Terror in the Crypt

Terror in the Crypt (Italian: La cripta e l’incubo) is a 1964 Italian-Spanish horror film directed by Camillo Mastrocinque. The film is based on the 1872 novel Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu.

Terror in the Crypt
Italian theatrical release poster for Terror in the Crypt
Directed byCamillo Mastrocinque
Produced byMarco Mariani[1]
Screenplay by
Based onCarmilla
by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
Starring
Music byCarlo Savina[1]
Cinematography
Edited byRoberto Cinquini[1]
Production
companies
MEC Cinematografica[1]
Distributed byMEC
Release date
  • 27 May 1964 (1964-05-27) (Italy)
Country
Box office₤69.541 million

Production

Terror in the Crypt is based on Sheridan Le Fanu's novel Carmilla. It is the third adaptation of the novel, following Carl Theodor Dreyer's Vampyr and Roger Vadim's Blood and Roses.[2][3]

According to Tonino Valerii, the films script was written in three days while Ernesto Gastaldi states it was written in 24 hours. Gastaldi stated that he lied to a producer that they had a script ready, and then returned home to pen the script to return to the producer with the following day. The original title of the script was entitled La maledizione dei Karnstein (lit.: The Curse of the Karnsteins).[2]

The film was originally going to be directed by Antonio Margheriti. Due to other commitments, the film was given to Camillo Mastrocinque to direct. Mastrocinque was more prominently known for his comedy films and was suggested by the agent Liliana Biancini in order to help find the director new work. Tonino Valerii was also the assistant director on set and claimed he personally shot several scenes of the film.[2]

Release

Terror in the Crypt was released in Italy on 27 May 1964 where it was distributed by MEC. It grossed a total of 69.541 million Italian lire.[1] Terror in the Crypt was released straight to television in the United States by AIP-TV as Crypt of the Vampire. It was released theatrically in the United Kingdom as Crypt of Horror.[4]

The film was released on DVD in 2012 by Retromedia/Image in the United States where it retains the title Crypt of the Vampire, while the credits in the film call it Terror in the Crypt.[4]

Reception

In a contemporary review, an anonymous reviewer in the Monthly Film Bulletin described the film as "occasionally quite atmospheric" and having an "effective climax". The review concluded that the rest of the film was "slow and static, indifferently acted and directed, and poorly dubbed."[5]

See also

Notes
  1. Curti 2015, p. 128.
  2. Curti 2015, p. 129.
  3. Paul 2005, p. 18.
  4. Curti, Roberto (2015-04-02). Italian Gothic Horror Films: 1957-1969 (Kindle location 3595). McFarland. Kindle edition.
  5. "Crypt of Horror "(La Maldicion de los Karlstein)"". Monthly Film Bulletin. Vol. 32 no. 372. London: British Film Institute. January 1965. pp. 8–9. ISSN 0027-0407.

References
  • Curti, Roberto (2015). Italian Gothic Horror Films: 1957-1969. McFarland. ISBN 978-1476619897.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Paul, Louis (2005). Italian Horror Film Directors. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-8749-3.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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