Leofwine_draca THE OLD DARK HOUSE has many reasons it should be a success. It's an all-colour remake of a 1930s classic that spawned an entire genre of subsequent 'old dark house' style movies, made with strong production values by the reliable chaps at Hammer Films. Imported American director William Castle came off the back of a string of enjoyable hits including HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL and THE TINGLER. You'd think that nothing could go wrong, but you'd be sorely mistaken about that.The truth is that THE OLD DARK HOUSE goes out for the out-and-out spoof approach to poor effect. American funnyman lead Tom Poston simply isn't very endearing or funny, just goofy. The supporting cast of eccentrics is very good, with Fenella Fielding in dry-run mode for CARRY ON SCREAMING, Robert Morley as funny as ever, and Mervyn Johns stealing all his scenes as the old-timer eccentric. The first half an hour of the film sets up the plot and mystery and is quite workable, but it goes downhill from there. The various murder scenes are dragged out and the story elements get sillier and sillier as they go on, with the whole 'Noah's ark' sub-plot being the real nadir. In the end, THE OLD DARK HOUSE is neither scary nor funny, just silly, and a far cry from something much more cheaply-made but far funnier, like WHAT A CARVE UP!

wes-connors In a London casino, American car salesman Tom Poston (as Thomas "Tom" Penderel) accepts an invitation to visit an eccentric English friend's dilapidated old mansion. He arrives at "Femm Hall" during a rainstorm, hoping to meet some of his friend's female cousins. "I like girls," Mr. Poston says. Poston arrives to discover his host in a coffin. Equally eccentric Robert Morley (as Roderick Femm) invites Poston to stay, exclaiming, "It's not every day that we have an American for dinner..."Poston is nearly seduced by both attractive blonde Janette Scott (as Cecily) and perpetually aroused Fenella Fielding (as Morgana). There is some hint Poston might re-populate the Earth, after copulating with one of these women - but nothing comes of it. Due to the extended rain, Bible-believing Mervyn Johns (as Potiphar) is collecting animals for his ark. He hopes to include Poston as a human specimen. But murder takes priority in this story, as family members begin to meet their maker...The storyline deviates wildly from the original J.B. Priestley novel (and similarly titled 1932 film). Though produced and directed by William Castle, for the horrific "Hammer" studios of Great Britain, this is a broad comedy. As such, it gets a little more tiresome every quarter hour. The low point may be Poston being joined in his bed by "Penelope the hyena" - a special effect which evokes the wrong kind of laughter. "The Old Dark House" picks up after petering out, with a lively ending.***** The Old Dark House (10/30/63) William Castle ~ Tom Poston, Robert Morley, Fenella Fielding, Janette Scott

mark.waltz This has nothing to do with the 1932 James Whale masterpiece that still has fans shouting, "No beds! They can't have beds!" That melodrama of madness and murder was at least funny with its collection of eccentric characters, but this one is just plain ridiculous, trying too hard and succeeding not at all. Poor Tom Poston ("Mork and Mindy", "Newhart") is the sap who discovers that through a distant pirate relative of the family tree that he may be related to this house of wackos, possibly one of the heirs to a gloomy British mansion where the residents are all balmy in one way or another. Played as if it was spoofing the traveling melodramas that usually starred someone like Tod Slaughter in the British hinterlands, this fails to achieve its goal of being a comedy, lacking in suspense and the usual surprises of William Castle's collection of camp 60's cult classics.Broadly played, this makes what humor there is there seem forced, and even the droll Robert Morley fails to offer amusement as the family's domineering patriarch. At least some Charles Addams drawings entertain during the credits. As if an afterthought, this also utilizes some of the character's names from the original, even though it has no other relation. It is a pity that Castle didn't cast his "13 Ghosts" actress Margaret Hamilton in the Eva Moore role here; That would have been much more inspired than anything that happens here. My favorite quote from this movie actually came out of my mouth, not the characters, that being, "You've Got to Be Kidding!"

Jaxonhall I watched this movie expecting to see an old school horror, but what I found was one of the greatest comedies to have ever been made! I could not help but lay on the floor crying because it was so hilarious. If only the writers of modern day shows were to write like they did for this show, they would find that their ratings would go sky high and people would start going out to the movies again for a great comedy. Even the 'dirty' parts of this film will have you laughing and wish that there was more movie to watch. I would highly recommend this film to anyone who wants to watch a comedy that does not make you feel uncomfortable. I would recommend not drinking anything before watching this, because you just may find your pants soaking wet from laughing so hard by the time it is over!