The Pit and the Pendulum Overview:

The Pit and the Pendulum (1961) was a Horror - Thriller/Suspense Film directed by Roger Corman and produced by Roger Corman, Samuel Z. Arkoff and James H. Nicholson.

BlogHub Articles:

Silver Screen Standards: The Pit and the Pendulum (1961)

By Jennifer Garlen on Jun 20, 2024 From Classic Movie Hub Blog

The Pit and the Pendulum (1961) When Roger Corman died on May 9, 2024, at the impressive age of 98, his passing marked the end of a brilliant cinematic career that began in the 1950s and continued for more than 70 years. I?ve been a fan of Corman?s Edgar Allan Poe films ever since I first discove... Read full article


Classic Films in Focus: THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM (1961)

By Jennifer Garlen on Oct 22, 2014 From Virtual Virago

The Pit and the Pendulum (1961) rambles far afield of the original story by Edgar Allan Poe, even for a Roger Corman adaptation, but that doesn't prevent it from being an entertaining horror film. With Vincent Price and Barbara Steele both giving memorable performances and a gruesome story of adulte... Read full article


Classic Films in Focus: THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM (1961)

By Jennifer Garlen on Oct 22, 2014 From Virtual Virago

The Pit and the Pendulum (1961) rambles far afield of the original story by Edgar Allan Poe, even for a Roger Corman adaptation, but that doesn't prevent it from being an entertaining horror film. With Vincent Price and Barbara Steele both giving memorable performances and a gruesome story of adulte... Read full article


Classic Films in Focus: THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM (1961)

By Jennifer Garlen on Oct 22, 2014 From Virtual Virago

The Pit and the Pendulum (1961) rambles far afield of the original story by Edgar Allan Poe, even for a Roger Corman adaptation, but that doesn't prevent it from being an entertaining horror film. With Vincent Price and Barbara Steele both giving memorable performances and a gruesome story of adulte... Read full article


The Pit and the Pendulum

By RBuccicone on Oct 21, 2011 From MacGuffin Movies

The Pit and the Pendulum (1961) ???? I think I’m safe in saying that no actor was more familiar with the work –or the loosely interpreted work– of Edgar Allen Poe than Vincent Price. The man made nearly a dozen movies based on this master author’s works. This saddens me, howe... Read full article


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Quotes from

Catherine: No one will ever enter this room again.


Elizabeth: [shouting Don Medinas name causing him to fall down the stairs] Nicholas!


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Facts about

The film never had an original prologue. It was added when the film was sold to TV and a further few minutes were required to pad out the running time. Only Luana Anders from the original cast was available so an extra scene of her in a madhouse was filmed and tacked on to the beginning. This scene does not really tie in with the rest of the film.
The pendulum was made out of wood and had a rubber blade.
Actor John Kerr was worried about being strapped down to the table with the pendulum above him for the movie's climax. In order to demonstrate that it was perfectly safe, director Roger Corman stood in for Kerr while the scene was being set up.
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Also directed by Roger Corman




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Also produced by Roger Corman




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Also released in 1961




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