Wow, it is very impressive that Poe wrote such creepy stories. I mean it is very impressive when a story is creepy and gives you chills without there even being any blood or gore.
Blood and gore can be scary but they’re cheap, only skin deep terror. The horror that really stays, lingers after you’ve closed the book or turned off the TV is psychological. The imagery and narration play off that beautifully, and when combined with Poe’s writing make for something truly special.
You know when I was a child and when I saw this episode I had no idea what this episode was referring to and now that I'm an adult and a very huge Edgar allan Poe fan I know exactly what they were referring to this story right here!.
Eyy, your dad was the director on this? How did he find the work at UPA? And how did he start in the animation business, back in the golden age I presume?
I hope he’s watching this along with the thousands of people online and is smiling and laughing at their horror and shock. And I hope he sees your comment about him and is simply smiling with pride.
Oh...my...God. I get it. When he gets startled, drops the cup, and says "what did you say sir? yes yes of course the hot water," the cop must have asked for the hot water and he must have thought he said "YOU'RE IN hot water." Haha.
Love James Mason, love animation, what's not to like? Amazing, though, how that this was done in 1953, long before most people reading this were ever born, yet it still holds up in the 21st century as though it was produced only yesterday. This is the timelessness of art, and Poe.
first saw this at the drive in as a very young child (it was the cartoon filler between two movies); can't remember what the movies were but have never, ever forgotten a minute of this
Incredible performance, James Mason had such a versatile voice. The visuals and soundscape fit the subject matter perfectly - they don't make them like this anymore....probably because its seems dipped in trippy hallucinogens
Today in my English class we had to read this and then my teacher found this animation and started playing it, but we didn’t get to finish it because the bell rang, so here I am deciding to finish it and watch it several times again because I enjoy it.
This is by far the best adaptation of this story I’ve ever seen. Maybe I’m just biased since this short used to TERRIFY me when I was little, but years later, it’s just as horrifying. In the book, I imagine the narrator of the story explaining the events in a very professional way. You know that he truly believes that he is completely sane even when admitting to such horrendous things and James Mason captures that character perfectly. I love how in the book you never learn the narrators name so, in animation, they take it a step further and never show his face. I love how the images are still, giving you more time to focus on just how terrifying they are. I love how it’s completely faithful to the book, yet still takes fair liberties like showing him in an asylum at the end. I love how it manages to perfectly capture the suspense of the heartbeat, both at the murder and when the police come. Everything about it, in my humble opinion, is just perfect. There have been other really good adaptations, but none come close to this in my eyes(no pun intended.) Though I haven’t read as much of them as I should’ve, this is easily my favorite story of Poe’s, and by gosh did they do it justice.
This cartoon was the single largest trauma of my childhood. Was 5 when we accidentally recorded it after another cartoon. Still scared of staring eyes at age 31...
Oh I absolutely agree with you and you're absolutely right that it isn't an excuse, but remember that this story is being told through the insight of someone who by all intents and purposes is mentally ill. He he wasn't thinking about right and wrong..He's no different than people who have committed crimes as a result of hearing voices...He reminds me of someone who is diagnosed with Paranoid Schizophrenia.
I remember a teacher showing us this video in class when I was in middle school and it freaked me out... something about how uncanny it felt stuck with me for weeks, and I just now remembered to look it up
God, even after so many years, I still remember seeing this during 8th Grade for English and Social Studies. This still scares me to be quite honest. But, it's better to face than not to, you know. It's better that way.
i done this college. such a an interesting story - fascinating and curious even how we give ourselves away, even when there is nothing to be seen....the guilty mind is so open. I loved the animations in this video. well done. ;-)
I feel like it might have been “disturbing” back in its release but imagine if it had dropped now… I’m sure a lot of people would’ve loved it if they knew it existed.
I've read this Poe classic many times, but only after watching this version did it hit me... I THINK THIS MAY HAVE BEEN THE INSPIRATION FOR THE ALFRED HITCHCOCK MOVIE, "PSYCHO"!! First, it starts with a doddering old senior citizen, just as in Psycho, but with a man instead of a woman. The main character in the story is a single, lonely young man, who cares for the man. Then, from events beyond his control, his paranoid delusions slowly take control and in a fit of rage, he murders the old man, sealing his fate. Finally, at the end when he is apprehended by the police and sitting alone in a locked cell, he says to himself that he isn't crazy at all, in fact that "he wouldn't hurt a fly." Does anyone think I'm on the right track with this, or am I just going MAD??
+tiffsaver Psycho was based on a novella by Robert Bloch, who was in turn inspired by the real life story of Ed Gein. Still, it'd be interesting to know if Bloch had been subsconsciously inspired by Poe!
Bloch never said he was directly inspired by Poe, though there is no doubt he would have read Poe's works, and maybe influenced, considering the genre he chose to write in.
Similar kind of madman if you think about it, telling the tale from the cell wondering why he was there and wondering why they were saying he was Mad. Humbert was insane and had no idea he was, a pedophile, a rapist and a murderer. James Mason captures this kind of character in a way few other actors could, that seductive, creepy voice and manner.
Time and money. Even back then, this kind of animation was very expensive and could take up to a year to make. Nowadays, a full 22 minute episode of an animated sitcom takes the same amount of time and money.
Many thanks. I just read this story yet again, this time in "The Mammoth Book of Body Horror" and I remember this film always being advertised in the old "Famous Monsters of Filmland" magazines.
¡Extraordinario dibujo animado de 1953, de la UPA! Mi generación durante su infancia, tuvo oportunidad de verlo, en el bloque de Mister Magoo que Panamericana Televisión de esos años (definitivamente, otros tiempos) mostró en la década de 1960 y 1970... Mi agradecimiento a Robert Jukes por colgar este video.
It is James Mason, a great actor from the 1940's-1970's. You may know him from "Disney's 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea" or "A Star Is Born" with Judy Garland.
When I was a kid (late 70s early 80s) they used to run this on Nickelodeon. To this day, I don't think I've seen many creepier things. What were they thinking?
haha thanks, needed this for school. i read it first but i like different interpretations of things. if you haven't you should really read this, it's pretty short and really good, normally i dont like reading shit for school but this was a pretty dank story
I love James Mason, but do yourself a favor and listen to the rendition by Vincent Price. The man was a master at everything he did! Thank you for posting this video I really enjoyed it!
As seen on mid century modern animation volume 4 contains Anoscar for mr rossi 1960 Gerald mcboing boings symphony 1953 The tell tale heart 1953 The great fear veliki strah 1958 Stop driving crazy 1959 Robin hoodlum 1948 Miners daughter 1950
James Mason's "it is the beating of his hideous heart!" was used in some intro or mashed up sound clips from a podcast, or a music show or something... I just can't remember where it's been used!🙇 Does anyone know?!
