- Released on October 01, 1979
The Fall of the House of Usher is a chilling and atmospheric movie that is sure to leave viewers on the edge of their seats. The film is based on the classic short story by Edgar Allan Poe and tells the story of a traveler and his wife who arrive at the Usher mansion, only to find that the siblings who inhabit the mansion, Roderick and Madeline Usher, are suffering from a mysterious and terrifying illness.
Played by the talented Martin Landau, Roderick Usher is a man whose senses have become painfully acute, making every sound and sensation a source of agony for him. His sister, Madeline Usher, portrayed by Charlene Tilton, has become nearly catatonic, unable to speak or move, and seems to be slowly wasting away. As the traveler and his wife attempt to make sense of the strange occurrences at the mansion, they are drawn deeper and deeper into the Usher family curse, which seems to dictate that any time there is more than one Usher child, all of the siblings will go insane and die horrible deaths.
As the days wear on, the effects of the curse reach their terrifying climax, with Roderick and Madeline's condition continuing to deteriorate. The atmosphere of the mansion grows increasingly oppressive, with strange noises and shadows lurking around every corner. The traveler and his wife are left to wonder if they will be able to escape the mansion alive, or if they too will fall victim to the dreaded Usher curse. With its excellent acting, stunning visuals, and gripping storyline, The Fall of the House of Usher is a must-watch for fans of horror and suspense.
Full Cast of The Fall of the House of Usher
Martin Landau
as Roderick Usher
Martin Landau delivered a performance of chilling intensity as Roderick Usher in the 1960 adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher," directed by Roger Corman. Landau's portrayal of the haunted and ailing aristocrat is a masterclass in gothic gravitas, capturing the character's descent into madness with a nuanced blend of feverish anxiety and aristocratic poise. His Roderick is a man consumed by the dark legacy of his family, suffering from an acute sensitivity to light, sound, and other sensory stimuli, which Landau conveys through a series of delicate, yet profound expressions and gestures. The actor's ability to oscillate between moments of fragile vulnerability and a more sinister, manipulative presence creates a palpable tension that permeates the film. Landau's performance is not merely a rendering of Poe's character onto the screen; it is an embodiment of the tale's oppressive atmosphere and its themes of decay, doom, and the inescapable weight of heritage. His interpretation of Roderick Usher stands as a testament to Landau's remarkable talent for transforming into the complex roles he undertook, leaving an indelible mark on the genre and solidifying his place among the greats of cinematic horror.
Charlene Tilton
as Jennifer Cresswell
In the 1979 television movie adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher," Charlene Tilton tackles the role of Jennifer Cresswell with a spirited vivacity that stands in stark contrast to the eerie and decaying world that surrounds her character. As Jennifer, Tilton brings a youthful exuberance and a sense of fragile innocence to the screen, embodying the last vestiges of vitality within the moribund Usher household. Despite the film's gothic undertones, Tilton's performance adds a layer of warmth and tenderness, particularly through her interactions with the protagonist, Roderick Usher, played by Robert Hays. Her portrayal of Jennifer's growing unease and eventual realization of the grim fate that awaits the Usher lineage is conveyed with subtle shifts in emotion and a palpable sense of dread that encapsulates the Poe-esque atmosphere. Tilton's ability to navigate the intricate emotional landscape of the character, oscillating between hope and despair, contributes significantly to the film's haunting ambiance, making her performance a memorable aspect of this cinematic interpretation of Poe's classic tale.
Ray Walston
as Thaddeus
Ray Walston's portrayal of Thaddeus in "The Fall of the House of Usher" is a memorable one, imbuing the character with a unique blend of eerie eccentricity and somber gravitas. As the loyal servant of the ill-fated Usher family, Walston's Thaddeus is the quintessential figure of gothic mystery, haunting the corridors of the crumbling mansion with a presence that is both unsettling and pitiful. His gaunt features and penetrating gaze convey a deep sense of sorrow and foreboding, as if he is intimately acquainted with the ancient curse that plagues the household. Walston's performance is a masterclass in restraint; he delivers his lines with a quiet intensity that hints at the weight of secrets and the burden of his steadfast service to the doomed Ushers. With every step and glance, he weaves an aura of dread around the character, making Thaddeus an integral part of the film's chilling atmosphere and its exploration of decay and madness.
Robert Hays
as Jonathan Cresswell
Robert Hays delivered a compelling performance as Jonathan Cresswell in the 1979 television movie adaptation of "The Fall of the House of Usher," directed by James L. Conway. Hays effectively captured the character's complexity, portraying Cresswell as a man torn between his loyalty to his old friend, Roderick Usher, and his growing unease with the mysterious and oppressive atmosphere of the Usher estate. His portrayal is one of controlled intensity, as he navigates the Gothic intrigue and the inexplicable forces that seem to weigh upon the house and its inhabitants. Hays' performance is nuanced, offering a grounded counterpoint to the escalating madness that surrounds him, and he successfully conveys the character's internal struggle and ultimate descent into the grim fate that awaits him in the doomed House of Usher. His interactions with the other characters, particularly Roderick, played by Martin Landau, are fraught with tension and subtext, contributing to the overall eerie and claustrophobic ambiance of the film.
Dimitra Arliss
as Madeline Usher
Dimitra Arliss delivered a hauntingly nuanced performance as Madeline Usher in the 1979 television movie adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher." Her portrayal of the ailing, melancholic sister of Roderick Usher (played by Martin Landau) captured the eerie essence of Poe's gothic tale. Arliss's Madeline was a figure of both pity and terror, embodying the decay and madness that pervaded the Usher family lineage. With a quiet intensity, she conveyed Madeline's oppressive despair and her complex relationship with her twin brother, which was tinged with incestuous undertones and a shared doom. Arliss's performance was marked by a delicate balance between fragility and strength; her Madeline was both a victim of her circumstances and a catalyst for the inevitable downfall of the Usher dynasty. Her scenes were underscored by a palpable sense of dread, as she glided through the grim corridors of the ancestral home, a living ghost haunting the foreboding architecture until the climactic conclusion. Dimitra Arliss's portrayal of Madeline Usher was an integral part of the film's success, leaving an indelible impression that chilled viewers to the core and stayed true to Poe's vision of gothic horror.
Peggy Stewart
as Barmaid
Peggy Stewart's portrayal of the Barmaid in the 1960 adaptation of "The Fall of the House of Usher," directed by Roger Corman, is a subtle yet pivotal performance that encapsulates the eerie atmosphere of the film. As the Barmaid, Stewart brings a grounded presence to the screen, offering a stark contrast to the ethereal and haunting aura that envelops the Usher family's estate. Her character serves as a brief respite from the film's gothic tension, providing a moment of warmth and normalcy as she interacts with the protagonist, Philip Winthrop, played by Mark Damon. Stewart's performance is marked by her ability to convey a sense of unease beneath her character's cordial exterior, hinting at the underlying dread that infects the town surrounding the Usher mansion. With limited screen time, she manages to infuse her role with a depth that underscores the film's themes of decay and madness, making her character's brief encounter with Winthrop a memorable moment in this classic horror tale. Her eyes, often filled with a silent understanding of the town's dark secret, contribute to the film's pervasive sense of doom, making her performance an integral part of the tapestry that is "The Fall of the House of Usher."
