I can recall the hype in the 50's over this film. At the Iris Theater in Detroit there was a big banner of a Skull which stirred w\in me as a kid the yen to see it-but alas-i had to wait as an adult to view it for the very first time 40+ yrs. later !
-ah,memories ....
An interesting reply - I saw it here in England and now have it on DVD. In my opinion it is one of the best horror movies ever made. William Castle also produced HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL, 1958, another good movie.
shareOh yes, I also saw this as a child in the theater. On the big screen, and the end credits where the only living person was the little girl skipping along following the hearse.
It is strange what you can remember from a movie. The only other thing I remember is the opening of the coffin...
You remember the coffin scene cause it's the only real 'shock' in the picture.
It's a smooth little flick, but sadly void of any real shocks...which came in full force with Castle's next one 'House on Haunted Hill'.
Oddly enough, here in Grand Rapids Michigan, 'House' played here before this one did.
Regardless, I wouldn't trade the memories of seeing both of them in the theater as a child...for anything.
The end credits are really cool.
The other most interesting thing to me is the swimming pool that has steps within the house and you go under water to get outside.
I saw this on its theatrical run in 1958, when I was eleven. Everyone was suckered into the theatre by that incredibly successful advertising campaign and the newspaper ad featuring a grinning skull and the "life insurance policy."
Everyone remarks on the opening of the coffin scene, but I barely remember it. What scared the bejesus out of me was the body they found in the storage garage.
I've only seen the movie once more since 1958, on late night tv. In retrospect, it's pretty silly and lame but, hey, that's William Castle. He did get better with House on Haunted Hill and The Tingler. And he laughed all the way to the bank.
Thanx, Mr. Castle, wherever you are.
To God There Is No Zero. I Still Exist.
I remember this, too! All the hype and the excitement among all my classmates--then my mother wouldn't let me go see it. I think it would have made a much bigger impression on me if I had seen it then, rather than (for the first time) in 2012.
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