House of Usher (The Fall of the House of Usher) (1960)

86% of critics liked it
(22 reviews)
70% of users liked it
(7,952 ratings)

The first of Roger Corman's Edgar Allan Poe films, Fall of the House of Usher was originally released as simply House of Usher. Vincent Price stars as the foredoomed Roderick Usher. Living in his decaying family mansion with his young sister Madeline (Myrna Fahey), Roderick does his best to shoo… More The first of Roger Corman's Edgar Allan Poe films, Fall of the House of Usher was originally released as simply House of Usher. Vincent Price stars as the foredoomed Roderick Usher. Living in his decaying family mansion with his young sister Madeline (Myrna Fahey), Roderick does his best to shoo away Madeline's fiance Philip Winthrop (Mark Damon). He tells the young swain that Madeline suffers from the family curse of encroaching madness, and thus cannot be permitted to bear children. After a series of suspicious, near-fatal accidents, Phillip insists that Madeline be allowed to leave with him at once. But Roderick sadly announces that this is impossible: Madeline has died, and is slated to be entombed. Informed by the family butler that Madeline has previously been prone to near-catatonic spells, Phillip angrily insists that the girl may very well have been buried alive. The climactic conflagration would be recycled as stock footage in future Corman/Poe efforts, as would the set representing the Usher home. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 25 min.
Directed By: Roger Corman
Written By: Richard Matheson
Genres: Horror, Classics, Cult Movies

In Theaters: May 22, 1960 Limited
On DVD: Jun 5, 2001
Studio: MGM Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Corman's filmmaking runs on unchanneled energy and apocalyptic emotions; his is an art without craft.
Eugene Archer, New York Times
Under the low-budget circumstances, Vincent Price and Myrna Fahey should not be blamed for portraying the decadent Ushers with arch affectation, nor Mark Damon held to account.
Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy
Weird and a touch silly, but despite being a B-picture made by a B-studio, neither Roger Corman nor Richard Matheson treat the film as a disposable drive-in time-waster.
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
A classical vessel for Roger Corman's modernist anxiety
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
A superlative Corman/AIP effort and a great beginning to a varying but always interesting series of horror films.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
When Corman pitched the project to his superiors at American International Pictures, they asked, 'where's the monster?' Corman quickly replied, 'the house is the monster.'
Mark Bourne, DVDJournal.com
Certainly some elements are dated now, and Price's fellow actors can't hold a candle to him, but Usher still holds up as an example of stately suspense that doesn't resort to gore, monsters, or overuse of shock effects.
Mark Bourne, DVDJournal.com
The real star of MGM's new DVD edition of The Fall of the House of Usher is Roger Corman, whose engaging commentary track is an 80-minute crash course on getting things right the first time.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
The sickly decadence and claustrophobia of the Usher household is admirably evoked by Floyd Crosby's 'Scope photography and Daniel Haller's art direction.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It's one of the better Poe versions made by Corman, if not his best.
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
A primeira das oito parcerias entre Corman e Price funciona maravilhosamente bem até os quinze minutos finais, quando passa a depender de Fahey para assustar.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Corman's bid for respectability nearly works.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
The Poe-inspired source material occasionally rises above the Corman-fueled production.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Quite possibly the finest combination of Corman, Price and Poe.

Read all 14 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Luke B

Roger Corman comes up with a rather respectable film. Sure, he has some great material to work from, but between his Little Shop of Horror and Sharktopus, this certainly sticks out. He's lucky enough to get Vincent Price involved. A man that was born for horror, though he… More
Roger Corman comes up with a rather respectable film. Sure, he has some great material to work from, but between his Little Shop of Horror and Sharktopus, this certainly sticks out. He's lucky enough to get Vincent Price involved. A man that was born for horror, though he isn't confined by it. There is genuine chemistry between him and his sister, which makes the ending, not only shocking, but tragic too. As the house crumbles away the tension mounts. Is the house alive? Or is the psychological pressure all a bit much. The art direction is also well constructed. The gothic wood scenes are creepy and the house itself does seem to be a living organism.
AJ V

I love how Corman was able to make Poe's stories into films so brilliantly, and all of them starring Price too! I didn't particularly like how Price had blond hair in this movie, he looks better with dark hair, but his performance is still great, and the other actors are… More
I love how Corman was able to make Poe's stories into films so brilliantly, and all of them starring Price too! I didn't particularly like how Price had blond hair in this movie, he looks better with dark hair, but his performance is still great, and the other actors are good. I love the tale of madness, and I highly recommend Corman's Poe series.
Tim S

It may not be the best Poe tale, but this is a pretty charming maniac story...with so much campy Corman goodness. :)
_kelly .

This is a vastly underseen film, and in my opinion, this film is a Gothic horror classic, and I think this should be on a few more film/media/literature professors' syllabuses. This may be Corman's best work with Price.
Cindy I

Vintage hammy Vincent Price, but spooky enough to make you look behind you while you're watching.
Lafe F

Good Poe adaptation. It is seething with gloominess and degeneration. The movie is not really scary, but it's quite atmospheric and well acted. Thoughtful set design make the house a convincing menace of its own. Vincent Price is quite effective as the disturbed Mr. Usher. Gothic… More
Good Poe adaptation. It is seething with gloominess and degeneration. The movie is not really scary, but it's quite atmospheric and well acted. Thoughtful set design make the house a convincing menace of its own. Vincent Price is quite effective as the disturbed Mr. Usher. Gothic and thick with dark mood. I liked the visit.
Pierluigi P

Pretty good take on Poe's short story by writer Richard Matheson and director Roger Corman, with his eerie and cheap atmosphere. Vincent Price, without his mustache, proves why he is the ultimate horror legend.
Michael G

This movie is incredible and has it all. Corman and Price were the Burton and Depp of their day.
Danny R

A highly acclaimed adaptation of Edgar Allen Poe's chilling classic tale of bloodlines and madness, excellently-crafted and stylishly directed by Roger Corman. When a young suitor named Philip Winthrop, superbly played by Mark Damon comes to the eerie family house of his lovely… More
A highly acclaimed adaptation of Edgar Allen Poe's chilling classic tale of bloodlines and madness, excellently-crafted and stylishly directed by Roger Corman. When a young suitor named Philip Winthrop, superbly played by Mark Damon comes to the eerie family house of his lovely bride to be, Madeline Usher beautifully played by Myma Fahey, immediately he senses that something is wrong, he is confronted by Madeline's bizarre, somewhat sinister older-brother Roderick, played by horror legend Vincent Price who delivers a tour-de-force performance and is absolutely peerless in the role. Roderick is totally convinced that the Usher blood is tainted with pure evil and will stop at nothing to keep Madeline from leaving the house and continuing the lineage. The film faithfully captures the spirit and diabolical atmosphere of Poe's original story, screenplay by Richard Matheson and exquisitely photographed in color and CinemaScope by Floyd Crosby. A total triumph of gothic horror. Highly Recommended.
Adam M

Creepy horror based on Poe's classsic tale. A young man visits the house of the Usher family to see his wife to be but gets told she cant leave with him and go back to America because she is going to die very soon. The young man witnesses strange goings on in the house as he… More
Creepy horror based on Poe's classsic tale. A young man visits the house of the Usher family to see his wife to be but gets told she cant leave with him and go back to America because she is going to die very soon. The young man witnesses strange goings on in the house as he finds out that the current owner of the house is a bit mental to. A creepy story, great script and another great performance from Vincent Price.
Eduardo C

One of Corman's best films, one of the few AIP productions whose quality actually managed to rival that of Hammer and one of Vincent Price's best performances. All in all a very somber and wonderfully restrained adaptation of Edgar Alan Poe's most celebrated work.
Marion R

eh, a typical horror film.
Tobias X

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hawk l

Classic, richly photographed, featuring one of Vincent Price's finest performances, well-crafted screenplay, a visual masterpiece of dread and doom, executed in grand style and satisfying conclusion.
Barry L

Price is and will always be a legend.

Read all 15 featured audience ratings

Cast

Vincent Price
as Roderick Usher
Mark Damon
as Philip Winthrop
Myrna Fahey
as Madeline Usher

Harry Ellerbe
as Bristol
Bill Borzage
as Ghost
Mike Jordan

See full cast

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