It, starring Roddy McDowall was made in 1966 by Seven Arts Productions, a joint US and British release.
Filmed in England, McDowall plays Arthur Pimm, a sort of British Norman Bates. At home he speaks to his deceased decomposed mother propped up in a rocking chair complete with a wig and dress. At work, Pimm serves as a museum curator who discovers a secret scroll that brings to life a real Golem. Presented here as an ancient curse from Jewish folklore, the Golem is made out of mud and stone and is controlled by placing the tiny sacred scroll in its mouth. Of course McDowall uses the Golem for sadistic and devious purposes, and in a odd way to help him woo the heart of sexy costar, Jill Haworth. Herbert J. Leder wrote and directed the film, and like his cult classic, Fiend Without A Face, It! is often an intense creepy horror movie, yet at times it comes off cheesy and laughable. When I first saw the film as a child I thought it was absolutely frightening. But watching it 40 years later, it's script and special effects haven't aged very well, but it's still a lot of fun with a great looking monster and a fun and campy performance by it's star, Roddy McDowall. The film has never been released to home video, not even in England. With the recent release of a Hammer Horror Collection box-set, maybe in time some of the lesser known British gore films from the 60s and 70s will find the light of day on DVD.
Roddy McDowall Movies
1 comment:
I remember watching this on Saturday Night Dead, hosted by Stately Wayne Manor's nemesis, Stella. I think Turner has the rights to it, so it might pop up on TCM someday. Come to think of it, I believe I taped it off of TNT back when that network was Turner's outlet for classic movies.
JN
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