The Fall of the House of Usher

I am going against the prevailing current of the previous reviewers. I gave this 1979 made-for-television version of, 'The Fall of the House of Usher' a 7 rating for its entertainment value. As opposed to the other disappointed viewers, I felt entertained and even spooked by the 'horror movie' introduction of the deranged Usher sister, Madeline, played effectively by Dimitri Arliss, who mysteriously had but a few acting credits. The creepy, insane, violent Usher sister not only looked scary, she was! I feel confident awarding the TV movie a 7 because of the skilled and sympathetic role of Martin Landau as Roderick Usher. Give credit to the actor for being able to elicit real sympathy from the viewer of the terrible condition the man suffers from and the hellish situation he must play out in his short, agonizing life. I felt more sympathy for seeing how good and decent Roderick Usher was in a long family line of immoral ancestors as he described in horrendous detail to his childhood friend, Jonathan Cresswell, during a tour of the gloomy, underground family catacombs. Other viewers were critical of Cresswell's wife character yet I didn't mind her addition as a minor supporting character which fleshed out the story line a little more. I also felt sympathy for the doomed, dedicated, life-time manservant, Thaddeus, played by Ray Walston of, 'My Favorite Martian' fame. Here's a man who loyally and unswerving serves the cursed Usher family. His service is no doubt appreciated by Roderick Usher, but who can give no reward for the man's lifetime service, other than to be the indirect cause of his violent death at the hands of the violently insane Madeline. Yes, the movie didn't have all that high of production values, but it was a made-for-TV production after all. It really only showed up with the fake, painted-on outside mansion wall crack. It didn't pass the visual test. It should have been painted blacker. I liked this movie version because it evoked some feeling and nostalgia in me. I did not see this television movie until late 1982 and it was odd that I did not know if it sooner. I know the production company only produced four of these made-for-television adaptions of classic books. I only saw one other, 'Sleepy Hollow', which was entertaining as well. I always believe, award movies the rating which you 'feel' it deserves, not what you think you are expected to award it by others.

The early '60s version of Edgar Allan Poe's story starring Vincent Price was intentionally campy, and came out quite cool. THEY DID NOT NEED TO MAKE THIS HALF-FORMED VERSION!!!!!!! It's not just the stilted acting that's the problem; I'd say that the biggest problem lies in the casting. Martin Landau as Roderick Usher wasn't a bad choice, but did they really think it wise to cast Robert Hays, after everyone remembered him from "Airplane!"?! Or Ray Walston, after everyone remembered him from "My Favorite Martian" (not to mention "Fast Times at Ridgemont High")?! As for Charlene Tilton, I best remember her as one of Jodie Foster's friends in "Freaky Friday".

So there you have it, folks. "The Fall of the House of Usher" looks like a Mel Brooks-style joke. Edgar Allan Poe must spin in his grave every time that someone watches this.

This telefilm version of the Edgar Allan Poe classic was originally telecast as one in a series of telefilms loosely based on the old "Illustrated Classics" comic books(HUCKLEBERRY FINN and THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS were two other adaptations). No, it isn't high art, but it is an admirable effort given the constraints of the medium. The plot and spooky atmosphere was enough to keep this(then)10-year old fixated. The whole effort reminds me of the Hammer horror films, just scaled down for television.

Martin Landau tries to be at least a good character actor, but he can't save this trainwreck. Bad sets, bad makeup, a bad script, bad acting, bad directing - even the dog was bad.

All attempts at shock and creepiness end up as unintentional camp. Robert Hays is laugh-out-loud bad and Charlene Tilton is just taking up space as his pretty but vapid bride.

The best scene is the tavern at the beginning, but it's over all too soon, unlike the movie, which has 96 minutes left on its odometer.