House of Seven Gables on TCM in Universal Horrors Forum

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House of Seven Gables on TCM

Author	Comment
PhantomXCI	House of Seven Gables on TCM	Lead	[-]
Jan 28 12 11:39 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Joe May's sorta-kinda quasi-horror melodrama THE HOUSE OF SEVEN GABLES (with Vincent Price) will debut on TCM on February 27th at 6:15. Set your recorders.
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clore103051		#1	[-]
Feb 27 12 8:24 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I just watched this for the first time since I was in junior high and was conveniently sick the day it aired on the morning movie. Very well done, why Universal gave Joe May the Dead End Kids for two films after this one and THE INVISIBLE MAN RETURNS in 1940 is a mystery. The entire cast was great, the cinematography and settings didn't betray what was probably a budget job and the Skinner score was suitably atmospheric and prescient - one riff sounded like the Elfman Batman intro. A suprising entry in Nan Grey's on-screen diary had her revealing "strange sensations" when in the presence of Dick Foran, then adding "it can't be love, but if it isn't, what is it?" Or words to that effect.
telegonus	House Of The Seven Gables, 1940 version	#2	[-]
Feb 28 12 5:23 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I agree that the Joe May House Of the Seven Gables was well done, nicely atmospheric, channeled the sensibility of early America without overdoing it. Sanders and Price did not, to the best of my recollection, chew so much as a stitch of scenery; and the latter was quite moving and sympathetic, especially near the end; and overall the film drew heavily on the actor's innate gentleness. One can easily see in the 1940 film why, two decades later, Mr. Price easily rose to become the king of horror. There was a lovable, near child-like quality to him, used to beautiful effect in HOTSG. Some words of praise for Mr. Dick Foran are in order here, as he gives for him a rather restrained performance and yet a robust one. One can feel the New America aborning in his plain speaking no-nonsense character. This is a film I've seen just once in its entirety, and the ending had me near years (I was an adult at the time, so there's no excuse ). So much gained and yet so much lost. It was bittersweet and deeply moving. That director May never had much of a career in the States is a bit of a mystery to me, however he's not alone in this. I also wonder about the non-starting (at the A level) careers of such fine craftsmen as Boris Ingster, Gunther von Fritsch. Walter Colmes, Gordon Wiles and Maxwell Shane. Last Edited By: telegonus Feb 28 12 5:34 AM. Edited 1 times.
Elisabeth		#3	[-]
Feb 28 12 7:52 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	This is one of my all time favourites as well, T. I particularly loved seeing Margaret Lindsay in a character role. She was a really talented actress, and it was great that Universal gave her something that she could sink her teeth into! Your Signature ... "....I do hope he won't upset Henry..."

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