Review of “The Skull” (1965)

We’ve kept up our pizza and bad movie nights, but I’ve slacked off on reviewing the various gems. But by special request, I’ll add at least one more.

Remember—you asked! 😊

Plot:

In an early 19th-century graveyard, cloaked men carrying lanterns and shovels make their way toward a specific grave. At certain points, the trees sway in the wind. At others, a wrought iron gate slams in the wind, and the trees stand still. The men put shovel to earth.

While they’re working, the credits roll across the screen, telling the viewer that the movie is based on the short story “The Skull of the Marquis de Sade” by Robert Bloch (who also wrote Psycho). Well, guess who they’re looking for.

One of the men, Pierre (Maurice Good), a phrenologist, returns to his lab with his prize in a cloth bag. To his surprise, his lady friend (April Olrich) is waiting for him. Not now, when he’s got important things to do! She retires to the bedroom to munch on bonbons or marshmallows or something.

The phrenologist pours a mixture of chemicals into a sink. Smoke rises, obscuring nearly everything. (Pierre neglects to don an apron or goggles. Didn’t get the OSHA bulletin, I guess.) He’s going to deflesh the skull.

The lady friend puts down a marshmallow to see smoke pouring out from under the door of her beloved’s lab. She rushes in—and screams.

Oh, if that were the only unhappy thing she experiences.

In the mid-20^th century, Christopher Maitland (Peter Cushing) and Sir Matthew Phillips (Christopher Lee), two collectors of occult items, sit at an auction of oddball items. With Maitland is Anthony Marco (Patrick Wymark), a dealer advising him on various offerings.

Four statues of demons come up. Maitland wishes them for his “studies,” but Phillips outbids him. He seems compelled to buy them.

Marco later shows up at Maitland’s home. Mrs. Maitland (Jill Bennett) doesn’t like him. She thinks he’s creepy. Can’t imagine why.

In the privacy of Maitland’s study, Marco offers Maitland a biography of the Marquis de Sade for a cool £ 200 when he tells him the cover is made of human skin. ICK.

He promises to bring something even more intriguing.

Later, when Maitland and Phillips are discussing the promised skull over a game of pool, Maitland expresses understandable skepticism about the artifact’s authenticity.

“Oh, it’s real,” Phillips tells him. “Marco stole it from me.” He also warns  Maitland to stay away from the skull because it’s dangerous.

Yeah, like that would keep his friend away.

Thoughts:

This flick is full of moody, atmospheric sets and music. Occult art objects overrun Maitland’s study. One dream sequence in particular brings to mind Alice in Wonderland and the old British TV show, The Prisoner. The film’s POV at times is through the skull and tinted green or other odd colors. The skull never speaks or laughs. It occasionally flies. Mostly, it sits and menaces.

While Maitland wrestles with his newly induced murderous urges, his wife sleeps peacefully. Maitland pounds on the locked doors of his study, screaming for help, and she stirs in her slumber. The skull forces him into her bedroom. He holds a knife over her, ready to plunge it into his unsuspecting beloved wife. She turns over, displaying the cross at her neck.

Thwarted, as if he were a vampire!

And his wife never wakes.

He’s having a terrible day. She’s having a long nap.

The movie deals next to not at all with the historical person of the Marquis de Sade (1740-1814) or his writings, which is just as well. It could almost as easily have used some anonymous dabbler in black magic. Frankly, I was concerned it might glorify that violent and disturbed person, but it did not.

As for recommending it, I am on the fence. I had a great time with its silliness, and I enjoyed the intricate sets, off-kilter camera angles, and the surrealism. The special effects were unconvincing, but that never bothers me. I don’t mind seeing the strings.

I could not find a place to download this fine flick.




Title: The Skull (1965)

Director:
Freddie Francis

Writers:
Robert Bloch from the story “The Skull of the Marquis de Sade” by
Milton Subotsky screenplay by

Cast:
(in credits order) verified
Peter Cushing…Christopher Maitland
Patrick Wymark…Anthony Marco
Christopher Lee…Sir Matthew Phillips
Jill Bennett…Jane Maitland
Nigel Green…Inspector Wilson

Released: 1965
Length: 1 hour, 23 minutes
Rated: Approved