House of Usher
1960's HOUSE OF USHER was the first in a series of Edgar Allan Poe adaptations from director Roger Corman. Some younger viewers may not realize that before he became the producer King of the B-movie in the '70s, he oversaw several effective genre pics. I am sadly only now getting around to this series, taking advantage of the Criterion Channel's offering. I chose it on a quiet Thursday eve in the midst of a long weekend. Plus, who doesn't want to watch Vincent Price? You could accurately say that he is reason enough to see this movie. Such an icon. So effortless and sublime. Calming yet sinister. Here he portrays Roderick Usher, a frail, cautious man who suffers from hyperacusis and keeps his sister Madeline (Myrna Fahey) prisoner in the centuries old family mansion. For her own good, he tells her fiance Philip (Mark Damon), who arrives to take her back to Boston, where they met. Roderick explains that the Ushers have lon...
