Movies:
The Skull
- Rating:
- Genre: Horror
- Movie Type: Psychological Thriller, Supernatural Horror
- Themes: Mind Games, Obsessive Quests
- Director: Freddie Francis
- Main Cast: Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Jill Bennett, Patrick Wymark
- Release Year: 1965
- Country: US/UK
- Run Time: 83 minutes
Plot
Adapted from the Robert Bloch short story "The Skull of the Marquis de Sade," this inventive gothic chiller from Amicus stars Peter Cushing as Professor Maitland, a collector obsessed with obtaining artifacts reputed to have occult powers -- including the title object, believed to be from the crypt of the notorious French nobleman. Shortly after the Professor brings home his latest find, the skull begins making nightly rounds (the gliding camera peers through the eye sockets for the nifty "skull-cam" point-of-view shots) before eventally dominating Maitland's will. Despite the potentially cheesy premise (which sounds better suited to a William Castle project), the film is remarkably subtle and spooky thanks to the deft hand of director Freddie Francis and an excellent performance from Cushing. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie GuideCast
- Peter Cushing - Prof. Christopher Maitland
- Christopher Lee - Sir Matthew Phillips
- Jill Bennett - Jane Maitland
- Patrick Wymark - Marco
George Coulouris - Dr. Londe
Maurice Good - Man in Cloak
Michael Gough - Auctioneer
Patrick Magee - Police Surgeon
April Olrich - French Girl
Anna Palk - Maid
Peter Woodthorpe - Travers
Nigel Green - Inspector Wilson
Frank Forsyth - Judge
Geoffrey Cheshire - Guard
George Hilsdon - Policeman
