Carnival of Souls **** (1962, Candace Hilligoss, Frances Feist, Sidney Berger) – Classic Movie Review 7821

Director Herk Harvey’s 1962 well-respected, much admired low-budget ($30,000) cult favourite horror movie Carnival of Souls stars Candace Hilligoss as pretty church organist Mary Henry, who escapes from a car crash not quite alive, is drawn towards a mysterious abandoned carnival and is pursued by a phantom figure (played by the film’s director).

Surreal and disturbing, Carnival of Souls is well acted by its cast of unknowns and imaginatively directed with nightmarish black and white photography by Maurice Prather, though parts of the movie are tinted in the manner of some silent films.

Also in the cast are Frances Feist, Sidney Berger, Stan Levitt and Art Ellison.

There are three versions: the original runs 91 minutes, the director’s cut runs 84 minutes and the cut version runs 78 minutes.

Carnival of Souls is directed by Herk Harvey, runs 91 minutes, is made by Harcourt Productions, released by Herts-Lion International Corp (US), is written by John Clifford, is shot in black and white (some colour tinted) by Maurice Prather, is produced by Herk Harvey and is scored by Gene Moore.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7821

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