The Blancheville Monster

The Blancheville Monster, released in the UK and Italy as Horror, is a 1963 horror film directed by Alberto de Martino. The film's script by Gianni Grimaldi and Bruno Corbucci is promoted as being based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe, but actually only borrows elements from the short stories "The Fall of the House of Usher", "A Tale of the Ragged Mountains" and "Some Words with a Mummy". Long after its release, director Alberto de Martino described his film as "a little film of no importance". Plot Emilie De Blancheville returns to her family's castle and finds things have drastically changed. Her brother Roderic is now in charge of the estate. The servants have all died and been replaced by new staff members who are cold and unfamiliar. Her father, Count Blancheville, has been horribly disfigured and lives secluded in one of the castle's isolated towers. The Count believes the Blanchevilles are under a family curse, which can only be lifted if Emilie dies before her 21st birthday, five days away. When the Count escapes from the tower, Emily realizes her life is in danger. Cast Gérard Tichy - Rodéric De Blancheville Leo Anchóriz - Doctor LaRouche Ombretta Colli (as Joan Hills) - Emilie De Blancheville Helga Liné - Miss Eleanore Irán Eory - Alice Taylor Vanni Materassi (as Richard Davis) - John Taylor Paco Morán (as Frank Moran) - Alistair Production Spanish sources for the production credit Natividad Zaro as a contributor to the script. As with many European co-productions of the era, this was done for tax reasons. Italian promotional material for the film promoted it as a product based on an Edgar Allan Poe story, but the film only borrows elements from "The Fall of the House of Usher", "A Tale of the Ragged Mountains" and "Some Words with a Mummy". The film's style is closer to that of a Roger Corman film rather than the Italian gothic horror films of era. Director Alberto de Martino felt he was more inspired by Alfred Hitchcock.