Malpertuis [The Legend of Doom House] **** (1971, Orson Welles, Susan Hampshire, Michel Bouquet, Mathieu Carrière, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Daniel Pilon, Walter Rilla) – Classic Movie Review 10,227

Director Harry Kümel’s 1971 film Malpertuis [The Legend of Doom House] stars the great Orson Welles as occultist Cassavius, who keeps characters from Greek mythology prisoner in his labyrinthine mansion called Malpertuis, in this weird and wonderful-looking, splendidly arty Gothic horror film, filmed in Belgium in Flemish.

Along with Welles’s mesmerising performance and Susan Hampshire in five different roles (Euryale, Nancy, Alice, Charlotte and a nurse), Gerry Fisher’s startling Gevacolor cinematography, Pierre Cadiou’s extraordinary set designs and Georges Delerue’s score are major contributions to its stylishness.

Jean Ferry writes the screenplay and dialogue, loosely based on the novel by Jean Ray, dubbed the Belgian Edgar Allan Poe.

There are also English, Dutch, French and German versions.

It also stars Michel Bouquet, Mathieu Carrière, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Daniel Pilon, and Walter Rilla.

It was first shown in Belgium in 1971 at 125 minutes and then screened at the Cannes Film Festival on 10 May 1972 at 99 minutes but the Director’s Cut runs 119 minutes.

A body double stood in for Hampshire’s nude scenes as Alice and Euryale.

Also in the cast are Dora van der Groen, Charles Janssens, Sylvie Vartan as Bets, Jet Naessens, Cara Van Wersch and Johnny Hallyday (uncredited, as Sailor who kisses Bets).

Malpertuis [The Legend of Doom House] [Histoire d’une Maison Maudite] is directed by Harry Kümel, runs 125 minutes, is made by Artemis Film, Les Productions Artistes Associés, SOFLDOC and Société d’Expansion du Spectacle, is written by Jean Ferry, based on the novel by Jean Ray, is shot in Gevacolor by Gerry Fisher, is produced by Pierre Levie and Paul Laffargue, is scored by Georges Delerue, and designed by Pierre Cadiou.

French stage and film actor Michel Bouquet (6 November 1925 – 13 April 2022) appeared in more than 100 films from 1947 to 2020. He won the Best Actor European Film Award for Toto the Hero in 1991 and two Best Actor Césars for How I Killed My Father (2001) and The Last Mitterrand (2005).

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,227

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