6 Shots From 6 Horror Films: The Early 60s


4 Or More Shots From 4 Or More Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!

This October, I’m going to be doing something a little bit different with my contribution to 4 (or more) Shots From 4 (or more) Films.  I’m going to be taking a little chronological tour of the history of horror cinema, moving from decade to decade.

Today, we take a look at the early 60s!

6 Shots From 6 Horror Films: The Early 60s

Psycho (1960, dir by Alfred Hitchcock, DP: John L. Russell)


Black Sunday (1960, dir by Mario Bava)


Peeping Tom (1960, dir by Michael Powell, DP: Otto Heller)


Pit and the Pendulum (1961, dir by Roger Corman, DP: Floyd Crosby)


The Best of Yucca Flats (1961, dir by Coleman Francis, DP: John Cagle and Leo Strosnider)


The Awful Dr. Orloff (1962, dir by Jess Franco, DP: Godofredo Pacheco)

“and then all is madness”: PIT AND THE PENDULUM (AIP 1961)


cracked rear viewer

pit1

How have I ignored Roger Corman here for so long, save for a short “Cleaning Out the DVR” review of THE TERROR ?  The King of the Low Budget Quickies has long been a favorite filmmaker of mine, and has probably had more impact on American cinema than people realize. Well, now that TCM is running its month-long salute to AIP, I’m about to rectify that oversight. (By the way, Corman himself is cohosting the retrospective every Thursday night along with TCM’s own Ben Mankiewicz!)

pit2

American International Pictures scored a hit with 1960’s HOUSE OF USHER, an Edgar Allan Poe adaptation starring Vincent Price and directed by Corman. Studio honchos James Nicholson and Samuel Z. Arkoff looked at the box office numbers and, realizing they had a cash cow on their hands, asked Corman to produce a follow-up.  Rapid Roger decided on PIT AND THE PENDULUM, shot in 15 days for less…

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