Spirits of the Dead (1969)
Spirits of the Dead Photos
Movie Info
Cast
as Contessa Frederique de Metzengerstein
as Baron Wilhelm Berlifitzing
as Giuseppina
as William Wilson and his double
as Narrator
as Claude
as Friend
as Countess' Advisor
as 1st Guest
as Philippe
as Hugues
as 2nd Guest
as Page
as du Lissier
as Young Girl
as Hans
as Professor
as Priest
as Toby Dammit
as Priest
as 1st Director
as 2nd Director
as Narrator
as Child
as Television Commentator
as Narrator
as 1st Interviewer
as 2nd Interviewer
as Wilson as a child
as Actress (segment "Toby Dammit")
as [Never Bet The Devil Your Head]
as [Never Bet The Devil Your Head]
Critic Reviews for Spirits of the Dead
All Critics (20) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (18) | Rotten (2) | DVD (7)
Only Fellini (Toby Dammit) really manages to make much of his source.
[Toby Dammit] is marvelous: a short movie but a major one. The Vadim is as overdecorated and shrill as a drag ball, but still quite fun, and the Malle, based on one of Poe's best stories, is simply tedious.
It offers pleasures above and beyond its status as a relic of a groovier and exponentially more swinging era.
Out of the three episodes based on the macabre tales by Edgar Allan Poe, the third -- the only modern-day one, directed by Federico Fellini -- is far and away the best.
Definitely worth a look for fans of the involved directors, though such fans probably already own it.
Three devout libertines have a go at Poe, fear and trembling invade their debauchery voluptuously
Audience Reviews for Spirits of the Dead
This movie features three stories directed by three great foreign directors, and the cast features some of the best foreign actors at the time too. I really liked the stories and seeing all the different directing styles is so cool. I highly recommend this movie.
Super Reviewer
Poe's macabre tales are re-envisioned by three auteurs: Vadim, Malle, and Fellini. Vadim's 'Metzemgerstein' is reinterpreted in the form of a debauched, depraved, decadent countess -- Jane Fonda. Her nature is aptly described as a 'petty Caligula.' Orgies, bisexuality, and hedonism abound. Her costumes were late 60's outrageousness. Falling in love with her cousin, played by her brother, Peter, just added to the creepiness factor. Eventually, she and her spirited black stallion are literally consumed by flames. Malle's vision of 'William Wilson' was my personal favorite. Alain Delon is perfectly cast as a sadist, haunted by his conscience, which is manifested as his doppelganger. Malle's jumpy camera perfectly translates the terror and anxiety experienced by Delon after murdering his doppelganger. By eliminating his superego, he has essentially murdered himself. Fellini's loose adaptation of Poe's story is replete with surrealistic trademarks. This heightens the absurdity of the story. Terrence Stamp is well cast as an amoralist, tormented actor. His joyride to hell is the most shocking scene in the trilogy. The combination of the tales is quite moralistic: the devil will always get his due.
Super Reviewer
the 3rd segment by Fellini, "Toby Dammit", is amazingly kinetic, and Malle's has some disturbing touches
Super Reviewer
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