Rating: 
Summary: Roger Corman Classic
Review: Following 1960's smash hit "Fall of the House of Usher", American International Pictures signed director Roger Corman to a larger budget for another Edgar Allan Poe opus; starring, once again, the great Vincent Price. The result was a classic, psychedelic thriller that became the prototype for a hundred horror movies to come. Released in 1961 "The Pit and the Pendulum" stars Price as Nicholas Medina, the 16th century son of a notorious Spanish Inquisition torturer. His descent into madness is played out against multi-colored flashbacks and lush gothic castle settings. Co-starring is the exotic English actress Barbara Steele, fresh from her Italian triumph, "Black Sunday". "The Pit" improves on "House of Usher" in nearly every respect. Daniel Haller's production design and Oscar-winner Floyd Crosby's color cinematography make the film look and feel lavish. Outdoor scenes were shot off Palos Verdes, Cal., and indoor sound-stage filming was completed in 15 days. This new MGM DVD is Letterbox Widescreen at 2.35:1 aspect, with a brisk commentary by Director Corman. You get a trailer, and a special epilogue never shown in theaters before. At 90 minutes, "The Pit and the Pendulum" is every horror movie fan's dream: Corman, Poe, and Price, at the height of their monstrous careers. Boo!
Rating:
Summary: The Pit and the Pendulum
Review: For all Vincent Price fans or horror fans. No one does Poe like Price. Good cast and plot. Also would recommend Fall of the House of Usher. Also starring Price in a Poe tale. Good scary movie/old time style. Enjoy Lisa C.
Rating: 
Summary: Keep It Up MGM
Review: I just about fell over backwards when I bought my copy of this DVD. As part of the special features, it includes an audio commentary by Roger Corman! MGM Midnight Movies keep coming out, and my collection keeps growing. When I think of Vincent Price and Roger Corman, this gem is the movie that comes to mind. It is the perfect late-night horror film. If you've seen this movie on VHS, you know what I mean, but you're not getting the whole thing until you get this widescreen DVD. The quality of the film it perfect. I saw no noticable wear of picture quality. The sound it fantastic. Vincent Price's perfomance as the tortured and soon demented son of a mad Spanish Inquisitioner is perfectly played out. The lonely castle setting is pure gothic. The interiors of castle give the feeling of wondering in a huge and rambling castle. Barbara Steele is pefectly wicked and sexy. The love story between the hero and heroine never really developes, but who cares! We want to see Vincent go mad and take his revenge. After I watched the film, I watched it again with the audio commentary turned on. It was fun hearing Roger Corman explain some of his movie tricks for giving depth and beauty to one of his low-budget masterpieces. Normally, the MGM Midnight Movie films only include scene access and the theatrical preview as the extras, so this was a fantastic extra for no extra cost! Keep 'em coming MGM. You put them in the store, I'll put them in my collection!
Rating:
Summary: Great Horror Film
Review: I saw this film at the drive-in "back in the day" and it scared me so bad it was one of the most harrowing events of my young life. Watching it last night as a more sophisticated, worldy adult it did not scare me; however, I did enjoy it very much. Vincent Price give an over the top performance as a madman who gleefully tortures his victems. The torture chamber and castle have an errie beauty, and the story builds to a really suspenseful climax. The widescreen presentation is clear and the colors a vidid; the sound quality is excellent; and the price is right. This is one in a series by Midnight Marquee which are releasing lots of great movies that horror buffs of my generation enjoyed. Thanks to whoever is responsible for doing such a great job with this and other DVD's in this series.
Rating: 
Summary: Nowhere near as good as the video version
Review: If you're thinking of buying this widescreen DVD to replace your pan and scan video version, take my advice. Don't bother. The sound is very low and of poor quality; the image, though clear, is very dim and the colors are pale. While in the video version, the colors are rich; the image is bright and the sound level is high and of excellent quality. In fact, the only reason for buying this DVD is to see the original trailer and the movie in their original CinemaScope format. The disc has commentary by the director, Roger Corman, the sound level of which is twice the level of that on the film and without distortion. However, film afficianados shouldn't take his reminiscences too literally. For instance, he says what a marvellous score Ronald Stein wrote for this movie, when he of all people should know that it was Les Baxter who wrote the score for The Pit and The Pendulum, not Ronald Stein.
Rating:
Summary: POE..CORMAN...PRICE...at their best
Review: it's been a long time since i've seen this movie...great job was done on the video..the colors and brightness are excellant..audio is only mono but passable. roger gives good insight on making of movie and working with the actors and crew...but this movie still haunts me to this day..it is so good in it's pacing and the way corman uses camera and pauses..he know when to use shock effect and when not..if you love the poe classics you'll love this movie..now if only i could find out what happened to the premature burial with ray milland..one of my other favorite poe, corman classics...
Rating:
Summary: John Kerr plays gay again
Review: John Kerr plays Francis Barnard, a 16th century English nobleman who comes to a brooding castle in Spain to investigate the death of his sister. He finds a soap opera-full of secrets, lust, and madness, but, on the bright side, enough hunky men with lingering gazes to populate a new Fire Island, including Anthony Carbone as the best friend and Patrick Westwood as the manservant. Vincent Price chews up the scenery and eventually straps poor Frances to the pit/pendulum, and of course there is an obligatory shocker-conclusion. I just wish we had a coda where the lives of the survivors were revisited ten years later; I'd like to know who Francis is lying on the beach at Majorca with.
Rating:
Summary: Let's Drive Vincent Crazy!
Review: Nicholas Medina (Vincent Price) lives in a huge castle, where he torments himself daily with fear and guilt over the death of his wife Elizabeth (Barbara Steele). Things get worse when Elizabeth's brother (John Kerr) arrives, demanding an explanation about his sister's demise. He is met by Catherine Medina, Nick's sister, and told of the circumstances surrounding Elizabeth's death, as well as some rather unsettling family history. It seems that the Medina patriarch was a notorious inquisitor, a master in the art of torture and pain. As a small boy, Nicholas had watched as his father tortured and killed his mother and uncle for adultery. As if that were't enough, now Nicholas is increasingly convinced that his wife's ghost has returned to haunt him for burying her alive! The family doctor (Anthony Carbone) assures Nicholas that all is well, but cannot stop his speedy trip to crazytown! The actual pit and pendulum are awesome instruments of maniacal murder! Saved for last, they have excellent shock value! Roger Corman had hit his stride with this movie, assuring it's place in horror history. Price is excellent as the mentally deteriorating victim of an evil conspiracy, who turns things around in the end. A definite creeper-keeper...
Rating:
Summary: Classic Price & classic gothic
Review: Not one of my top 10, but worthy to be in my collection. It's very much all about mood and atomosphere. Just be sure to brace yourselves for the big wave that always mysteriously shows up at each chapter's end. It's a persistent one.
Rating:
Summary: A VINCENT PRICELESS
Review: One of the best Roger Corman/Poe adaptions.Staring Vincent Price as a noblemen
In tale of madness and a family's dark secret set in 16th century Spain. The film looks
Great considering its age. Including a prologue not seen since the films initial release.
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