Happy 50th Birthday to House on Haunted Hill

The William Castle classic House on Haunted Hill turns 50-years-old today. The William Castle film holds a special place in my heart. It is the first horror film I can recall watching. I was 4-5 years old when I caught it as a Saturday afternoon Creature Feature on TV. Along with episodes of Kolchak: The Night Stalker and Scooby Doo it helped shape my early love for all thing horror.

The movie stars Vincent Price as Frederick Loren a millionaire who throws a creepy party for his wife. Frederick and his wife Annabelle are having marital difficulties of the murderous sort. The two invite a group of people, some of whom are strangers, to spend the night in a mansion that is reputedly haunted. Each guest will be given $10,000 if they last through the night. Seven people have died in gruesome murders throughout the house's history and their spirits are said to linger within its walls. Will one of the guests become the eighth ghost?

Ultimately, however the ghosts take a backseat to the real monsters of the tale, Frederick and Annabelle. If you've ever been to a party where the hosts aren't getting along with each other, you may identify with this film which takes that idea to the extreme. Jealousy and greed are far more dangerous than the supernatural in this tale.

Kyra and I will be popping some popcorn later and will sit down to watch House on Haunted Hill. She's seen it already and gets a kick out of it just like I did (and still do).