I Bury the Living

"Out of a Time-Rotted Tomb Crawls an Unspeakable Horror!"

1958 1h 17m EN

😐

6.2

MID

🍅

64%

FRESH

⭐

6.3

IMDB

★6.2TMDB · 74🍅64%Rotten Tomatoes★6.3IMDB · 3,299

MysteryHorror

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

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.

“Out of a Time-Rotted Tomb Crawls an Unspeakable Horror!”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

Amazon Prime VideoSubscription

PhiloSubscription

FlixFlingSubscription

IndieFlixSubscription

ScreenPix Apple TV channelSubscription

Amazon Prime Video with AdsSubscription

IndieFlix Shorts Amazon ChannelSubscription

ScreenPix Amazon Channel Subscription

BloodstreamSubscription

Cast

Richard Boone
Robert Kraft
Theodore Bikel
Andy McKee
Herbert Anderson
Jess Jessup
Robert Osterloh
Lt. Clayborne
Howard Smith
George Kraft
Peggy Maurer
Ann Craig
Russ Bender
Henry Trowbridge
Glen Vernon
Stuart Drexel

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Albert Band
Writers: Louis Garfinkle, Louis Garfinkle
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 77-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

68 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Albert Band, shot by Frederick Gately. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Original score by Gerald Fried. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Frank Sullivan shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Richard Boone and Theodore Bikel and Herbert Anderson carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Out of a Time-Rotted Tomb Crawls an Unspeakable Horror!".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0051755 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Albert Band directs. Frederick Gately behind the camera. Gerald Fried scores. Frank Sullivan cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 77-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
268 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Directed by Albert Band, shot by Frederick Gately. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Gerald Fried. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Frank Sullivan shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Richard Boone and Theodore Bikel and Herbert Anderson carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "Out of a Time-Rotted Tomb Crawls an Unspeakable Horror!".
8IMDB entry: tt0051755 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 74 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Frederick Gately
Original score: Gerald Fried
Editing: Frank Sullivan
Production design: Edward Vorkapich
Makeup / hair: Jack Pierce
Runtime: 77 min · 1h 17m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): NR
IMDB: I Bury the Living (1958)
Rotten Tomatoes: 64% 🍅 Fresh
IMDB rating: 6.3/10 · 3,299 votes
MPAA: Approved

Also by

Albert Band

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

John Chard2019-01-10
★ 7/10
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

Production companies