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''Crucible of Horror'' is a 1971
horror film Horror is a film genre that seeks to elicit fear or disgust in its audience for entertainment purposes. Horror films often explore dark subject matter and may deal with transgressive topics or themes. Broad elements include monsters, apoca ...
directed by Viktors Ritelis, produced by Gabrielle Beaumont, and starring
Michael Gough Francis Michael Gough ( ; 23 November 1916 – 17 March 2011) was a British character actor who made more than 150 film and television appearances. He is known for his roles in the Hammer Horror Films from 1958, with his first role as Sir Arthu ...
,
Yvonne Mitchell Yvonne Mitchell (born Yvonne Frances Joseph; 7 July 1915 – 24 March 1979) was an English actress and author. After beginning her acting career in theatre, Mitchell progressed to films in the late 1940s. Her roles include Julia in the 1954 BBC ...
, and Sharon Gurney. Its plot follows a mother who, along with her daughter, plots to murder her abusive husband at his hunting cottage. A co-production between the British Abacus Productions and the American-based
Cannon Group The Cannon Group, Inc. was an American group of companies, including Cannon Films, which produced films from 1967 to 1994. The extensive group also owned, amongst others, a large international cinema chain and a video film company that invested ...
, the film was shot in England in 1969 under the title ''The Velvet House''. It was first released theatrically in the United States as ''Crucible of Horror'', opening in
New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
on 11 November 1971, and was released the United Kingdom the following year, under the title ''The Corpse''.


Plot

Walter Eastwood is a wealthy and controlling patriarch who demeans and abuses his diminutive artist wife, Edith, and their teenage daughter, Jane. Walter's
misogyny Misogyny () is hatred of, contempt for, or prejudice against women. It is a form of sexism that is used to keep women at a lower social status than men, thus maintaining the societal roles of patriarchy. Misogyny has been widely practiced fo ...
is shared by his son Rupert, who repeatedly refuses his mother's request that he pick up art supplies for her and mocks the idea of his younger sister getting a job since her father refuses to give her an allowance. During dinner at the family's large estate one night, Walter's friend, Gregson, arrives, and is greeted by Jane at the door. Jane tells her father that Gregson tried to kiss her. After dinner, Walter discovers Jane has stolen money, and brutally beats her with a cane. The following day, Edith proposes to Jane that they murder Walter. When Walter plans a hunting trip to his remote cottage, Edith and Jane opt to remain home, while Rupert is unable to accompany him owing to a prior obligation. Edith and Jane arm themselves with a shotgun and trail Walter to the cottage, but their plans to kill him are thwarted when he hears them enter the house. The women pretend to have changed their minds, wanting to spend the weekend with him. Edith soon draws her shotgun, forcing Walter to sit and listen to her plight as she pours him a drink spiked with a sedative. The women liken Walter to the
Marquis de Sade Donatien Alphonse François, Marquis de Sade (; 2 June 1740 – 2 December 1814), was a French nobleman, revolutionary politician, philosopher and writer famous for his literary depictions of a libertine sexuality as well as numerous accusat ...
, whose writings they have recently read, and Walter responds with disgust that they would read such material. During the confrontation, Walter collapses unconscious. Using a funnel, Edith forces more liquor down Walter's throat as he lies incapacitated, before she and Jane drag his body upstairs and place it in his bed, in an attempt to make his death appear as an alcohol-narcotic overdose. The women then return home in the middle of the night, and the following day, nervously await for Walter's body to be discovered. At night, Edith has a nightmare in which she sees a ghostly version of herself levitating outside, before descending into a nearby pond. The following morning, Edith phones the cottage and speaks with the family's maid, Mrs. Roberts, who is maintaining her cleaning duties there, and asks to speak to Walter. Mrs. Roberts tells Edith that it does not appear Walter is there. Later, Rupert phones the house, concerned as he has been unable to reach Walter, and demands they go to check on the cottage. Edith and Jane return to the cottage, and are shocked to find Walter's bed empty. Outside, they discover a wooden crate, which inexplicably contains Walter's dead body. Moments later, they are approached by Reid, an architect friend of Walter. Reid tells them Walter failed to meet him for their planned hunting the day before. While Edith prepares tea, a suspicious Reid investigates the home, finding the bottle of sleeping pills in Walter's room. After Reid departs, the women drive the box containing Walter's corpse to a remote abandoned factory and push it over an embankment into a pond. The women return home, where they are plagued by nightmares and frightening incidents, including the parlour window being smashed in. When Edith enters her art studio, she is startled by Walter's body, which she sees dangling upside down from a rafter. Edith frantically runs downstairs, where she finds an equally-terrified Jane. When Walter approaches her, Edith collapses. The next morning, Walter enters the kitchen as usual for his morning breakfast, and is met by Jane, Edith, and Rupert—everything appears to be as it was before he was killed. At the table, Walter humiliates Jane by reading a letter she has received from Benjy Smith, a local boy who is infatuated with her. He then tauntingly asks Edith what she has planned for the day. She stares blankly, a tear dripping down her face.


Cast


Themes

Film scholar Bryan Senn notes a subtext of
incest Incest ( ) is human sexual activity between family members or close relatives. This typically includes sexual activity between people in consanguinity (blood relations), and sometimes those related by affinity (marriage or stepfamily), adoption ...
in ''Crucible of Horror'', writing that: "Even more disturbing is the notion that beneath the obvious dysfunction and constant tension
mong the family Mong may refer to: People *A proposed original name for the Hmong people, based on the main group, the Mong community * Bob Mong (), American journalist and academic administrator *Henry Mong (), American surgeon and Presbyterian missionary *Mong ...
..  runs a sordid subtext of incestuous desire." Senn cites several moments in the film, including Walter running his hands up Jane's arm, as well as his spoken obsession with her whereabouts, as suggesting that his character is sexually attracted to his daughter, and may have in fact sexually abused her.


Production


Screenplay

The script, written by
Olaf Pooley Oloe Krohn "Olaf" Pooley (13 March 1914 – 14 July 2015) was an English actor, screenwriter and painter. As an actor, he appeared as Professor Stahlman in the seven-part ''Doctor Who'' serial '' Inferno'' (1970). Early life Pooley was born t ...
, was originally titled ''The Velvet House'' and was loosely based on the film '' Les Diaboliques'' (1955).


Casting

Mitchell and Michael Gough were at the time well-known stage performers and Gough was a 'fixture' in British horror films. Rupert and Jane were played by Michael Gough's real-life son Simon and Simon's fiancée Sharon Gurney. The two married in 1970, before the film was released.


Filming

The film's meagre £55,000 budget was raised from London-Cannon Films, the British branch of the American film distributor
Cannon Films The Cannon Group, Inc. was an American group of companies, including Cannon Films, which produced films from 1967 to 1994. The extensive group also owned, amongst others, a large international cinema chain and a video film company that invested ...
. The low budget meant that expenses had to be minimal, so an actual house was used for on-location filming, with the remainder shot at
Merton Park Studios Merton Park Studios, opened in 1929, was a British film production studio located at Long Lodge, 269 Kingston Road in Merton Park, South London. In the 1940s, it was owned by Piprodia Entertainment, Nikhanj Films and Film Producers Guild. Peter M ...
in London. ''Crucible of Horror'' was Ritelis's only movie, but he had 'a long and fruitful career as a television director". Filming started on 17 March 1968. The film's on-screen credits list a 1971
copyright A copyright is a type of intellectual property that gives its owner the exclusive right to copy, distribute, adapt, display, and perform a creative work, usually for a limited time. The creative work may be in a literary, artistic, education ...
statement for May Films, Ltd'; but ''The Corpse''/''Crucible of Horror'' was never registered for copyright. According to the film's assistant director, Nicholas Granby, owing to prior obligations, director Viktors Ritelis was forced to depart the production prior to its completion, and producer Gabrielle Beaumont took on directorial responsibilities for the last several weeks of filming.


Release

One of the film's two production companies, the American-based
Cannon Group The Cannon Group, Inc. was an American group of companies, including Cannon Films, which produced films from 1967 to 1994. The extensive group also owned, amongst others, a large international cinema chain and a video film company that invested ...
, produced the film under the title of their London branch, London-Cannon Films. Cannon Films handled distribution of the film in the United States, releasing it regionally as a
double bill The double feature is a motion picture industry phenomenon in which theatres would exhibit two films for the price of one, supplanting an earlier format in which one feature film and various short subject reels would be shown. Opera use Opera ho ...
with ''
Cauldron of Blood ''Cauldron of Blood'' (Original title: ''El Coleccionista de cadáveres''/ ''The Corpse Collector''), also known in USA as ''Blind Man's Bluff'', is a 1967 horror film filmed in Spain and directed by Santos Alcocer, credited as "Edward Mann". Th ...
'' (1969), starring
Boris Karloff William Henry Pratt (23 November 1887 – 2 February 1969), better known by his stage name Boris Karloff (), was an English actor. His portrayal of Frankenstein's monster in the horror film ''Frankenstein'' (1931) (his 82nd film) established h ...
. The double-bill opened in
San Antonio, Texas ("Cradle of Freedom") , image_map = , mapsize = 220px , map_caption = Interactive map of San Antonio , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = United States , subdivision_type1= State , subdivision_name1 = Texas , subdivision_t ...
beginning 19 July 1971. It later screened in
Burlington, North Carolina Burlington is a city in Alamance County, North Carolina, Alamance and Guilford County, North Carolina, Guilford counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the principal city of the Burlington, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Are ...
beginning on 14 August 1971. The film opened theatrically in
New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
on 11 November 1971. The film was not submitted to the
British Board of Film Classification The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC, previously the British Board of Film Censors) is a non-governmental organisation founded by the British film industry in 1912 and responsible for the national classification and censorship of f ...
(BBFC) until after the BBFC had changed 'the threshold of the X category' on 1 July 1970 when the minimum audience-member age for exhibition was raised from 16 to 18. The film was given its X certification on 19 December 1971 after unspecified cuts were made. It was subsequently released in the United Kingdom through
Grand National Pictures Grand National Films, Inc (or Grand National Pictures, Grand National Productions and Grand National Film Distributing Co.) was an American Poverty Row motion picture production-distribution company in operation from 1936 to 1939. The company ha ...
on an X cert double-bill alongside ''Psycho Killer'' (1970). It screened on this double-bill in
Manchester Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The t ...
beginning 24 April 1972. By the summer of 1973, ''Crucible of Horror'' was on the US
drive-in theatre A drive-in theater or drive-in cinema is a form of movie theater, cinema structure consisting of a large outdoor movie screen, a projection booth, a concession stand, and a large parking area for automobiles. Within this enclosed area, customers ...
circuit. For example, it was shown on 1 and 2 June 1973, a Friday and Saturday, as the third film on a triple-bill at the Mt. Lebanon Drive-In Theatre in
Washington, Pennsylvania Washington is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Pennsylvania. A part of the Greater Pittsburgh area in the southwestern part of the state, the city is home to Washington & Jefferson College and Pony League baseball. The populat ...
. The other two films were the non-horror '' Fists of Fury'' (1972) and ''
Prime Cut ''Prime Cut'' is a 1972 American action crime film produced by Joe Wizan, directed by Michael Ritchie from a screenplay written by Robert Dillon, and starring Lee Marvin, who portrays a mob enforcer from the Chicago Irish Mob sent to Kansas ...
'' (1972). The film was later featured on the syndicated American TV programme ''
Elvira's Movie Macabre ''Elvira's Movie Macabre'' (titled on-screen as ''Movie Macabre with Elvira, Mistress of the Dark'' in its original run), or simply ''Movie Macabre'', is an American hosted horror movie television program that originally aired locally from 1981 ...
'' on 27 November 1982. It was the 13th episode of the show's second series.


Critical response

Reviews of ''Crucible of Horror'' at the time of its premiere in the US tended to be favourable. Howard Simpson of ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'' attended the opening night of ''Cauldron of Blood'' and ''Crucible of Horror'' and writes in his review that the former is 'painful to watch' and that 'the one to see, without running' is the latter. He states that ''Crucible of Horror'' is 'superbly directed by Viktors Ritelis and beautifully played by Yvonne Mitchell, Sharon Gurney and Michael Gough' and notes that 'for tight, merciless tension and venom, the movie is uncommonly effective and engrossing'. He adds that 'the twist of a civilized, very British fadeout ... is the most horrifying thing of all. Quite a picture. Quite'. ''
BoxOffice ''Boxoffice Pro'' is a film industry magazine dedicated to the movie theatre business published by BoxOffice Media LP. History It started in 1920 as ''The Reel Journal'', taking the name ''Boxoffice'' in 1931 and still publishes today, with ...
'' magazine also praised the film upon its release, saying that 'no one can deny that tisn't effectively done.' The anonymous review says that 'Director Viktor Ritelis livened the pace with fast-cut flashbacks,
psychedelic Psychedelics are a subclass of hallucinogenic drugs whose primary effect is to trigger non-ordinary states of consciousness (known as psychedelic experiences or "trips").Pollan, Michael (2018). ''How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of ...
dream sequences and some well-mounted horror touches at the end'. It notes the high quality of the acting and reports that 'Young Sharon Gurney gets introductory billing, celebrating the occasion by plunging in with a nude scene, hysterics and a sharp sense of defying her elders'. The magazine rates ''Crucible of Horror'' as 'good' on its poor-to-very-good scale]. Ann Guarino of ''
The New York Daily News The New York ''Daily News'', officially titled the ''Daily News'', is an American newspaper based in Jersey City, NJ. It was founded in 1919 by Joseph Medill Patterson as the ''Illustrated Daily News''. It was the first U.S. daily printed in t ...
'' gave a middling review, awarding the film two stars out of four and cited its "deadly pace," adding that it "will barely keep you awake."


Home media

After its brief theatrical runs in the UK and US, the film has had sporadic official US VHS releases and several bootleg DVD releases. The very first VHS release was from Paragon Video in 1983. A later VHS release came from Goodtimes in 1987, utilizing a battered and cut down 16mm print with the US "Crucible of Horror" title. This release was unlicensed, as it was presumed the title had fallen into public domain by that time. As MGM had assumed The Cannon Group catalog after Crédit Lyonnais took full control from Pathé Communications, MGM/UA Home Video put out an officially licensed release in 1993 and reissued in 1998, utilizing a transfer made from an original film element with the US title. Despite being in a cropped 1.33:1 ratio, this release was considered the best available version to date and was the source for DVD releases put out by Trinty Home Entertainment and bootleg outfit Mr. Fat W Video.
Scream Factory Shout! Factory is an American home video and music company founded in 2002 as Retropolis Entertainment. Its video releases include previously released feature films, classic and contemporary television series, animation, live music, and comedy ...
announced plans to bring this title onto Blu-Ray, under licence from MGM. This release came out on April 10, 2018, utilizing a restored 2k scan of the best available film element under its ''Crucible of Horror'' title, and presented in the original 1.66:1 widescreen ratio along with the films US theatrical trailer. As of 2021, this title has not been released on video in the UK in any form, presumably owing to rights problems.


Notes


References


Sources

* *


External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Crucible of Horror 1971 films 1971 horror films 1970s horror drama films American horror films British horror films Films about misogyny Films set in country houses Golan-Globus films 1970s English-language films 1970s American films 1970s British films