- Director: Joe May
- Writers: Lester Cole, Harold Greene
- Stars: George Sanders, Margaret Lindsay, Vincent Price
- Run Time: 1 Hour, 29 Minutes
- Link:https://amzn.to/34SupJf
Synopsis
Colonel Jaffrey Pyncheon accused an innocent man, Matthew Maule, of witchcraft. The man was hanged, but with his dying breath cursed Pyncheon. and then built his house on the dead man’s land. He was later found dead on the final day of construction. We move ahead in time one hundred and sixty years later, in 1828.
It is a dark and stormy night. The sign by the well states “This well is foul. Do not drink!” Cousin Jaffrey comes in and Hepzibah lets him in out of the rain. Why was he called home? They hear cousin Clifford upstairs singing badly. Clifford has sold a composition, and he now considers himself a success. Hepzibah warns Clifford to be respectful in their meeting with their father.
Jaffrey’s father Gerald is selling the Seven Gables tomorrow. The family investments have all failed badly. They’re going to lose the house one way or another. Clifford doesn’t care a bit about tradition or family honor, and Jaffrey cares only about those things. Jaffrey doesn’t deal with the new very well.
Gerald suggests that Hepzibah use her romantic influence to change Clifford’s mind. Instead, she tells Clifford about it and agrees to go off with Clifford on once the old house is sold. That night, Jaffrey goes up to the attic to sort through some old papers. Clifford comes up and jokes about the lost deed to most of New England, given by the King. It’s worth uncountable millions. Clifford says there’s no secret rooms.
The next morning, Gerald disowns Clifford, but then collapses during the argument. Jaffrey immediately accuses Clifford of murder. Clifford immediately sees what Jaffrey is up to, and they fight. There’s a fast trial, and Clifford is easily convicted. His lawyers that the quick conviction is nothing more than a “modern witch hunt.” Clifford is sentenced to life imprisonment. Clifford curses Jaffrey right there in the courtroom, and Jaffrey is obviously disturbed.
Jaffrey hires workers to tear up the floor and walls, looking for the treasure. They read Gerald’s will, and he left everything to Hepzibah. She immediately throws Jaffrey out. She then closes all the shutters and locks herself inside. Nineteen years pass. The house needs a lot of work, but Hepzibah is still trying to get a pardon from the governor for Clifford.
Clifford ends up getting a cellmate, whose name is Matthew Maule, a descendant of the original curse creator. A distant relative, a young girl, Phoebe, will be coming to Seven Gables to live. Hepzibah is considering opening a store for some income, and her boarder, Mr. Holgrave, supports her completely. Holgrave is an abolitionist, a risky venture at the time. Holgrave is sweet on Phoebe.
Finally, the governor commutes Clifford’s sentence, and he will soon be released. He comes home to find all his clothes are moth-eaten. They still love each other, and just maybe things are going to work out for them… except Clifford has thoughts of revenge.
There’s rumors all over town that Clifford has learned about the treasure and is now looking for it. The rumors are started when Holgrave talks to the newspaper man. Jaffrey calls for Holgrave to come see him, and it’s clear that the townspeople hate Jaffrey. He wants confirmation about the newspaper story. It’s obvious to us that this is some kind of trick cooked up between Holgrave and Clifford. Jaffrey wants Clifford locked up in the asylum. Hepzibah tells Holgrave to leave the house, which doesn’t make Phoebe happy. Hepzibah finds letters to Matthew Maule, who is really Holgrave. Clifford finally explains his plan to Hepzibah.
The deacon, on behalf of the abolitionists, want the money they invested with Jaffrey returned, but he can’t do it. The abolitionist money went to finance a slave ship. The abolitionists come after the Deacon, and the Deacon chases down the Deacon while Jaffrey is having it out with Clifford. A shot rings out, and the Deacon is dead. Hepzibah accuses him: “Murderer” as the abolitionists rush in. Jaffrey screams in fear and dies from the same condition that killed Gerald many years ago.
Clifford and Hepzibah get married. No one mentions the treasure again.
Commentary
Vincent Price is actually young (29) here, and he sings a song, which I don’t think I’ve ever seen him do elsewhere. The acting all around is a little exaggerated and feels more like a production of a stage play.
Hepzibah acts like a scary old lady, but she doesn’t really look any older, which makes her seem a little melodramatic and emo. It’s been twenty years, but she acts like it’s been fifty. Overall, it’s not terribly much horror related, but there is an old house, hidden treasure, murder, plots, and revenge.