The House in Nightmare Park

The House in Nightmare Park - 1973 | 100mins | Comedy, Horror | B&W

The Production Team

Director: Peter Sykes.
Producer: Clive Exton, Terry Nation and Beryl Vertue.
Script: Clive Exton and Terry Nation.
Cinematography: Ian Wilson.
Editing: Bill Blunden.
Production Design: Edward Joseph.
Art Direction: Maurice Carter.
Costume Design: Judy Moorcroft.
Makeup Department: Jill Carpenter and Ramon Gow.
Sound Department: Ken Barker, Rene Borisewitz and Michael Crouch.
Original Music: Harry Robertson.

The Cast

Frankie Howerd - Foster Twelvetrees
Ray Milland - Stewart Henderson
Hugh Burden - Reggie Henderson
Kenneth Griffith - Ernest Henderson
John Bennett - Patel
Rosalie Crutchley - Jessica Henderson
Ruth Dunning - Agnes Henderson
Elizabeth MacLennan - Verity Henderson
Aimée Delamain - Mother

Plot Synopsis

A droll Old Dark House horror spoof in which camel-faced comedian Frankie Howerd is caught up with a family of greedy relatives out to steal a family fortune. Howerd’s relatives are divertingly played by Ray Milland, Hugh Burden, Rosalie Crutchley and Kenneth Griffith. This unimaginative gothic farce acts as a vehicle for Howerd to showcase his unique brand of innuendo-ridden humour but fails to produce either chuckles and chills.

Foster Twelvetrees (Frankie Howerd) is a Victorian monologist who accepts an invitation to give a reading from the classics at the isolated stately home of the Henderson family. Unbeknown to Foster, he is the heir to the massive Henderson family fortune - but he’s likely to be murdered by his insane relatives before getting his hands on it. The family members, ex-vaudevillians all, who at one point relive their truly bizarre stage act, are led by stern patriarch Stewart Henderson (Ray Milland), whose equally-avaricious offspring will go to any lengths to bump off the hapless thespian. The spooky manor house also contains a nest of venomous snakes in the basement and a bald, cleaver-wielding granny in the attic.