.
The movie begins as a budding writer named Kenneth Magee (Desi Arnaz, Jr.) makes a $20,000 wager with his publisher that he can write an amazing novel in just 24-hours. He claims it can be a novel as respected as "Wuthering Heights." But like most writers (including myself) Kenneth has to get in the right frame of mind. So, to do that, he decides to dive into this project at the creepy Welsh Manor.
He arrives on a dark stormy night because of course it's a dark stormy night. And the place isn't empty as he was promised it would be. Lord Elijah Grisbane (John Carradine) and his daughter, Victoria (Sheila Keith) are still lurking around the place, maintaining it and all that.
Kenneth is irked -who wouldn't be - that he doesn't have the solitude he thought he would.
 |
| John Carradine in "House of Long Shadows." |
What's worse is that as the night moves on, more people show up. Lionel (Vincent Price) and Sebastian Grisbane (Peter Cushing) -Elijah's sons - come by and stick around a bit.
Corrigan (Christopher Lee), who's interested in buying the manor, also turns up, as well as Kenneth's publisher's secretary, Mary Norton (Julie Peasgood). So much for a night of writing in solitude.
As everyone is now gathered under the roof, the Grisbane family aren't so open about why they're all there. But they soon reveal their purpose. They plan on setting their son/brother Roderick free as he's been living as a prisoner in his room for the last 40 years. He's been shut up in the house all that time after he seduced a 14-year-old girl, got her pregnant, and then murdered her when he found out she was expecting.
Some truths that need to be brought to light will be revealed this night, much to the shock and horror of the Grisbanes!
Right away, with all these big names of horror cinema (particularly Hammer Horror) in one movie, it doesn't feel like these highly respected actors are utilized to their full potential. Basically, Price, Lee, Cushing, and Carradine...and so he doesn't feel left out, Arnaz... are all in this one movie together, and this is what we get?
I wasn't blown away.
The story falls a bit weak, even as a tribute for such legendary actors and their craft. Still, having these actors work off each other in one horror movie is nothing short of legendary. I'd go as far as saying historical as far as horror films go.
Once the movie gets all these actors together, it feels as though it's trying to figure out what to do with them. It does take a moment or two to come up with a story. Once it does, the story gains some momentum and grabs my interest. However, as it progresses towards the final act, it starts to feel made up on the spot.
And then the story tries to wow its audience with a twist ending it thinks is clever. It goes so far as to have Desi Arnez, Jr's character uttering a line about how much he likes a twist ending as if to coax the audience into liking it, too.
However, I think the writers knew exactly what they wanted as the movie is a remake of the 1947 movie, "Seven Keys to Baldpate."
The main character of the original movie is also named Kenneth Magee, played by Phillip Terry. However, Mary Norton is called Mary Jordan, played by Jacqueline White.
Occasionally, I tend to space out for a moment during certain movies. I have a feeling I did that while watching "House of the Long Shadows."
I say that because the characters occasionally reference something that previously happened which I have no recollection of.
For instance, when the Grisbanes reveal that they've incarcerated their brother, Roderick, for murder in a room upstairs, Mary says she and Kenneth heard noises coming from that room. I honestly don't remember that happening. Other instances like that occur. Maybe I watched an edited version?
During the climax, Christopher Lee puts on an appearance and performance truly reminiscent of his performances as Dracula from back in his Hammer Horror days.
There's a scene in which Lee puts an axe to Vincent Price and hacks him to bits off camera - it's one of those scenes in which we see what's happening via shadows on the wall. It's the money shot as far as I'm concerned. It's an underrated yet legendary moment in horror movie history.
Later, Lee and Price pay each other insincere and snide comments which concludes with Lee calling Price a "bitch." I wasn't expecting that.
The writers clearly wanted to create something worthy of Price, Lee, Cushing, and Carradine. It poofs where it should wow. I loved watching these guys in one film. Unfortunately, the story falls short of thrilling and is anything but terrifying. Nor are the actors utilized to their full potential. Still, I enjoyed it namely for those same legendary actors. Thanks to them. "House of Long Shadows" does earn a spot in the "cult movie classic" category. As an homage to classic horror, it does garner respect and appreciation like one last get-together with the fellas - the legends, themselves!
Corrigan (Christopher Lee), who's interested in buying the manor, also turns up, as well as Kenneth's publisher's secretary, Mary Norton (Julie Peasgood). So much for a night of writing in solitude.
As everyone is now gathered under the roof, the Grisbane family aren't so open about why they're all there. But they soon reveal their purpose. They plan on setting their son/brother Roderick free as he's been living as a prisoner in his room for the last 40 years. He's been shut up in the house all that time after he seduced a 14-year-old girl, got her pregnant, and then murdered her when he found out she was expecting.
Some truths that need to be brought to light will be revealed this night, much to the shock and horror of the Grisbanes!
Right away, with all these big names of horror cinema (particularly Hammer Horror) in one movie, it doesn't feel like these highly respected actors are utilized to their full potential. Basically, Price, Lee, Cushing, and Carradine...and so he doesn't feel left out, Arnaz... are all in this one movie together, and this is what we get?
I wasn't blown away.
The story falls a bit weak, even as a tribute for such legendary actors and their craft. Still, having these actors work off each other in one horror movie is nothing short of legendary. I'd go as far as saying historical as far as horror films go.
Once the movie gets all these actors together, it feels as though it's trying to figure out what to do with them. It does take a moment or two to come up with a story. Once it does, the story gains some momentum and grabs my interest. However, as it progresses towards the final act, it starts to feel made up on the spot.
And then the story tries to wow its audience with a twist ending it thinks is clever. It goes so far as to have Desi Arnez, Jr's character uttering a line about how much he likes a twist ending as if to coax the audience into liking it, too.
 |
| Christopher Lee in "House of Long Shadows." |
The main character of the original movie is also named Kenneth Magee, played by Phillip Terry. However, Mary Norton is called Mary Jordan, played by Jacqueline White.
Occasionally, I tend to space out for a moment during certain movies. I have a feeling I did that while watching "House of the Long Shadows."
I say that because the characters occasionally reference something that previously happened which I have no recollection of.
For instance, when the Grisbanes reveal that they've incarcerated their brother, Roderick, for murder in a room upstairs, Mary says she and Kenneth heard noises coming from that room. I honestly don't remember that happening. Other instances like that occur. Maybe I watched an edited version?
During the climax, Christopher Lee puts on an appearance and performance truly reminiscent of his performances as Dracula from back in his Hammer Horror days.
There's a scene in which Lee puts an axe to Vincent Price and hacks him to bits off camera - it's one of those scenes in which we see what's happening via shadows on the wall. It's the money shot as far as I'm concerned. It's an underrated yet legendary moment in horror movie history.
Later, Lee and Price pay each other insincere and snide comments which concludes with Lee calling Price a "bitch." I wasn't expecting that.
The writers clearly wanted to create something worthy of Price, Lee, Cushing, and Carradine. It poofs where it should wow. I loved watching these guys in one film. Unfortunately, the story falls short of thrilling and is anything but terrifying. Nor are the actors utilized to their full potential. Still, I enjoyed it namely for those same legendary actors. Thanks to them. "House of Long Shadows" does earn a spot in the "cult movie classic" category. As an homage to classic horror, it does garner respect and appreciation like one last get-together with the fellas - the legends, themselves!
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