CASTLE SINISTER (1948) worst talkie ever made?

drednm · Post by **drednm** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 7:09 pm

Possibly.... possibly the worst film I've seen. Seemingly shot as a silent film, running about 50 minutes, and completely dubbed, it almost seems a lampoon of some sort except it's apparently done as a serious thriller. Anyone seen this one?

R Michael Pyle · Post by **R Michael Pyle** » Mon Sep 15, 2014 8:08 pm

Yes, I reviewed it about a year ago! It's absolutely dreadful beyond belief. First of all, it takes place in Scotland, but it was filmed in the middle of England! Why??? Secondly...well...I agree...It's about as bad a film as can be possibly imagined...let's just leave it at that...

Post by **Christopher Jacobs** » Tue Sep 16, 2014 1:21 am

R Michael Pyle wrote:Yes, I reviewed it about a year ago! It's absolutely dreadful beyond belief. First of all, it takes place in Scotland, but it was filmed in the middle of England! Why??? Secondly...well...I agree...It's about as bad a film as can be possibly imagined...let's just leave it at that...

Okay, now I really want to see it!

R Michael Pyle · Post by **R Michael Pyle** » Tue Sep 16, 2014 4:35 am

Truly, in this case you're being suckered... Don't do it...

drednm · Post by **drednm** » Tue Sep 16, 2014 5:23 am

This film actually got a UK DVD release on the same disk with Crow Hollow, which wasn't bad at all. I did a short search yesterday to see if this film has a Plan 9 type of rep in England but couldn't find anything on it or its Norma Desmond-ish star Mara Russell-Tavernan.

earlytalkiebuffRob · Post by **earlytalkiebuffRob** » Fri Sep 19, 2014 3:22 pm

drednm wrote:This film actually got a UK DVD release on the same disk with Crow Hollow, which wasn't bad at all. I did a short search yesterday to see if this film has a Plan 9 type of rep in England but couldn't find anything on it or its Norma Desmond-ish star Mara Russell-Tavernan.

Definitely one to check out. Originally mistook this for CASTLE OF DOOM, the recut of Dreyer's VAMPYR, but looks a new one on me. And yes, many of us on Nitrateville like to find out for ourselves, as we have possibly seen worse, but definitely longer challenges to our patience. Just found a 1933 Jack Hulbert FALLING FOR YOU (1933) on freeclassicmovies.com and was told by a customer who bought my VHS that it was dreadful.One to watch! Too many times in the past I've passed up on films I've been warned against only to regret it. At least with CASTLE SINISTER one can't grouse at being let down, unless it's in the sense of liking it...

drednm · Post by **drednm** » Fri Sep 19, 2014 7:42 pm

Well I never let negative comments and reviews stop me from watching a film, but this one is TRULY dreadful. Sometimes that can be funny as in a "Mystery Theatre" sort of way. Aside from a couple of nicely lit B&W shots (pure accident is my guess) this is one total rubbish.

R Michael Pyle · Post by **R Michael Pyle** » Sat Sep 20, 2014 8:10 am

I watched this one back in February of this year: here was my review of it then for this board:

I watched a genuinely botched British thriller/horror show, a little 49 minute jobbie called "Castle Sinister" (1948). This is on a British release of a double billed "spooky British thrillers" DVD with "Crow Hollow", the latter of which I've not watched yet. "Castle Sinister" begins extremely well, beautiful locations, beautiful camera work, wonderfully engaging plot with a phantom and a murder. But when the talking begins - oh, brother. I found at least three pieces of continuity in plot that are a mess, including the father of one of the main characters!! By the end of the film, I was confused about several things! Nevertheless, there are some good points, too. Still, even at a mere 49 minutes, I'll never have the inclination to watch this mess again. Nazis, bad blood, inheritance problems, phantoms (in the end, badly done!!!), and lots of other stuff thrown in just for good (read "bad") measure...

Oh, I almost forgot: stars Mara Russell-Tavernan, Robert Essex, James Liggat, Karl Meir, Alastair Hunter, John Gauntley, Maureen O'Moor, Myra Ceilan, and Humphrey Stamford. I know, "WHO??????????????????????????????????"

Oh, and this was filmed in Hertfordshire and on the Isle of Thanet, off of Kentshire, both in England. The story takes place in the wilds of Scotland. Budget evidently prevented them from taking the bus ride up to the North and filming on location. Oh, well, Thanet was very beautiful in the film. About the only thing besides the blousy Russell-Tavernan that is...

drednm · Post by **drednm** » Sat Sep 20, 2014 1:57 pm

Glad I'm not alone.....

LouieD · Post by **LouieD** » Sat Sep 20, 2014 3:09 pm

"The Horror" (1932) may be the worst one I've ever seen.

Henry Nicolella · Post by **Henry Nicolella** » Sun Sep 21, 2014 12:11 pm

At least "The Horror" had a good man into monster transformation. "Castle Sinister" is good for the occasional laugh but is mostly just boring.
Henry Nicolella

CASTLE SINISTER (1948) worst talkie ever made?

CASTLE SINISTER (1948) worst talkie ever made?

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