Low budget but spirited adaption of Edgar Allan Poe's short story, this came around the time that American International was doing their own Poe films, ableit in color and with a cast of veteran horror stars. Lawrence Payne is the handsome Edgar Marsh who lives through a real nightmare when he murders a romantic rival and places the dead man's corpse under his floor board. It isn't the smell of rotting flesh that keeps him awake at night but the sound of a loudly beating heart that seems to get closer with each beat. Is it guilt, insanity or real horror approaching? Or possibly all three?
Poe's story has been filmed dozens of times, but this version seems the most likely to be true. Various short versions only tell one side of the tale, with an MGM short indicating that the victim was the killer's boss. Even Vincent Price would get in on it by doing a dramatic reading that showed Price in the background bring the terrorized murderer losing his sanity, if he ever had it that is.
This version may be cheaply made, but there's a sense of romance in the more complete tale. Payne shows much vulnerability and Adrienne Cori makes a lovely heroine. In a sense, this is more a Gothic thriller with elements of horror, and at times, I think the heart is beating for color like the SIP and Hammer horrors which were breathtaking to look at. A sometimes inappropriate musical score reminds Mr of carousel music, but the period details are excellent. I have seen a musical about Poe's life Off Broadway which touched on his stories (in addition to his madness) but if it ever does make it to the musical stage, this would be a fabulous basis for it.
Poe's story has been filmed dozens of times, but this version seems the most likely to be true. Various short versions only tell one side of the tale, with an MGM short indicating that the victim was the killer's boss. Even Vincent Price would get in on it by doing a dramatic reading that showed Price in the background bring the terrorized murderer losing his sanity, if he ever had it that is.
This version may be cheaply made, but there's a sense of romance in the more complete tale. Payne shows much vulnerability and Adrienne Cori makes a lovely heroine. In a sense, this is more a Gothic thriller with elements of horror, and at times, I think the heart is beating for color like the SIP and Hammer horrors which were breathtaking to look at. A sometimes inappropriate musical score reminds Mr of carousel music, but the period details are excellent. I have seen a musical about Poe's life Off Broadway which touched on his stories (in addition to his madness) but if it ever does make it to the musical stage, this would be a fabulous basis for it.