From Beyond The Grave (DVD)

...Production

From the imagination of horror author R. Chetwynd-Hayes (1919 - 2001) came FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE. A quartet of horror tales, 'The Gate Crasher', 'An Act Of Kindness', 'The Elemental' and 'The Door' which all originally appeared in his collection of short stories, 'The Unbidden'. The screenplay based on these works was written by Robin Clarke and Raymond Christodoulou. R. Chetwynd-Hayes was later responsible for the last ...
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In FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE, Peter Cushing stars as an elderly shop owner selling second hand goods and antiques. Customers who happen upon his little establishment down a dingy back-street get more than they bargain for from their transactions. Anyone who swindles or cheats the old shop keeper has strange and horrific experiences.

Stand out stories in this anthology are, for my money, those concerning a mirror bought ... more

A veritable Who's Who of British Film & Television turn up to act out a series of bizarre and haunting tales of retribution in a glorious horror anthology.

The Film

Customers who have either stolen or conned antiques and collectables out of the owner of an old shop, have spine chilling experiences as a result.

The Production

From the imagination of horror author R. Chetwynd-Hayes (1919 - 2001) came FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE. A quartet of horror tales, 'The Gate Crasher', 'An Act Of Kindness', 'The Elemental' and 'The Door' which all originally appeared in his collection of short stories, 'The Unbidden'. The screenplay based on these works was written by Robin Clarke and Raymond Christodoulou. R. Chetwynd-Hayes was later responsible for the last of the truely entertaining gothic horror anthologies, The Monster Club, which featured Donald Pleasance, who also turns up here.

In FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE, Peter Cushing stars as an elderly shop owner selling second hand goods and antiques. Customers who happen upon his little establishment down a dingy back-street get more than they bargain for from their transactions. Anyone who swindles or cheats the old shop keeper has strange and horrific experiences.

Stand out stories in this anthology are, for my money, those concerning a mirror bought from the shop by David Warner, and the man who appears behind the glass who begins to hold control over the purchaser. The other story being that about a young man (Ian Ogilvy) who buys a large old door with a face carved on it. When the door is fitted over a cupboard space in his new house, he and his wife discover one night that a room has appeared behind it. There are some superb shocks and twists in the stories. All are terribly atmospheric with 'The Door' and 'The Gate Crasher' the best of the bunch, with 'An Act Of Kindness' coming in close behind. Donald Pleasance giving a brilliant performance as usual with Angela Pleasance extremely creepy as the would-be bride for Donald's new friend.

The Amicus produced FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE is one of the best, and possibly my favourite, of the Horror Anthologies made during the 60's and 70's. Others include (in no particular order); Asylum, And Now The Screaming Starts, Tales From The Crypt, Vault Of Horror, The House That Dripped Blood, Dr. Terror's House Of Horrors and The Monster Club.

Made in Britain in 1973, it was produced by Max Rosenburg and Milton Subotsky (Dr. Terror's House Of Horror's, Dr Who and the Daleks, Daleks Invasion Earth 2150AD, Torture Garden, The House That Dripped Blood, Asylum, Madhouse, The Land That Time Forgot, At Earth's Core, The Monster Club, Cat's Eye and The Lawnmower Man), with John Dark as associate Producer.

Directed by Kevin Connor (The Land That Time Forgot, At Earth's Core, The People That Time Forgot and Arabian Adventure)

Cinematography by Alan Hume (The Legend Of Hell House, Carry On Girls, The Land That Time Forgot, For Your Eyes Only, Return Of The Jedi, Octopussy, Supergirl, A View To A Kill, Lifeforce, A Fish Called Wanda and Shirley Valentine)

Music directed, supervised and composed by Douglas Gamley (Tales From The Crypt, Asylum, Vault Of Horror, And Now The Screaming Starts, Madhouse, The Beast Must Die, The Land That Time Forgot, The Monster Club)

The Cast

The film's star and linking character is the inimitable Peter Cushing who had appeared in films as diverse as comedies and historical dramas before finding worldwide success in the horror films produced by Hammer. On British television he had appeared in Nigel Kneale's adaptation of George Orwell's 1984 in the 50's, and in later life leant his talents to such fantasy productions as Star Wars (Grand Moff Tarkin) and Biggles (Colonel Raymond).

Many of the British cast will, I suspect, look rather familiar. Included are the most well known films they've worked on. The actors and actresses are;

David Warner, more often than not a 'bad-guy' appeared in, amongst others; The Omen, Time After Time, S.O.S. Titanic, The Company Of Wolves, Time Bandits, Tron, Star Treks 5 & 6, In The Mouth Of Madness, Titanic, Scream 2 and the Tim Burton version of Planet of the Apes.

Donald Pleasance, always brought great character and charm to his roles, whatever their motivations. He starred in Dr. Crippen, The Great Escape, You Only Live Twice, Halloween, Escape From New York, The Uncanny, Death Line, THX 1138 & The Monster Club.

Angela Pleasance - Donald's real-life daughter here playing his screen daughter. She recently appeared in the Doctor Who episode The Shakespeare Code as Elizabeth I.

The Scots actor Ian Bannen appeared in many films, notably; Private's Progress (with Ian Carmichael), Braveheart & Waking Ned.

Ian Carmichael, the quintessential Englishman, starred in; I'm Alright Jack, School For Scoundrels and the remake of The Lady Vanishes. More recently brought much class to the Heart Beat spin-off series The Royal.

Diana Dors, in her youth something of a sex-symbol, a British Marilyn Monroe, turned up in Theatre of Blood, Steptoe & Son Ride Again and Adam & the Ants 'Prince Charming' pop video.

The seasoned actress, Margaret Leighton's part in FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE was to be her last film role.

The young, dashing Ian Ogilvy was The Saint in the television series, The Return of the Saint. He appeared in And Now The Screaming Starts, Death Becomes Her and starred in the Michael Reeves films The She-Beast, The Sorcerors with Boris Karloff and Witchfinder General alongside Vincent Price.

Nyree Dawn Porter, also appeared in And Now The Screaming Starts and on television starred in the BBC's The Forsythe Saga

Ben Howard had roles in The Land That Time Forgot, A Bridge Too Far, and on television in Doctor Who - The Green Death starring Jon Pertwee as The Doctor.

Lesley-Anne Down turned up in Countess Dracula, The Return of the Pink Panther and The Pink Panther Strikes Again.

Tommy Godfrey appeared in The Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes Smarter Brother starring Gene Wilder and The Great Muppet Caper.

Jack Watson can be seen in The Gorgon starring Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee and Patrick Troughton, This Sporting Life with Richard Harris and William Hartnell and the classic chiller, Peeping Tom.

FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE is well worth a look. If you enjoy colourful British Horror films then its right up your street, or maybe down a dingy back-alley like Peter Cushing's shop... Find a copy and pop it in your DVD player. Go on, treat yourselves... to a night of spine-tingling terror! 

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