A House in Nightmare Park (1977) in Movie of the Day Forum

0 Points

<< Previous Topic Next Topic >>

A House in Nightmare Park (1977)

Author	Comment
Dave Sindelar	A House in Nightmare Park (1977)	Lead	[-]
May 4 12 10:28 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	A House in Nightmare Park (1977) #3917 Viewing Date: 4-25-2012 Posting Date: 5-5-2012 Directed by Peter Sykes Featuring Frankie Howerd, Ray Milland, Hugh Berden Country: UK What it is: An old dark house movie A ham actor is invited to entertain at a spooky mansion, but he's unaware that he is actually the true heir to the estate and that the other members of the family want him out of the way... This horror comedy is a vehicle for British comedian Frankie Howerd. I do like that the movie generally tries to use verbal wit instead of broad slapstick, that it tries to have some horror atmosphere, and that the comedian is one of those I don't find actively annoying. However, the story is hardly original and the comedy is only fair to middling; there's a few smiles, but not much in the way of outright laughs. Ray Milland gives his usual solid performance, and that adds a bit to the proceedings, but really, there's not an awful lot here. Oh, Benson, dear Benson, you are so mercifully free from the ravages of intelligence!
	Remove this ad
doctor kiss		#1	[-]
May 5 12 4:21 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	That title has me wondering; is this movie really titled A HOUSE IN NIGHTMARE PARK in the version you saw, because the title on the British print is certainly THE HOUSE IN NIGHTMARE PARK. The US theatrical release in the Fall of 1977 also came some considerable time after the original British release in the Spring of 1973. Frankie Howerd was surely a master of wordplay and innuendo, but as with so many of these feature-length vehicles for British comedians, I don't think he's terrifically well showcased here. Part of the problem seems to be overlength --- even Frankie Howerd's one-man stage shows seldom exceeded an hour in length. And the story is just a bit... well, bland. Personally, if I were introducing someone to Frankie Howerd in a 'horror-comedy' context, I'd probably show them the opening episode of his TV series The Howerd Confessions [1976; IMDb], in which he goes on a date with three-times-widowed Joan Sims, unaware that she's a serial husband-poisoner. The shorter format, the greater propensity for sheer absurdity and perhaps above all the fact he has a worthy comic foil in Joan Sims (a task to which Ray Milland certainly wasn't suited) all serve Howerd's purpose far more successfully. The original British tag-line: Don't see it alone --- bring the children!
horrorfilmx		#2	[-]
May 5 12 7:27 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	It took me a while to warm up to Frankie Howerd but now I find him hilarious. This movie not too much so. The segment with the family acting out that weird doll/puppet charade is, however, genuinely creepy. By the way, Independent-International released the film in the States as Night of the Laughing Dead with comic opening title music. Good old Sam.
Dave Sindelar		#3	[-]
May 5 12 8:54 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	doctor kiss wrote: That title has me wondering; is this movie really titled A HOUSE IN NIGHTMARE PARK in the version you saw, because the title on the British print is certainly THE HOUSE IN NIGHTMARE PARK. Yes, A HOUSE IN NIGHTMARE PARK is the precise title on my copy of the movie. I myself was a bit surprised by this, as it seems such an odd choice, and, if the British print does indeed use the word THE, it seems a strange change to make. Oh, Benson, dear Benson, you are so mercifully free from the ravages of intelligence!
doctor kiss		#4	[-]
May 5 12 11:18 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Thanks for that confirmation... I'd never been aware of the 'A HOUSE' retitling, but it first seems to show up Stateside with the 1988 Meteor Video release. What I suppose may have happened is that Meteor had a print bearing the NIGHT OF THE LAUGHING DEAD retitling, which wasn't really in line with their desire to market this as a slasher flick. And so someone created a new title card which reverted to the original British title... only getting one word wrong in the process... Meteor Video box art (1988), original British title card (1973):
	Remove this ad
Robert Richardson		#5	[-]
May 5 12 5:24 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	The movie also was circulated under the title CRAZY HOUSE.� For its US release Independent-International devised a new credit sequence that excised the lusciously atmospheric Harry Robinson theme and attempted to establish the film as something more akin to a CARRY ON comedy, which it isn't. Here's a comparison of the differences between the original UK opening and the US version: Last Edited By: Robert Richardson May 5 12 5:26 PM. Edited 1 times.
WalesGuy		#6	[-]
May 6 12 1:41 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	It also had another alternate US title - NIGHT OF THE LAUGHING DEAD. Other Howerd movies to watch out for: THE RUNAWAY BUS (1954) his film debut, with Margaret Rutherford. The UK DVD is cut. Enjoyable comedy thriller FURTHER UP THE CREEK (1959) Hammer naval comedy, a sequel to their earlier UP THE CREEK A TOUCH OF THE SUN (1956) - Mild comedy with Frankie inheriting the hotel he was fired from JUMPING FOR JOY (1956) - Another mild comedy about greyhound racing CARRY ON DOCTOR (1967) and CARRY ON UP THE JUNGLE (1970) - Howerd fits well into the Carry On team (he also did the 1969 CARRY ON CHRISTMAS tv special) UP POMPEII (1971) film based on his BBC sitcom hit UP THE CHASTITY BELT (1972) - sort of sequel to UP POMPEII, though never regarded as such. Actually better than Pompeii. UP THE FRONT (1972) - second follow up, and the weakest of the 3 set during World War 1 GREAT ST TRINIAN'S TRAIN ROBBERY (1965) - last of the original St Trinians, with Howerd rather untypically cast as a father. Some good laughs though. TV Shows to look out for: UP POMPEII (pilot, 2 series, and 1975 reunion special) WHOOPS BAGDAD - Up Pompeii in another setting, 1 series THE HOWERD CONFESSIONS - 1 series A TOUCH OF THE CASANOVA'S - a pilot for a proposed 1975 series which was never made. Pilot is due on DVD later this year. Also stars Patsy (Carry On) Rowlands, Patricia Haines, Stuart (The Champions) Damon
WalesGuy		#7	[-]
May 6 12 1:44 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	HOUSE IN NIGHTMARE PARK is mysteriously absent from DVD in the UK. It is a good film with some creepy moments and some good laughs. Supposedly Milland (who was born in Wales, like co star Kenneth Griffith) was a big fan of Frankie, and requested to be cast in the film in order to work with him.
	Remove this ad

<< Previous Topic Next Topic >>

Add Reply