Charles Dexter Ward (Vincent Price) arrives at the small village of Arkham in New England to visit the manor house he inherited from his great grandfather who died there 110 years ago. It turns out his ancestor – Joseph Curwen – was a warlock who placed a curse on the villagers and their descendants just before they burnt him at the stake for crimes of witchcraft.
Subsequent generations of villagers are plagued by the birth of disfigured mutants into their families.
When Charles arrives in the village with his beautiful wife Ann (Debra Paget) to claim his inheritance, the villagers are immediately distrustful of him (it doesn’t help that he bears an uncanny resemblance to his great grandfather).
Charles and Ann are encouraged to stick around by the manor house caretaker Simon (Lon Chaney Jr), though it becomes increasingly apparent that Simon has an ulterior motive for wanting them to stay as Charles is gradually possessed by the spirit of Joseph Curwen who has waited for a century to wreak vengeance on the villagers who killed him.
Swirling fog, creaking doors, cobwebbed corridors and disorientating shadows all add to the Gothic mood and overall atmosphere of foreboding and dread, while Corman’s ability to complete the film on a shoestring budget with a 15-day shooting schedule is a testament to his directorial and cinematographic skill.
Charles Dexter Ward/Joseph Curwen
Vincent Price Ann Ward
Debra Paget Simon Orne
Lon Chaney Jr. Dr Marinus Willet/Priam Willet
Frank Maxwell Edgar Weeden/Ezra Weeden
Leo Gordon Peter Smith/Micah Smith
Elisha Cook Benjamin West/Jacob West
John Dierkes Jabez Hutchinson
Milton Parsons Hester Tillinghast
Cathie Merchant Gideon Leach/Mr Leach
Guy Wilkerson Carmody the Coachman
I. Stanford Jolley Minister
Harry Ellerbe Mrs Weeden
Barboura Morris Miss Fitch
Darlene Lucht Bruno the Bartender
Bruno VeSota
Director
Roger Corman
Video
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When Charles arrives in the village with his beautiful wife Ann (Debra Paget) to claim his inheritance, the villagers are immediately distrustful of him (it doesn’t help that he bears an uncanny resemblance to his great grandfather).
