Expert: Popcorn Guy - 7/5/2004

Question
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Followup To
Question -
I hope you can tell me the name of this movie, because it's been driving me nuts for years.

I saw a movie many years ago while visiting my sister in California, around the summer of 1970.  I thought it was called something like "The Haunted Palace" (not the Vincent Price/Roger Corman one).

Typical cheesey plot - some people are bet money they can't spend the night in a house, and most of them are attacked by vampires and die, or become other vampires.  

The most memorable scene is the ending, where the last person (a man, as I recall), has just about made it through the night.  He runs to the front gate, being chased by vampires, and makes it through.  As he's breathing his sigh of relief, the gate swings suddenly shut, whereby an iron spike impales him.

Thanks in advance for any insights on the movie title.
Answer -
Hi, Dennis...

At first, I thought you might be speaking of "The Haunting," a classic of British horror. But the vampire angle was catching me cross-ways, if you'll pardon the pun... everything else seems to match up but that...

Let me do a bit more checking with some sources. Meanwhile, look into "The Haunting" and "The Legend of Hell House." See if either of those rings any bells...

Thanks,

PCG

Follow-up:

Thanks for trying to help, Popcorn Guy. I looked into "The Haunting" and "The Legend of Hell House", as you suggested.

I've seen "The Haunting", with Julie Harris, several times over the years, so I know it's not that one, although the date (1963)may be approximately correct. I think the movie I'm remembering was in color (not totally sure about that), while "The Haunting" is in B&W. Also, I think Julie gets killed in a car accident at the end, while the gentlemen definately gets a spike through the neck at the end of my flick.

I don't think I've ever seen "The Legend of Hell House", but I will be renting it soon. It sounds like my kind of horror movie. The date (1973) is too late, though, since I saw this movie in the late summer of 1970.

If you ever run across my movie, send me another e-mail. If I ever stumble across it on my own, I'll contact allexperts.com and let you know. But, anyway, thanks again for trying.


7-5-04

Popcorn Guy;

I was checking some more web sites today looking for my old movie, and I think I found it.  It was a 1964 Italian movie named "La Danza Macabre", released in the USA under the title "Castle of Blood".  Check out this web site:

http://www.horrordvdtalk.com/reviews/CastleofBlood/CastleofBlood.htm

Great movie - I highly recommend it if you haven't already seen it, (it stayed in my brain for almost 34 years!).  Once again, I appreciate your help in looking.

Dennis  

Answer
Hi again, Dennis...

I guess I owe you an apology.... completely my fault, too... I never thought to consider Italian horror films... everything you mentioned just hooked me into the idea that this thing was English, and I never considered scouring the other markets. Vampires are such an "English" mythos, and the whole haunted house motif... well, I did the unthinkable and let myself ignore other options...

I'm glad you found the film, though.... I just checked out that website and I plan on buying the film, so I can finally see it for myself... thanks for the tip!

If I can help again sometime, please let me know! I owe you one!

Thanks, and keep it "reel,"

PCG