the haunted palace (1963) cast

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The Haunted Palace

Charles Dexter Ward arrives at a small village to visit the house he inherited from his ancestor who died there 100 years ago. Charles Dexter Ward arrives at a small village to visit the house he inherited from his ancestor who died there 100 years ago. Charles Dexter Ward arrives at a small village to visit the house he inherited from his ancestor who died there 100 years ago.

• Roger Corman
• Charles Beaumont
• Edgar Allan Poe
• H.P. Lovecraft
• Vincent Price
• Debra Paget
• Lon Chaney Jr.
• 88 User reviews
• 80 Critic reviews
• See more at IMDbPro

• Charles Dexter Ward …

• (as Lon Chaney)

• Dr. Marinus Willet …

• Edgar Weeden …

• Peter Smith
• (as Elisha Cook)

• Benjamin West
• (as John Dierkies)

• Jabez Hutchinson

• Hester Tillinghast

• Gideon Leach …

• Carmody, Coachman
• (as Stanford Jolley)

• Mrs. Weeden

• Bruno, the Bartender
• (as Bruno Ve Sota)
• (uncredited)

• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Did you know

• Trivia Roger Corman decided to do an H.P. Lovecraft story as a break from his Edgar Allan Poe series while keeping the elements that made it successful. American-International took no chances. It gave the film a Poe title and marketed it as another in the series.
• Goofs The film is billed as " Edgar Allan Poe 's The Haunted Palace." While Poe did write "The Haunted Palace," the film is actually based on the story by H.P. Lovecraft , "The Case of Charles Dexter Ward."

Simon Orne : Joseph, have you not gorged yourself enough on revenge?

Charles Dexter Ward : You do not know the extent of my appetite, Simon. I'll not have my fill of revenge until this village is a graveyard. Until they have felt, as I did, the kiss of fire on their soft bare flesh. All of them. Have patience my friends. Surely, after all these years, I'm entitled to a few small amusements.

• Crazy credits Lon Chaney Jr. is billed simply as "Lon Chaney" in this film.
• Alternate versions The UK cinema version was cut by the BBFC to remove facial shots of a corpse in a coffin and to reduce a scene of a man on fire. Later releases were uncut.
• Connections Featured in Madhouse (1974)

User reviews 88

• Feb 20, 2003
• How long is The Haunted Palace? Powered by Alexa
• Is "The Haunted Palace" based on a book?
• Who is Charles Dexter Ward?
• Who are the five men that Joseph Curwen originally cursed when they burned him at the stake?
• April 22, 1964 (Peru)
• United States
• Edgar Allan Poe's The Haunted Palace
• Virginia, USA
• Alta Vista Productions
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

• Runtime 1 hour 27 minutes

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Full Cast & Crew: The Haunted Palace (1963)

Vincent Price

Charles Dexter Ward / Joseph Curwen

Debra Paget

Lon Chaney Jr.

Simon Orne (as Lon Chaney)

Frank Maxwell

Dr. Marinus Willet / Priam Willet

Edgar Weeden / Ezra Weeden

Elisha Cook Jr.

Peter Smith / Micah Smith (as Elisha Cook)

John Dierkes

Benjamin West / Jacob West (as John Dierkies)

Milton Parsons

Jabez Hutchinson

Cathie Merchant

Hester Tillinghast

Guy Wilkerson

Gideon Leach / Mr. Leach

I. Stanford Jolley

Carmody, Coachman (as Stanford Jolley)

Harry Ellerbe

Barboura Morris

Mrs. Weeden

Darlene Lucht

Bruno VeSota

Bruno, the Bartender (as Bruno Ve Sota)

Villager (uncredited)

Nina Borget

Albert Cavens

Charles fogel.

Jack Tornek

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The Haunted Palace

1963, Horror, 1h 25m

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The haunted palace   photos.

Condemned warlock Joseph Curwen (Vincent Price) curses a New England village just before being burned alive. More than a century later, Curwen's kindly great-great grandson Charles Ward (also Price) arrives in town and moves into Curwen's old mansion. Caretaker Simon Orne (Lon Chaney Jr.) helps Charles and his wife Ann (Debra Paget) adjust to their new home. The ancient curse, however, takes hold of Joseph, awakening inside him a long-dormant evil passed on through blood.

Genre: Horror

Original Language: English

Director: Roger Corman

Producer: Roger Corman

Writer: Charles Beaumont

Release Date (Theaters): Aug 28, 1963  original

Release Date (Streaming): Nov 21, 2016

Runtime: 1h 25m

Distributor: American International Pictures

Production Co: Alta Vista Productions, La Honda Productions

Cast & Crew

Vincent Price

Charles Dexter Ward , Joseph Curwen

Debra Paget

Lon Chaney Jr.

Frank Maxwell

Dr. Marinus Willet , Priam Willet

Edgar Weeden , Ezra Weeden

Elisha Cook Jr.

Peter Smith , Micah Smith

John Dierkes

Benjamin West , Jacob West

Milton Parsons

Jabez Hutchinson

Roger Corman

Charles Beaumont

Screenwriter

Samuel Z. Arkoff

Executive Producer

James H. Nicholson

Floyd Crosby

Cinematographer

Ronald Sinclair

Film Editing

Ronald Stein

Original Music

Daniel Haller

Art Director

Set Decoration

Critic Reviews for The Haunted Palace

Audience reviews for the haunted palace.

The more times I watch this movie, the more I like it. There are some great actors in this movie, and the story is really cool, it's based on a Lovecraft story, and it's great. This is another of my favourite Corman movies with Price, he gives a great performance. I highly recommend this movie.

Marvelous exercise in Grand Guignol, great sets, spooky atmosphere, fine screenplay by scenarist Charles Beaumont based on H.P. Lovecraft's The Strange Case of Charles Dexter Ward, and a splendid two-tiered performance by Vincent Price.

When the great-grandson of a warlock (Vincent Price, in both roles) inherits a crumbling palace in Arkham, Massachusetts, bad things are sure to follow for local villagers whose ancestors burnt the magician at the stake. A fun, eerie and artificial atmosphere and a good performance by Price, but like most Roger Corman-directed products of the era it has poor effects and drags at times. From a story by H.P. Lovecraft.

Another great Vincemt Price Horror Ole School Video. As Most of his others its outstanding. Glad he wasn't my creepy Grandpa. Add to your collection, you will be happy.

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The Haunted Palace

• Photos & Videos

Film Details

• Articles & Reviews

Brief Synopsis

Cast & crew, roger corman, vincent price, debra paget, lon chaney [jr.], frank maxwell, photos & videos, technical specs.

In 1765, several persons disappear from the New England village of Arkham. The townspeople soon discover that Squire Joseph Curwen is a warlock who with the aid of Hester Tillinghast is sacrificing village girls. Curwen is set upon by the villagers and burned alive. Through the flames, Curwen vows revenge upon the villagers and their descendants. A century later, Curwen's great-great-grandson, Charles Dexter Ward, and his wife, Ann, reopen the Curwen mansion. The villagers, who fear Curwen's curse, are openly hostile to Ward. Ward discovers mutants living near the village who, according to Dr. Marinus Willet, the only villager to befriend the Wards, are direct descendants of the villagers who burned Curwen. Ward comes under the spell of a portrait of his ancestor, whom he resembles, and is befriended by Simon Orne and Jabez Hutchinson, themselves warlocks. Together they resurrect Hester, and Curwen (in Ward's body) prepares to sacrifice Ann. Meanwhile, the villagers storm the house and burn the portrait. Ward is released from the spell, but once they are safely away from the burning mansion, the couple's features appear to undergo a change: Ward becomes Curwen and Ann becomes Hester.

Elisha Cook

John dierkes, milton parsons, cathy merchant, guy wilkerson, harry ellerbe, i. stanford jolley, darlene lucht, barboura morris, bruno ve sota, armand acosta, samuel z. arkoff, charles beaumont, jack bohrer, ted coodley, marjorie corso, betty crosby, floyd crosby, daniel haller, charles hannawalt, dennis jacob, james h. nicholson, lorraine roberson, ronald sinclair, ronald stein, harry sundby, harry underwood, photo collections.

The Haunted Palace (1963)

Vincent Price on DVD

Roger Corman decided to do an H.P. Lovecraft story as a break from his 'Edgar Allen Poe' series while keeping the elements that made the "Poe" series successful. American International took no chances. They gave the film a "Poe" title and marketed it as another in Corman's "Poe" series.

Miscellaneous Notes

Released in United States 1963

Released in United States on Video July 3, 1991

A warlock, burned at the stake, vows vengeance on the townspeople who killed him, and returns in the embodiment of his great-great grandson.

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Beautiful, interesting, incredible cinema.

THE HAUNTED PALACE

Charles Dexter Ward arrives at a small village to visit the house he inherited from his ancestor who died there 100 years ago.

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The haunted palace.

1963 Directed by Roger Corman

A warlock's home is his castle...forever!

A warlock burned at the stake comes back and takes over the body of his great grandson to take his revenge on the descendents of the villages that burned him.

Vincent Price Debra Paget Lon Chaney Jr. Frank Maxwell Leo Gordon Elisha Cook Jr. John Dierkes Milton Parsons Cathie Merchant Guy Wilkerson Barboura Morris I. Stanford Jolley Harry Ellerbe Darlene Lucht Bruno VeSota Jack Tornek Don Ames Nina Borget Albert Cavens Charles Fogel

Director Director

Roger Corman

Additional Directing Add. Directing

Producer producer, executive producers exec. producers.

Samuel Z. Arkoff James H. Nicholson

Writers Writers

Charles Beaumont Edgar Allan Poe H.P. Lovecraft

Editor Editor

Ronald Sinclair

Cinematography Cinematography

Floyd Crosby

Art Direction Art Direction

Daniel Haller

Set Decoration Set Decoration

Composer composer.

Ronald Stein

Sound Sound

Gene Corso John L. Bury

Makeup Makeup

Ted Coodley

Hairstyling Hairstyling

Lorraine Roberson

Alta Vista Productions American International Pictures

Releases by Date

28 aug 1963, 17 mar 1965, 21 feb 1966, 24 aug 1969, 27 may 1970, 28 jul 2005, 23 feb 2015, 03 nov 1976, releases by country.

• Theatrical U
• Theatrical 16

Netherlands

• Physical 12 DVD
• Physical 12 Blu ray
• Theatrical 18
• Theatrical NR

87 mins   More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by Ian West ★★★★ 6

Roger Corman is vastly overlooked for his directing capabilities, there’s a lot of talent here (and in the entire Poe cycle... but also beyond that as well). There’s a bounty of beautiful shots in this picture, with great performances, sets that drive me crazy because I wish I lived in them, a breathtaking score, Vincent Price doing exactly what he does better than just about anyone (he’s so Evil in this movie), and the perfect shady small-town foggy New England atmosphere.

If you ask me, The Haunted Palace is essential Corman (and Price), Marketed as Poe... but this is Lovecraft... and definitely my kind of ‘what lurks beneath’ jam. I love this movie!

Review by SilentDawn ★★★★½ 5

A Gothic distillation of Poe and Lovecraft. While primarily based on 'The Case of Charles Dexter Ward', the fog machines, archetypal graveyards, cobwebbed mansions and secret passages are scrumptious set-dressing in service of an otherworldly existentialism. The Haunted Palace is gorgeous in the way that all Corman/Poe/Price films are, deploying long-takes, deep focus, and a measured sense of blocking, but the aura is layered in mystery and the darkness of the void. History of elder gods, sacrifice, the transference of a decrepit soul into a new body; it's all here, and it's absolutely my kind of thing. Can't recommend it enough.

Review by Slig001 ★★★★½ 1

I'm a big fan of this film. God knows how many times I've seen it. This is part of Corman's Poe cycle but it's actually a loose adaptation of Lovecraft's classic The Case of Charles Dexter Ward. The story is essentially a distilled version of the original novel and focuses on a warlock put to death by the local villagers and returning for revenge. Everything in this film is so brilliantly hokey. I love the way that the descendants of the original townsfolk are all played by the same actors as their ancestors, and how they are all the same age as their ancestors at the time of burning! Roger Corman augments all the action with some scrumptious horror tropes…

Review by kat🕷 ★★★½

Typical gothic horror. So there are spooky cemeteries, wafting fog and an old castle with obscure paintings. This fits perfectly together and results in a pleasantly enduring eerie atmosphere. Vincent Price is Vincent Price again and I just like it when Vincent Price plays vincentpricely. Unfortunately, the movie lacks of a few highlights and a greater breeze of suspense for the big hit. Nevertheless, I still felt well entertained.

Review by Rafael "Parker!!" Jovine ★★★½ 4

Action!-The March of the (3) Rogers: B Is For Corman

Corman and crew decided to take a risk with their new adaptation of a Poe book, adding elements of HP Lovecraft and Batman in a film about a vengeful spirit that comes to terrorize a community that murdered him through the possession of a distant relative.

While the cinematography is great, and both Price and Paget are excellent actors, I couldn't connect with the film as much as I wanted to or as I did with the other films. Price gets to display some of his distinctive charm and even revealing a much more sinister side. The story's formulaic nature, a premise that has been done ad nauseam, and in…

Review by Josh Gillam ★★★

Vincent Price and Debra Paget star in Roger Corman’s horror about a notorious warlock who returns years after being burnt at the stake, taking over the body of his descendent to extract revenge and continue his diabolical rituals.

Though officially part of the Poe Cycle, this is actually based on a HP Lovecraft story, a source material which brings a different flavour compared to some of the other entries that feels refreshing. Unlike the more brooding, Gothic-tinged sensibility of those earlier outings, this story is much more interested in playing up the grotesque and boundlessly uncanny nature of Lovecraft’s work, transferring his brand of cosmic eldritch terror to the screen with a sense of ominous dread that leads to some…

Review by Ian West ★★★★

Love the mood of this so much, top tier Corman.

Review by haley ★★★★ 2

this has got to be one of my favorite vincent price films now. it's completely stunning with a moody atmosphere and some great performances. there are some really creepy moments too. i highly recommend this.

Review by Will Sloan

For boomer teenagers at the drive-in in 1963, there was nothing spookier than a 52-year-old man standing around in a castle. Just kidding folks, I love the Corman/Poe movies, of which this is perhaps the most median and least "notable" example, despite actually being based on an H.P. Lovecraft story. You've got fog, ripe colors, pleasingly fake-looking cemeteries, a big spooky castle, and Vincent Price hamming it up like Satan himself. All the stuff you like in one of these.

Review by claire 👁️ diane ★★★½ 4

[tw: rape mention]

I am an absolute fanatic for the Corman Poe movies. And I'm basically in love with Vincent Price. The other reviews here already get to the heart of the appeal: endless rolling fog, eerie graveyards, ancient castles, dungeons, secret passages, seaside mutantry, demonic incantations, witchery, deaths by fire, possession, devilish storms, those eerie portraits.

These aspects alone, when coupled with the creepy performances of Price and Chaney, have as unique an effect and power as any in cinema. For me, the best part (next to Price), is Daniel Haller's opulent set design. There's nothing like it and the atmosphere it brings. On my BD, Price mentions how this one was filmed entirely on sets, explaining how they…

Review by lauren t 🥀🌿 ★★★★ 2

so gorgeously gothic and atmospheric. the sets truly cast a spell, one that provides the perfect backdrop to the eerie and layered story we’re told. I couldn’t take my eyes off of this. that castle that seems to go on forever, the forests and graveyards in the night, the town center where the deformed are walking the streets. Price’s dual role performance also commands attention from the start, with his shifts between benevolent and villainous. just what I’ve been in the mood for lately. 

🎃  Spooky Season Watchlist  progress: 14/40

Review by Middle-Aged Hate Eternal Enthusiast ★★★★½ 13

The Mysterious Case of Charles Dexter Ward and his unusually strong pimp hand. 

Corman does Panavision Black Sunday. This shit is THE BEST. Vincent Price is putting on a goddamn clinic here. We have no one alive today capable of bringing what he did to cinema. Like Jack Palance or Charles Bronson or Karloff or Lugosi. Men who imbued the silver screen with such unique, inimitable presence and charisma. Everyone in movies today is all the same and they all suck. They exist merely to slot into franchises. Men like Price were their own franchises. And don’t any of you dare bring up Tom Cruise. That pigfucker couldn’t open a movie that wasn’t Top Gun or Mission Impossible to save…

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The Haunted Palace

• Credits 
• Image gallery  [1]

All images are copyrighted by their respective copyright holders and/or producers/distributors.

• Frank Maxwell

• Cathie Merchant

• Harry Ellerbe
• Darlene Lucht
• See all credits
• #52 Supernatural Horror Ranking

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