CURSE OF THE CRIMSON ALTAR
UK, 1968, 89 minutes, Colour.
Boris Karloff, Christopher Lee, Mark Eden, Barbara Steele, Michael Gough, Virginia Wetherell, Rupert Davies.
Directed by Vernon Sewell.
Curse of the Crimson Altar plays Boris Karloff against Christopher Lee. This makes the film worth seeing. As a drama, it is rather low-key in terms of the horror element. However, there are some ludicrous witchcraft sequences at the beginning and inserted during the film. Barbara Steele, who appeared in many such films, is the leading witch. Michael Gough as a role as a demented butler.
The film is a mixture of the good and the bad. Boris Karloff was to make Targets with Peter Bogdanovich immediately after this and only a few more films. Christopher Lee, however, continued to make films for the next forty years.
The film is interesting insofar as Boris Karloff seems sinister, a professor interested in witchcraft, sitting in a wheelchair. Christopher Lee seems the goodhearted and dapper English lord of the manor. However, Karloff turns out to be the goodie and Christopher Lee the baddie.
1.Audiences enjoying this kind of British drama horror film? The prevalence of this kind of film in the late 60s and early 70s? In retrospect?
2.The mansion, the interiors? The secret passages? The village and its normality? The countryside and the roads? A seeming air of realism? The atmospheric score?
3.The title, the crimson altar, the opening witchcraft sequence? Lavinia Morley and Peter Manning, signing away his soul? The various members of the Witches’ Sabbath, their headdress – and the later explanations of the rituals? The recurring of these scenes? In Robert Manning’s dreams? The background of the 17th century, Lavinia Morley as a witch, her being condemned? The Mannings as part of the group who condemned her? The documents?
4.Peter Manning, caught up in the witchcraft, signing his soul away, his death? Robert Manning, his brother, his work in antiques? The package from Peter? His suspicions, his decision to visit the village, the phone call with Morley? His arrival, meeting with Morley, Morley and his courtesy? Finding the party (and the exaggerated portrayal of a decadent 60s party?)?
5.Morley, Lavinia Morley the witch as part of the family? Eve as his niece? Eve and her welcome, the discussions? The relationship between Robert and Eve? Enlisting her help, her investigations, going to the vicar?
6.Morley, Christopher Lee’s style, the epitome of good manners? The discussions with Professor Marshe? His trying to help? The final revelation of his madness, going into the rooms, searching for documents? The repetition of the witches’ ceremony, Eve’s death, Manning’s death? His being interrupted? His standing on the roof, his burning to death?
7.Professor Marshe, Boris Karloff and his being sinister (and Robert Manning making a joke about the house like one where Boris Karloff would appear)? His chauffeur? His manner of speaking, the brandy, his disdain for Manning’s taste? His expertise, the discussions, his always being present? At the Festival of the Witches’ Burning? The chauffeur and his being mute, shooting the birds, Manning feeling that he was trying to kill him? The irony of the revelation that the professor was genuine, his saving Morley and Eve?
8.Lavinia, the story of witchcraft, popular from the 17th century? The festival and the village going through the ritual of her burning?
9.Elder, the sinister butler, his warnings? His searching the room? Witchcraft, his death?
10.The vicar, his being helpful, the information about witchcraft and Lavinia?
11.The film with its elements of witchcraft and horror – but rather an ordinary drama of investigation, a suave villain and a sinister character who turned out to be good?
