GamerTab
That was an excellent one.
Livestonth
I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible
Zandra
The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.
Michael_Elliott
House of the Long Shadows (1983) *** (out of 4) American writer Kenneth Magee (Desi Arnaz, Jr.) makes a bet with his publisher that he can write a masterpiece in just twenty-four hours. To help with the atmosphere, the writer agrees to write his novel inside an abandoned castle but before long a strange mix of characters show up.You really have to give Cannon credit for bringing together the four living horror legends. You've got Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Vincent Price and John Carradine in this film and that is enough reason to watch the film. With that said, what made them want to remake George M. Cohan's Seven Keys to Baldpate is anyone's guess. I mean, by 1983 the horror genre was in love with the slasher so the company trying to sneak an "old dark house" picture out there is a bit of a mystery. Needless to say, the film didn't strike any heat at the box office.With all of that being said, when viewing this film today it's impossible for a horror fan not to smile because of the four legends gathered up in one picture. The four of them had appeared in countless films together but never all four. Of course, you've got the added bonus of this being the final film between Lee and Cushing. You've also got to appreciate the fact that the four of them share a lot of screen time together. A lot of times you will have one playing a minor role and they won't share any scenes with the other legends but that's not the case here. All four are constantly together and this just adds to the entertainment.The story itself is a familiar one and the story itself was filmed countless times in the silent era and through the 30s and 40s. If you're familiar with the previous versions then you'll know that not too much has been changed here. This film really does keep it "old school" because there's no gore, no extreme violence, nudity or anything else that you might expect from a film made in 1983. The film is certainly too laid back and calm for most horror fans but those who don't mind that type of thing should enjoy this.HOUSE OF THE LONG SHADOWS isn't a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination but the cast makes it a must see.
Michael O'Keefe
Mystery, gore and humor mix as a young writer Kenneth Magee (Desi Arnez Jr.), takes a bet from his publisher Sam Allyson (Richard Todd) that he can write a novel in twenty-fours. To make this assignment difficult, Magee has to stay in a spooky mansion believed to be empty. The property is not vacant; four odd inhabitants (played by horror icons Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing and John Carradine) will be joined with others to distract the gullible author.What all will have to be endured for the writer to succeed in winning his bet? Will the payoff be worth it? Don't expect award-winning acting. Atmospheric and a hoot for horror fans.Other players: Sheila Keith, Richard Hunter, Louise Englsh and Julie Peasgood.
TheLittleSongbird
Vincent Price, Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee and John Carradine in one movie is like a dream come true and a recipe for a truly great time. House of the Long Shadows is not a great movie, but it is an interesting one and better than I was led to believe. It does have flaws of course, the ending is unsatisfying and feels like more than one ending rolled into a single one, the middle drags and Desi Arnaz Jnr gives an awful lead performance, very wooden and overly-serious. However, the production values complete with a suitably Gothic mansion are in keeping with the spooky atmosphere and in the genre House of the Long Shadows is an example of. The music has a very haunting sound to it, I loved the tongue-in-cheek humour and thrills in the script(Vincent Price having the best lines and he really relishes them), and the story has some nice-if occasionally silly- twists and turns and is mostly swiftly paced. The opening sequence is great. The murder sequences are not exactly subtle, but are suspenseful and evoke some chills. The four stars Price, Cushing, Lee and Carradine- easily the highlights of the film- are brilliant, distinctive and commanding with a very one-of-a-kind chemistry. In conclusion, fun and interesting if far from perfect. 7/10 Bethany Cox
gavin6942
An author named Kenneth McGee (Desi Arnaz, Jr.) whose career is on the decline wagers his publisher $20,000 that he can write a novel comparable to "Wuthering Heights" in 24 hours. To do so, he is holed up at a manor in Wales.Can you beat this cast? Vincent Price as Lionel Grisbane, John Carradine as Lord Grisbane, Peter Cushing as Sebastian Rand and Christopher Lee as Corrigan. This is the final film in which both Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing appear.The lead actor, Desi Arnaz, is pretty awful. He delivers lines that seem like they should be humorous with a straight face, which makes no sense -- is this humor delivered poorly, or serious lines botched before they even reach the man's tongue? I am not sure which, but he talks in such a tone and pace that I cannot believe any real person would talk in such a way.The copy I watched was of a very poor quality, or at best of "modest" quality. It was full screen, seems to be a VHS transfer, and had Swedish subtitles ingrained into it. That is not how I prefer to enjoy a film.The story is bizarre and sloppy, in some ways reminiscent of William Castle's "Old Dark House". Only not as entertaining. Mike Mayo says it is a variation of the Edgar Wallace story, the "tightest" of those he knows of. I find nothing tight about this film, and am unclear how much is Edgar Wallace and how much is writer Michael Armstrong. Armstrong freely admits to adapting the tale from the novel "Seven Keys to Baldpate" by Earl Derr Biggers and the dramatization by George M. Cohan.This all comes from director Pete Walker, whomever that is. This was his final film. The gore only comes in during the final twenty minutes, and it is not much. Would I recommend this movie? Maybe if it was cleaned up, just to see the cast. The film itself is nothing special.
