Vincent Price. Christopher Lee. Peter Cushing. John Carradine. House of the Long Shadows is an Expendables-style horror comedy. Kino Lorber has pulled out all the stops for this updated Collector’s Edition.
The Film
It sort of works.
One really wishes that House of the Long Shadow had taken its true treasure the four legends of Movies (and horror) and had them on screen together longer than a few scenes. The film is more murder mystery than a straight-out horror film – with a truly terrible ending. It is fitting that the film was a long-gestating film from Cannon Films.
Novelist Kenneth Magee (Desi Arnaz, Jr.) makes a bet with his publisher that he can write a story of the caliber of Wuthering Heights in less than 24 hours. To help him along with this bet Magee goes to Bllyddpaetwr Manor located in the haunted Welsh countryside. No sooner does Magee enter the mansion is he besieged by all manner of strange occurrences. Literally, something out of a Gothic Romantic Novel. Including family members long since left (played by Vincent Price, Peter Cushing, and John Carradine), a comely young woman (Julie Peasgood), and a prospective buyer (Christopher Lee) look to solve the mystery of Roderick Grisbane the murderous psychopath that destroyed the family’s name.
House of the Long Shadow spends too much time on the setup and not enough time spending the narrative tracks with these legends of Horror. The also film suffers from an ending that just doesn’t work and negates almost everything the entire story was doing. The work from director Pete Walker is solid with strong visual hints towards the work of Hammer and Wyler’s Wuthering Heights adaptation.
However when these masters of horror are allowed to congregate together magic happens. There’s a sly wink and a nod to the way that Price, Cushing, Carradine, and Lee approach the material. That isn’t an insult or a critique. Truly these men could read the phone book to one another, and it would be more compelling than 90% of what passes for horror nowadays. The weak link in the cast is Desi Arnaz, Jr. as the central lead of the film. Through and through at every turn the man’s work feels like the odd man out. One wishes that the setup and his attitude had been different.
Though for any piece of critique, one has for Arnaz, Jr. the opposite can be said about Christopher Lee. Lee’s work here is accomplished and never falters. The way that he’s able to pull off the sort of trickery, especially in the third act will delight fans of his work with Hammer as it truly lives up to that kind of performance.
House of the Long Shadow is ultimately a slice of horrified fun though one that you will have to forgive some bigger issues to truly enjoy.
The Transfer
This transfer, unknown if it is new, is a pretty astute representation of the low-light photography. The image is clear with wonderful subtle contrast levels and black detail – which thankfully doesn’t crush the blacks in any way. One will be delighted at how great it looks especially those who have loved this film and seen the previous iterations of the film on home video. Bravo to the Kino for giving this transfer and new updated Disc and at the very least an update to the compression, all of which aids in a better image.
The Extras
They include the following;
- Audio Commentary by Author Derek Pykett and Director Pete Walker
- Audio Commentary by Film Historian David Del Valle
- House of the Long Shadows… Revisited: Documentary with Cast and Crew (104 Minutes)
- Pete Walker’s House of Horror: Interview with Director Pete Walker
- Theatrical Trailer
The first archival Audio Commentary by Author Derek Pykett and Director Pete Walker begins both of their credentials. Some of the other details include how Walker became involved with the project; the initial idea from Golan and Globus; Walker’s counter of their idea; the development of the screenplay – which is a very detailed discussion of how they came up with the plot and considerations of the stars and approach; Walker discusses how he was able to convince each of the actors to agree to the role – Vincent Price then Christopher Lee then Peter Cushing and eventually John Carradine and finally Arnaz; the criticism that was leveled at Arnaz at the time of release; the criticism that was leveled at the film at the time of release; and much more. Pykett and Walker’s commentary track is not screen-specific but that does not interfere with the enjoyment or information about the production. In fact, the track is more interesting than the actual film itself with a wealth of information beyond just the production.
The second archival Audio Commentary by Film Historian David Del Valle moderated by Editor/Filmmaker Elijah Drenner begins with Drenner and Del Valle discussing Del Valle’s connection to the film. Some of the details include how the project was set up with Pete Walker – which is at odds with Golan and Globus’s Cannon Films output; the development and the various different material they attempted to use to create the project; a discussion of the specific subgenre that the film is playing in; the various films in the 1980s that were similar to House of the Long Shadows; the various team ups with the cast like Price and Lee or Lee and Cushing, etc.; the work of screenwriter Michael Armstrong – and his thoughts on the finished product, specific about the performances by Arnaz and Julie Peasgood; a larger conversation of Arnaz and his performance in this film; Peter Cushing at the time – a discussion of the very sad personal history of Cushing; the various actor’s careers post-film; the career and personal history of director Pete Walker – and his work that is much more akin to Russ Meyers than any other horror director; some truly interesting personal anecdotes by Del Valle of Carradine, Price, and others; a larger conversation about Christopher Lee and Del Valle’s relationship with the great; and much more. Del Valle and Drenner contribute a lively commentary track that like Walker’s track is more entertaining than the actual film – especially if one loves Price, Lee, and Cushing.
House of the Long Shadows… Revisited (1:48:41) – this feature-length making-of documentary is the kind of great detailed, accomplished look back at the film. One knows they’re in for a treat when the making-of’s length is equal to or greater than the feature film it’s about. The doc is from the heyday of DVD/Blu-ray special features that covers just about everything one could want to know about House of the Long Shadows including the preproduction/development, casting, locations (including a view of what the location looks like now), shooting the film, and release. The way they approach every aspect/phase of the production is with deep affection and the kind of details and anecdotes – especially when it comes to Price, Cushing, Lee, and Carradine – that fans and non-fans will love and adore. In fact, a large bulk of the documentary is filled with the sort of wonderful stories about the different horror legends from the participants. The documentary includes some truly great behind-the-scenes photographs as well. Featuring interviews with director Walker; screenwriter Michael Armstrong; star Desi Arnaz Jr; actor Julie Peasgood; production designer Michael Pickwoad; cinematographer Norman Langley; actor Richard Hunter; actor Louise English; production manager Jeanne Ferber; camera operator John Simmons; costume designer Alan Flyng; and more.
Pete Walker’s House of Horror (14:49) – is an archival interview with director Pete Walker who opens with the fact that at 42 years-old had retired and gone into exhibition. Walker discusses how Golan and Globus approached him to make this film at the beginning of Cannon films; his rejected script about an aborted fetus that comes back to life to reclaim its life; Golan and Globus wanting to make essentially a Universal Horror Picture; Walker’s idea of gathering the greats of 60s Horror – including the casting of Price, Lee, Cushing, and Carradine; the development of the script that ended up being House of the Long Shadows; anecdotes about the various stars during the production; and much more.
Round out the special features are trailers for House of the Long Shadow (2:28); Die Screaming, Marianne (3:12); House of Whipcord (2:37); The Abominable Dr. Phibes (2:35); Theater of Blood (2:31); The Whip and The Body (3:28); The Crimson Cult (2:04); Dr. Who and The Daleks (3:12); The Blood Beast Terror (2:26); The Black Sleep (1:36); The Astro-Zombies (2:17); Billy Two Bats (4:00)
The Final Thought
Kino has done it again with their upgraded Collector’s Edition of House of the Long Shadow. Recommended!!!