The Maze (1953 film): Difference between revisions

1953 film by William Cameron Menzies

This article is missing information about the film’s production and release. Please expand the article to include this information. Further details may exist on the talk page. (January 2018)

The Maze is a 1953 3-D horror film starring Richard Carlson, Veronica Hurst and Hillary Brooke. It was directed by William Cameron Menzies and distributed by Allied Artists Pictures.^[1] It was to be the second 3-D film designed and directed by William Cameron Menzies, known for his very “dimensional” style (e.g. many shots focused in layers). It was his final film as production designer and director.

A Scotsman, Gerald MacTeam (Richard Carlson), abruptly breaks off his engagement to beautiful Kitty (Veronica Hurst) after receiving word of his uncle’s death. He inherits a mysterious castle in the Scottish highlands and moves there to live with the castle servants. Kitty refuses to accept the broken engagement and travels there with her aunt (Katherine Emery). When they arrive, they discover Gerald has suddenly aged and his manner has changed significantly.

After a series of mysterious events in the castle and its hedge maze, they invite a group of friends there, including a doctor, hoping they can help Gerald with whatever ails him. Although the friends are equally concerned by Gerald’s behavior, they are at a loss as to its cause. One night, Kitty and her aunt steal a key to their bedroom door (which is always locked from the outside) and sneak out into the mysterious maze. There, they find Gerald and his servants tending to a frog-like monster. The monster panics upon seeing the strangers and runs back to the castle, hurling itself from a top-story balcony to its death.

Gerald explains that the amphibious creature was the actual master of the castle, Sir Roger MacTeam, and that he and his ancestors were merely its servants. The death of Sir Roger releases Gerald from his obligation and he can return to a normal life.

Reception[edit]

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Critical reception for The Maze has been mixed, with some critics praising the film’s acting, atmosphere, and direction while criticizing the finale.
Author and film critic Leonard Maltin awarded the film two out of four stars, calling the finale “ludicrous (and unsatisfying)”.^[2]
Brett Gallman from Oh, the Horror! gave the film a negative review, criticizing the film’s…