I Bury the Living (1958)

★ 6.1 1h 17m IMDb

Horror Mystery

The new manager of a small-town cemetery becomes convinced that he triggered the untimely deaths of several plot owners by tampering with a certain map. When nobody believes him, he risks his sanity to play God once again and prove his point.

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Cast

Richard Boone as Robert Kraft Died 1981 · Los Angeles, California, USA Richard Allen Boone (June 18, 1917 – January 10, 1981) was an American actor who starred in over 50 films and was notable for his roles in Westerns and for starring in the TV series Have Gun – Will Tr...

Theodore Bikel as Andy McKee Died 2015 · Vienna, Austria Theodore Meir Bikel (May 2, 1924 – July 21, 2015) was a character actor, folk singer and musician. He made his film debut in The African Queen and was nominated for an Academy award for his supporting...

Herbert Anderson as Jess Jessup Died 1994 · Oakland, California, USA From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Herbert Anderson (March 30, 1917 – June 11, 1994) was an American character actor probably best remembered for his role as Henry Mitchell, the father in the CBS...

Robert Osterloh as Lt. Clayborne Died 2001 · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Howard Smith as George Kraft Died 1968 · Attleboro, Massachusetts, U.S. Howard Irving Smith (August 12, 1893 in – January 10, 1968) was an American character actor with a 50-year career in vaudeville, theater, radio, films and television. In 1938 he performed in Orson Wel...

Russ Bender as Henry Trowbridge Died 1969 · New York City, New York, USA

Director Albert Band

Cast Richard Boone, Theodore Bikel, Herbert Anderson, Robert Osterloh, Howard Smith, Peggy Maurer, Russ Bender, Glen Vernon, Lynette Bernay, Ken Drake

John Chard 7/10 Jan 10, 2019

No needles, just pins!

I Bury the Living is directed by Albert Band and written by Louis Garfinkle. It stars Richard Boone, Theodore Bikel, Howard Smith, Herbert Anderson, Robert Osterloh and Peggy Maurer. Music is scored by Gerald Fried and cinematography by Frederick Gately.

Robert Kraft (Boone) is appointed as the custodian of Immortal Hills Cemetery. On the wall in the cemetery office is a large map that details the plots that are taken by the dead, and the plots that are reserved by other town members. These are signified by black (taken) and white (reserved) pins. When Kraft accidentally places a black pin on the names of living people, he is stunned to find they end up dead shortly after. Coincidence?

The title and the fabulous poster art that accompanies it has lured in many a horror fan, only for them to be disappointed with the end product since it's more a mystery thriller with potentially supernatural overtones. A slimline and modest budgeted pic, it's a film that sadly doesn't make the most of the premise at its core. However, there's still a very enjoyable movie here, one that thrives on an uneasy atmosphere and showcases some neat visual film noirish, touches.

Shot in stark black and white to perfectly emphasise the shadowy tension in the plotting, director Band deftly lets the office cemetery map become the dominant force of the piece, marrying it up with the ever fretful Kraft's mental being. These scenes with just Kraft in the cold isolated office are the films best. Though the outer shots in the cemetery, with tombstones and wrought iron fencing, are suitably eerie too.

Boone leads off with a very good performance as a man trying to comprehend the situation whilst doing the right thing, and music and photography is well worthy of our eyes and ears. It could have gone a darker route with Boone's protagonist, while the resolution has understandably infuriated more than it has pleased, but for its unique feel and worthy tech credits it's a better than average time filler. 7/10

DVD viewed was French Region 2 release from Bach Movies. Good print