The Tell-Tale Heart – 1960 | 78 mins | Drama, Crime, Horror | B&W

Plot Synopsis

From b-movie merchants the Danziger Brothers came Brian Clemens’ credible adaptation of this famous Edgar Allan Poe story of guilt and paranoia. Ernest Morris directs sympathetically and maintains a taut pace throughout with a palpable sense of claustrophobia. The film features a suitably edgy performance from Laurence Payne in the lead and strong support from a debonair Dermot Walsh and a captivating Adrienne Corri. The British Board of Film Censors was less impressed and gave the film an ‘X’ certificate and demanded a series of cuts that delayed the film’s release.

Set in Paris’ Rue Morgue, a reference librarian with a shy and sensitive disposition, Edgar Marsh (Laurence Payne), is encouraged by his worldly wise friend, Carl Loomis (Dermot Walsh), to make advances to beautiful florist Betty Clare (Adrienne Corri), who lives across the street. Although Betty is polite to Edgar and accepts his offer of dinner, she really has eyes for lothario Carl.

Carl attempts to gently rebuff Betty’s determined advances but eventually they fall in love and the lovesick sees the couple making love. Edgar becomes a recluse and is driven to murder his best friend by insane jealousy. The tormented Edgar hides the body beneath the floorboards of his house, but he is driven mad by the terrifying sound of the dead man’s beating heart.