Original Italian Title: IL CASTELLO DEL MORTI VIVI

director: Luciano Ricci (as Herbert Wise) and Warren Keifer and Michael Reeves
starring: Christopher Lee · Gaia Germani · Philippe Leroy · Donald Sutherland · Renato Terra

         

This one is set in Central Europe, just after the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo (putting it around 1815 . A troupe of Gypsy entertainers, known for perfecting a 'hanged man' act, are offered a hefty sum of three pieces of gold bullion to perform at Count Dargo's Castle. The troupe gladly accepts the invitation but their are unaware that the Count in more interested in their bodies than their talent.

While the film is an entertaining example to Italian horror fare from the '60s, there are other significant reasons it should be seen by cult movie fans. First, the participation of Michael Reeves as assistant director (seemingly, based on his debut work here, Reeves would later helm the Italian-made Barbara Steele film SHE BEAST and the notorious WITCHFINDER GENERAL). It is unknown how much of this project truly contains his work. The pedigree of this film is highly suspect. It is credited to Herbert Wise, a pseudonym for Luciano Ricci, who actually helmed only a few movies. He usually adopted a 'community approach' to the job, allowing his assistant directors much freedom on the set. For example, his preceding project ALONE AGAINST ROME is generally regarded as a Riccardo Freda film although 'Herbert Wise' signed it. The producer of CASTLE OF THE LIVING DEAD is Paul Maslansky, an American writer/filmmaker who was in Rome working. He had contracted Christopher Lee to star in this film which he wrote with a British friend Warren Keifer. Serena Studios agreed that Keifer would also be the director, but they insisted it be a joint venture [in Europe the credits read 'directed by Herbert Wise' while in America it was 'directed by Warren Keifer'].

As it turned out, Warren Keifer wanted to use a British acquaintance Michael Reeves as his assistant, so he and producer Maslansky flew to England to recruit him. While in London, they also went searching for some supporting actors, finding (and being impressed by) a doorman at a popular nightclub. That was Donald Sutherland, a Canadian DJ who had come to England a few months earlier looking for work. Both Sutherland and Reeves joined the two men back to Italy and became part of the production. Donald Sutherland was so grateful for the opportunity that he named his son [born a year later] Keifer, after the director. In this film, Donald Sutherland plays three parts: an old man, a boisterous Sgt. Paul [above photo, left] and (in drag) an old witch [above photo right].

     

An Italian film in English language; widescreen format, uncut (82 minutes),
DVD encoded for ALL REGION NTSC WORLD FORMAT; extras include original trailer.