The Fall of the House of Usher

The Fall of the House of Usher is a 1928 French horror film directed by Jean Epstein, one of several films based on the 1839 Gothic short story The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe. Plot Roderick Usher summons his friend to his crumbling old mansion in the remote countryside. Usher has been obsessed with painting a portrait of his dying wife Madeline. When she passes away, Usher has her buried in the family crypt, but the audience soon discovers that Madeline wasn't really dead, that she was buried alive in the tomb. Madeline revives from her catalepsy, exits her coffin and returns to her shocked husband. Cast Jean Debucourt as Roderick Usher Marguerite Gance as Madeline Usher Abel Gance Charles Lamy as the guest invited to the mansion Fournez-Goffard Luc Dartagnan Production The Fall in the House of Usher was written by Luis Buñuel and Jean Epstein. The film was Buñuel's second film credit, he having previously worked as an assistant director on Epstein's film Mauprat. Following an argument with Epstein about his interpretation of the material, Buñuel left the production. Among the changes in the story from the original material was the relationship between Roderick and his sister which was changed to man and wife in the film. Film critic and historian Troy Howarth stated it was unclear how much if anything of Buñuel's writing was included in the finished film.