The Curse of the Living Corpse
Encyclopedia
The Curse of the Living Corpse is a 1964 low-budget American horror film
, written, directed, and produced by Del Tenney
. In the film, a series of murders haunt the family of a man who died leaving extensive instructions in his will to avoid his being buried alive. The film marked the feature film debut of actor Roy Scheider
. It was originally co-billed with The Horror of Party Beach
(1964). Both movies were filmed in black-and-white
in Stamford, Connecticut
by Iselin-Tenney Productions, a short-lived production company the director formed with Alan V. Iselin, the owner of a chain of drive-in theaters
.
and lives in fear of being prematurely pronounced dead and buried alive. To prevent this he leaves detailed instructions to the family and his staff in case he is believe to be dead. But when he is found seemingly dead one day, his greedy family - eager to claim their inheritance - have him quickly interred. As his estranged children gather at the family estate, they are killed, each in the way they fear most.
. Robert Verberkmoss served as art director.
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
, written, directed, and produced by Del Tenney
Del Tenney
Del Tenney is an American actor, film director, screenwriter and film producer. He established a legacy in film with several low-budget horror/exploitation films in the 1960s, including The Horror of Party Beach...
. In the film, a series of murders haunt the family of a man who died leaving extensive instructions in his will to avoid his being buried alive. The film marked the feature film debut of actor Roy Scheider
Roy Scheider
Roy Richard Scheider was an American actor. He was best known for his leading role as police chief Martin C...
. It was originally co-billed with The Horror of Party Beach
The Horror of Party Beach
The Horror of Party Beach is a 1964 horror film in the beach party genre, directed by B-movie maven Del Tenney, which Tenney himself describes as "a take-off on beach parties and musicals"....
(1964). Both movies were filmed in black-and-white
Black-and-white
Black-and-white, often abbreviated B/W or B&W, is a term referring to a number of monochrome forms in visual arts.Black-and-white as a description is also something of a misnomer, for in addition to black and white, most of these media included varying shades of gray...
in Stamford, Connecticut
Stamford, Connecticut
Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 122,643, making it the fourth largest city in the state and the eighth largest city in New England...
by Iselin-Tenney Productions, a short-lived production company the director formed with Alan V. Iselin, the owner of a chain of drive-in theaters
Drive-in theater
A drive-in theater is a form of cinema structure consisting of a large outdoor screen, a projection booth, a concession stand and a large parking area for automobiles. Within this enclosed area, customers can view movies from the privacy and comfort of their cars.The screen can be as simple as a...
.
Plot
Rufus Sinclair, a wealthy, abusive old man, suffers from catalepsyCatalepsy
Catalepsy is also a term used by hypnotists to refer to the state of making a hypnotised subject's arm, leg or back rigid. "Arm catalepsy" is often a pre-hypnotic test performed prior to an induction into a full trance.-Causes:...
and lives in fear of being prematurely pronounced dead and buried alive. To prevent this he leaves detailed instructions to the family and his staff in case he is believe to be dead. But when he is found seemingly dead one day, his greedy family - eager to claim their inheritance - have him quickly interred. As his estranged children gather at the family estate, they are killed, each in the way they fear most.
Cast
- Helen Warren as Abigail Sinclair
- Roy R. ScheiderRoy ScheiderRoy Richard Scheider was an American actor. He was best known for his leading role as police chief Martin C...
as Philip Sinclair - Margot Hartman as Vivian Sinclair
- Robert Milli as Bruce Sinclair
- Hugh FranklinHugh FranklinHugh Hale Franklin was an American theatre and soap opera actor. He was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma.Franklin was best known for his role as Dr. Charles Tyler on All My Children, a role he played from the show’s first episode in 1970 until 1983...
as James Benson - Jane Bruce as cook
- Candace HilligossCandace HilligossCandace Hilligoss is an American actress.After three years at the University of Iowa, she came to New York City to study acting at the American Theatre Wing and made her professional debut in summer stock in Pennsylvania...
as Deborah Benson - Dino Narizzano as Robert Harrington
- Linda Donovan as Letty Crews
- J. Frank Lucas as Seth Lucas
- Paul Haney as Constable Barnes
- George Cotton as Constable Winters
- William Blood as minister
Production
The film was shot in Stamford, ConnecticutStamford, Connecticut
Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 122,643, making it the fourth largest city in the state and the eighth largest city in New England...
. Robert Verberkmoss served as art director.