Premature Burial (1962)

Director:

Roger Corman

Writers:

Charles Beaumont (writer)
Edgar Allan Poe (story)

Release Date:

7 March 1962 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Mystery

Tagline:

Within the Coffin I Lie...ALIVE!

Plot:

Emily Gault arrives at the Carrell mansion determined to rekindle an old relationship with Guy Carrell...

Plot Keywords:

Buried Alive | Revenge | Fear | Grave Robber | Obsession

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Ray Milland	...	Guy Carrell
Hazel Court	...	Emily Gault
Richard Ney	...	Miles Archer
Heather Angel	...	Kate Carrell
Alan Napier	...	Dr. Gideon Gault
John Dierkes	...	Sweeney
Dick Miller	...	Mole
Clive Halliday	...	Judson
Brendan Dillon	...	Minister

Also Known As:

Lebendig begraben (Austria) (West Germany) [de]
Elävänä haudattu (Finland) [fi]
Enterro Prematuro (Brazil) (cable TV title) [pt]
Levande begravd (Sweden) [sv]
Levende begravet (Denmark) [da]
Obsesión, La (Spain) [es]
Sepolto vivo (Italy) [it]

Runtime:

81 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:(Banned) (1963) | USA:Unrated | Norway:16 (1962)

Filming Locations:

Producers Studios - 5330 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

American International Pictures (AIP)

Trivia:

Roger Corman was having a minor dispute with American International. He decided to do this "Poe" picture elsewhere. He was able to get financing from Pathe Labs (which wanted to go into distribution). When Samuel Z. Arkoff learned of this, he traveled to New York to talk with the owner of Pathe Labs. Arkoff felt that Pathe was stepping into American International's business. Pathe's was not moved until Arkoff pointed out that American International was one of Pathe Labs' largest customers and that if it was going into competition with AIP, all of AIP's lab work would be pulled. Pathe sold the production to American International before principal photography began.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Kate tells Guy that it's time for his medicine, she’s holding the tray in her hands. In the next shot it's gone, and it is nowhere to be seen when the three of them leave the crypt.

Quotes:

Guy Carrell: Can you possibly conceive it. The unendurable oppression of the lungs, the stifling fumes of the earth, the rigid embrace of the coffin, the blackness of absolute night and the silence, like an overwhelming sea.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Fantastic Fantasy Fright-o-Rama Show Vol. 1 (1996) (V)

Soundtrack:

Molly Malone

Less than stellar Corman / Poe movie.

Guy Carrell (Ray Milland) is a painter obsessed with prevention of being buried alive. Try as he might, he can't get it out of his mind, no matter how his wife Emily (Hazel Court) or friend Miles (Richard Ney) try to help him.

This Edgar Allan Poe-based Roger Corman picture, scripted by Charles Beaumont and Ray Russell, is not really compelling viewing for me. It's missing something - maybe a little more flair, maybe better pacing - but it just didn't generate a high level of interest for me. Photography and design help a bit, as well as good performances and a decent finish, but I wasn't as impressed with "The Premature Burial" as I was with "The Masque of the Red Death". Atmosphere is fine, but maybe not as potent as I would have liked. The best part is Milland's dream sequence although even this part does go on too long.

Incidentally, I didn't know that was Dick Miller in the role of the gravedigger named "Mole" - I didn't even recognize him!

Not great but not too bad either.

5/10