mmcgee282 For years every time I saw it on t.v.I would get distracted that I did not under stand the story and plot.The only thing that ever bother me was finding out who was the owner of the castle in the highlands was and how it was taken seriously.Now I understand the whole movie.It'a about the build up in the story that leads to this as a result is not really funny at all.The 3d for the first time really brought me to under stand the plot better.How Carlson character has to take off to his uncles castle after his uncle's death and how Veronica Hurst and Kathrine Emory ,who plays her Aunt,a is determining to find out what has happen to him,by taking a risk in going to the castle,to see whats going on,at the protest of her aunt.The Gothic atmosphere of the whole haunted castle and it's property is very effective on 3d ,especially the fog that seems to come out of the screen.The bat scenes as Veronica is spying into the haunted house.As she was able to slip outside of her locked room were not very effective.When you throw an object at the camera the third dimensional affects are weakens as it gets closer.The sound?it's great.In it's restored affects the three channel sound makes the orchestra ,of the back ground music ,fuller,more effective,reinforcing the atmospheric quality of the film.Where Kitty's friend ,including a doctor that she invites over,to find out what's wrong with her fiances.You got some well know n character,like Hillary Brook,who was in the comedy Abbot and Costello meet Captain Kidd,that same year.Then you got the actress who played the doctors wife,D.r. played by John Dodsworth,played by the one who was in the old Dark house,Lillian Bond, a lot older.Then theirs the strange butler,played by Michael Pate,strange cause the older make up was too theatrical and unrealistic.The comment side of this films,stated that Richard Carlson was wild ,he was married ,but fooled around with other women,although in the interview of Veronica ,now in her eighties ,she stated tha he treated her friendly and under standing .Pate had a problem during the war and had just finish a 5 minute surgery to fix the problem,before getting in the picture.Although the ending may look ridiculous to some,a joke to others.,it's really not.I have to say the book might be better and one should be encourage to see if it's in the library to check it out for reading.This would enhance the interest in the movie.although some theaters off it in non Anamorphic wide screen,it was not shot that way.It' present in its one by three, seven by one ratio.With it's haunting atmosphere,minus the bat scene.The characters,oops! forgot one.Robins Hughes character Richard give an impression that he is trying to impersonate Richard Hadyn.Any how, well worth the entertainment.Well worth the wait.04/22/18

cstotlar-1 William Cameron Menzies directed an odd bag of films and designed some fabulous sets in his lifetime. As usual, he was working on an uncompromising budget and that, to some reviewers, seems to mean that his talent wasn't somehow up to the task. This is a sorry reward for such an intelligent designer. The script gets in the way at times, admitted, but the sets - and the fabulous musical score by Marlin Skyles - give us so much more than a few laughs from dated dialogue. It's all far-fetched with the explanations at the very end but it builds up nicely, the actors are all on cue, and the lighting alone make it worth the visit. In general, so many of the horror films of the 50s are fascinating to watch today.

Michael_Elliott The Maze (1953)** (out of 4) When her fiancé Gerald (Richard Carlson) leaves before their wedding with no real answer, Kitty (Veronica Hurst) and her aunt (Katherine Emery) follow him to his family's estate in Scotland. Once there the women discover that Gerald has aged for some reason and soon they realize that there's even more family secrets. THE MAZE is a hard film to judge because it contains some very good stuff but the problem is that the story itself is just boring and really drawn out for no good reason. The film features some terrific performances as well as a haunting atmosphere and these here make it worth sitting through. Director William Cameron Menzies (INVADERS FROM MARS) does a wonderful job building up the creepy atmosphere of the old castle. From the opening shots of the fog thick outside to the staircase with all the spider webs. The director really makes one believe you're in this location and he also puts the maze (much like the one later seen in THE SHINING) to good use. He also handles the B&W cinematography very well as the film looks terrific and the use of shadows is well done. Carlson turns in a good performance in the lead and I though both Hurst and Emery were good. The supporting players are good as well so with all of this what's the problem? The screenplay is incredibly weak and it just doesn't go anywhere. Gerald asks the women to leave. They tell a lie to where they can stay an extra day. They discuss what could possibly be happened. These three steps repeat themselves over and over and it's just really boring. I won't give away the secret but when it's finally revealed you really can't help but laugh. The effect of this reveal is also rather laughable. The film was originally shot in 3-D but watching the standard version I really didn't see anything that would really jump out. THE MAZE is an interesting film with a lot going for it but sadly most of the good stuff was just wasted.

innocuous "The Maze" is a lot of fun and a great example of a certain type of B-movie. It has remained firmly stuck in my mind for two reasons:First, the ending is just totally bizarre and out of left-field. Some of the other reviewers have mentioned it, but I don't really think that they have conveyed just out strange it is. I never saw it coming. It's also hilarious, though the movie plays the situation with a straight face.Second, once the movie ended (and it actually wraps up very quickly once the "solution" is presented), I could not help but start thinking about what had been said. For one thing, the Baronet describes the original master (who is basically a 203-year-old giant frog...seriously...not somebody with a frog-like face, but a real frog) as enjoying the chance to take off his cloak and swim in the pond. The whole frog with a cloak image still sticks in my mind. Then there's the question of how the frog manages to convey his wishes to the servants and his heirs, since he apparently runs the place. And why do the heirs all die at a relatively young age? The stress of caring for their great-great-great-grandfrog? Inquiring minds like mine want to know. In short, this film leave a lot of unanswered questions. Don't miss it.