TWICE TOLD TALES

US, 1963, 119 minutes, Colour.
Vincent Price, Sebastian Cabot, Richard Denning, Mari Blanchard.
Directed by Sidney Salkow.

Twice Told Tales is a collection of stories by Nathaniel Hawthorne including his celebrated House of Seven Gables. Vincent Price is the star. The three stories have been adapted and written in the vein of Roger Corman's films from Edgar Allen Poe. The director is Sidney Salkow, director of a number of B-budget action movies.

The films are stylishly designed, emphasise atmosphere rather than horror effects (except, perhaps, in the Seven Gables film). The films are glimpses of horror, 19th century atmosphere and suggestion of evil, evil effects in relationships, curses and the desire to overcome the curses of the past as well as of ageing. The films stand well enough in the comparison with the Poe adaptations. These are slightly more sedate than the rough edges often seen in the Poe films.

1.The work and reputation of Nathaniel Hawthorne? His picture of 19th century America? Explorations of evil, terror and horror?

2.Production values: colour photography, sets and decor, costumes and period? Special effects? The musical score and atmosphere?

3.The '60s and the interest in horror and adaptations of classics? Respect for the classics? Dramatising them? The presence of Vincent Price?

4.Dr Heidegger's Experiment: the friendship between Carl and Alex, their age, their memories? The portrait of Sylvia? Her death on the eve of the wedding? The reminiscences, the vault, Sylvia's body preserved? The liquid, the experiment? Carl and his rejuvenation? The invitation to Alex and his change? The rose and its coming to life? Trying to bring Sylvia back to life, success? Her thinking it was only a few hours later? The revelation of the truth - Sylvia's relationship with Alex, her spite in marrying Carl? Carl with the wedding gown and overhearing the conversation? Alex and his torn feelings, never having hurt Carl? The passion between Alex and Sylvia? Alex wanting to tell the truth? The clash with Carl, Carl's death, his ageing? The discovery about the short effect of the water? Sylvia as a skeleton? Alex left alone aged?

5.Rappaccini's Daughter: the mediaeval setting, the magic garden, good and evil, beauty and destruction? The father and his keeping his daughter in the garden, never having any visitors? Giovanni and his work, seeing Beatrice, infatuated? The landlady and her information? The wooing of Beatrice, their falling in love? The father and his protection? The professor and the truth, the antidote? Giovanni taking the antidote and dying? Beatrice killing herself? The father going to the destructive flowers and destroying himself? His over-protectiveness and obsession leading to total destruction?

6.The House of the Seven Gables: the tradition of New England and 16th and 17th century witchcraft? The old murders, the curse? Gerald and his bride, going to the house, Hannah and her hostility? The mysterious happenings to Alice, her being taken over by the spirit of Norah? Gerald and his search, the money? The truth about the curse? Alice and her knowing that Jonathan was coming? Playing the piano? Negotiations about the house, the clash between Gerald and Matthew? Jonathan seeming to be Matthew and Alice taken over by Norah? Gerald and his jealousy? Hannah and her bitterness? Gerald and his discovery of the tomb, the map? His killing Hannah? Alice in the tomb? The house collapsing, Jonathan and his rescuing Alice? The destruction of the House of the Seven Gables? The vindication of the curse?

7.The popularity of adaptations of the classics? Their style and atmosphere? Their exploration of evil and human malice?