Tales from the Crypt (1972)

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Directed by Freddie Francis and produced by Amicus Productions, Tales from the Crypt is a British horror anthology film released on March 8, 1972, based on stories from EC Comics—specifically Tales from the Crypt and The Vault of Horror. With a cast led by Ralph Richardson, Joan Collins, and Peter Cushing, the film delivers five chilling morality tales framed by a mysterious encounter in a crypt.

Framing Narrative
Five strangers touring a crypt are separated from their group and meet the enigmatic Crypt Keeper (Ralph Richardson). He reveals to each of them a vision of their fate—stories that explore guilt, revenge, and supernatural justice.

Segment Summaries

  1. “…And All Through the House”
    • A woman (Joan Collins) murders her husband on Christmas Eve, only to be stalked by a homicidal maniac dressed as Santa Claus.
  2. “Reflection of Death”
    • A man survives a car crash—or so he thinks—only to discover he’s living in a nightmare of his own making.
  3. “Poetic Justice”
    • A kind old man (Peter Cushing) is driven to suicide by cruel neighbors. He returns from the grave for poetic revenge.
  4. “Wish You Were Here”
    • A woman uses a mystical statue to make three wishes, with tragic and ironic consequences.
  5. “Blind Alleys”
  • Blind men in a home for the visually impaired take gruesome revenge on their sadistic director.

Cast Highlights

  • Ralph Richardson as the Crypt Keeper
  • Joan Collins as Joanne Clayton
  • Peter Cushing as Arthur Grimsdyke
  • Ian Hendry, Richard Greene, Barbara Murray, Nigel Patrick, and Patrick Magee in supporting roles

Production Notes

  • Screenplay by Milton Subotsky, co-founder of Amicus, who specialized in anthology horror.
  • Cinematography by Norman Warwick, with music by Douglas Gamley.
  • Budget: approximately £170,000; U.S. box office gross: over $3 million.
  • The film was followed by a spiritual sequel, The Vault of Horror (1973), also based on EC Comics.

Legacy
Tales from the Crypt is a cornerstone of British horror anthologies, known for its moralistic storytelling, atmospheric direction, and grisly twists. It helped popularize the format later echoed in the 1989 HBO series of the same name. For genre historians, it’s a must-see blend of comic book macabre and cinematic restraint.

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