Pit and the Pendulum (The Pit and the Pendulum) (1961)

80% of critics liked it
(15 reviews)
70% of users liked it
(7,999 ratings)

American-International's standing "haunted castle" set is exhibited to peak advantage in Roger Corman's Pit & the Pendulum. Save for the climax, Richard Matheson's script bears but little resemblance to the Edgar Allen Poe original, though there are pronounced echoes throughout of Poe's The… More American-International's standing "haunted castle" set is exhibited to peak advantage in Roger Corman's Pit & the Pendulum. Save for the climax, Richard Matheson's script bears but little resemblance to the Edgar Allen Poe original, though there are pronounced echoes throughout of Poe's The Premature Burial. Vincent Price stars as Nicholas Medina, the son of a notorious Spanish Inquisition torturer. Nicholas' wife Elizabeth (Barbara Steele) has died under mysterious circumstances, prompting Elizabeth's brother Francis (John Kerr) to arrive at the Medina castle to investigate. The tormented Medina believes that Elizabeth was buried alive, and is convinced that he can hear his wife's voice calling out to him. In truth, Elizabeth has faked her death, part of a plan concocted with her lover Dr. Leon (Anthony Carbone) to drive Medina mad. She succeeds in this goal (albeit to her own grief, as the film's very last shot reveals), pushing Medina over the brink. Convinced that he's his own father, Medina dons Inquisition robes, straps Francis to a table, and arranges for a huge steel-bladed pendulum to slowly, slooooowwly descend on his helpless victim. You'd never know that Pit & The Pendulum was shot on the budget and schedule of a B western; the film is consistently good to look at, with eerily evocative color camerawork (Floyd Crosby) and sumptuous art direction. Stock footage of the climactic torture sequence would later find its way into the 1966 spy spoof Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine, which also starred Vincent Price. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: Roger Corman
Written By: Richard Matheson
Genres: Horror, Cult Movies

In Theaters: Aug 12, 1961 Wide
On DVD: Jun 5, 2001
Studio: American International Pictures (AIP)

Critic Reviews

Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy
The film ends up being very nearly as good [as House of Usher], and better in some respects.
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
The title calls out for lustrous Freudian hysteria, and Corman delivers
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
Vincent Price lording over a giant torture pendulum! Awesome.
Mark Bourne, DVDJournal.com
It reminds us that flat, colorless character actors look really flat and colorless when sharing a scene with Price.
Mark Bourne, DVDJournal.com
MGM's new DVD edition of The Pit and the Pendulum comes with an illuminating audio commentary by Roger Corman, whose extraordinary memory supplements any film school's how-to-direct syllabus.
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Corman estabelece uma boa atmosfera de tensão, sendo auxiliado na tarefa pela bela direção de arte e por um Vincent Price mais do que inspirado.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Typical Corman-Poe flick with a few unintended laughs thanks to Vinnie's campiness.
Gerry Shamray, Sun Newspapers of Cleveland
The best of the Roger Corman Poe films.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
Even Vincent Price has little to do

Read all 9 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

It was so great to get to see two of my favourite horror stars together for once: Price and Steele. This is one of my favourite of Corman's Poe series, and not just for that reason, the movie is really intense and exciting too. I really like it.
Carlos M

A very different adaptation of Poe's story; Corman is able to build a tense atmosphere with a firm direction, one great art direction and Price's magnetic performance.
Kylie B

Although it bares little relation to the original story of the same name, this is immensely entertaining - especially Vincent Price's acting.
Pierluigi P

Another enjoyable, economic and surprisingly well done 'expanded' version of an Edgar Allan Poe story, by the most noteworthy triad of his admirers in the silver screen; Roger Corman, Richard Matheson and Vincent Price. The disturbing beauty of Barbara Steele is also… More
Another enjoyable, economic and surprisingly well done 'expanded' version of an Edgar Allan Poe story, by the most noteworthy triad of his admirers in the silver screen; Roger Corman, Richard Matheson and Vincent Price. The disturbing beauty of Barbara Steele is also present in this atmospheric gothic tale.
Lafe F

A medieval horror classic. Great elaborate sets and costumes. The atmosphere was rich with Poe vibes. The story built up to a crescendo; you don't see the pendulum until one hour in. Vincent Price had some great over-the-top acting, as he became increasingly mad with each… More
A medieval horror classic. Great elaborate sets and costumes. The atmosphere was rich with Poe vibes. The story built up to a crescendo; you don't see the pendulum until one hour in. Vincent Price had some great over-the-top acting, as he became increasingly mad with each appearance of his dead wife. John Kerr was a bit boring as the lead hero. It was quite enjoyable with a few nice twists...
Michael G

A continuing testament as to why Vincent Price is The Man.
Matthew Y

Pit and the Pendulum is one of those old classical Horror stories where the entire thing is a slow burn of plot and tone leading up to a chilling climax. Edgar Allan Poe is infamous for these types of stories and Roger Corman is obviously a fan because he made 10 or so films based on… More
Pit and the Pendulum is one of those old classical Horror stories where the entire thing is a slow burn of plot and tone leading up to a chilling climax. Edgar Allan Poe is infamous for these types of stories and Roger Corman is obviously a fan because he made 10 or so films based on the poets stories. Pit and the Pendulum stands tall as the very best of the bunch with a grand performance from Vincent Price.
Barry L

I love Price. He was a genious.

Read all 8 featured audience ratings

Cast

Vincent Price
as Nicholas Medina
John Kerr (II)
as Francis Barnard
Barbara Steele
as Elisabeth Barnard Medina

Luana Anders
as Catherine Medina
Anthony Carbone
as Dr. Charles Leon
Patrick Westwood
as Maximillian the Butler

See full cast

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