Curtis Harrington

Directing

Curtis Harrington

Born 1926-09-17 · Los Angeles, California

Gene Curtis Harrington was an American film and television director whose work included experimental films, horror films, and episodic television. He is considered one of the forerunners of New Queer Cinema.

Acting credits

Gods and Monsters poster
6.9

It's 1957, and James Whale's heyday as the director of "Frankenstein," "Bride of Frankenstein" and "The Invisible Man" is long behind him. Retired and a semi-recluse, he lives his days accompanied only by images from his past. When his dour housekeeper, Hannah, hires a handsome young gardener, the flamboyant director and simple yard man develop an unlikely friendship, which will change them forever.

Gods and Monsters

1998

The Other Side of the Wind poster
6.7

At a media-swamped party to celebrate his seventieth birthday and screen his avant-garde film-in-progress, a legendary but jaded Hollywood director is faced both with voracious fans and unsettling questions about what became of his lead actor.

The Other Side of the Wind

2018

Universal Horror poster
7.1

A documentary about the era of classic monster movies that were made at Universal Studios during the 1930s and 1940s.

Universal Horror

1998

Cult People poster
7.0

In interviews, various actors and directors discuss their careers and their involvement in the making of what has come to be known as "cult" films. Included are such well-known genre figures as Russ Meyer, Curtis Harrington, Cameron Mitchell and James Karen.

Cult People

1989

Magick Lantern Cycle poster
7.8

Cinematic magician, legendary provocateur, and author of Hollywood Babylon, Kenneth Anger was a unique figure in post-war American culture. His iconic short films are characterised by a mystical-symbolic visual language and phantasmagorical-sensual opulence that underscores the medium’s transgressive potential. Anger’s work fundamentally shaped the aesthetics of 1960s and 1970s subcultures, the visual lexicon of pop and music videos and queer iconography. These nine films form the basis of Anger’s reputation as one of the most influential pioneers of avant-garde film and video art. Fireworks, 1947, 14 min Puce Moment, 1949, 6 min Rabbit's Moon, 1950/1971, 16 min Eaux d'Artifice, 1953, 13 min Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome, 1954, 37 min Scorpio Rising, 1964, 28 min Kustom Kar Kommandos, 1965, 3 min Invocation of My Demon Brother, 1969, 11 min Lucifer Rising, 1981, 27 min

Magick Lantern Cycle

1974

Usher poster
5.5

Writer Truman Jones travels to the home of old, eccentric poet Roderick Usher in his quest for wisdom from the aging poet.

Usher

2002

Now You See Him: 'The Invisible Man' Revealed! poster
6.4

A documentary from Universal about the movie "The Invisible Man" (1933) directed by James Whale.

Now You See Him: 'The Invisible Man' Revealed!

2000

The World of Gods and Monsters: A Journey with James Whale poster
6.5

Written, co-produced and co-directed by David J. Skal, THE WORLD OF GODS AND MONSTERS is a behind-the scenes chronicle of the making of the 1998 Academy Award-winning film GODS AND MONSTERS starring Ian McKellen, Brendan Fraser and Lynn Redgrave. Narrated by author/ filmmaker Clive Barker, the documentary interweaves the life and career of James Whale, director of the original FRANKENSTEIN, with the making of the acclaimed biopic. Interviewees include writer/director Bill Condon (Oscar winner for best adapted screenplay), Ian McKellen, Brendan Fraser, Lynn Redgrave, and Christopher Bram, author of the novel FATHER OF FRANKENSTEIN, on which the film was based.

The World of Gods and Monsters: A Journey with James Whale

1999

Hollywood Halloween poster
8.0

Horror documentary with interviews to William Friedkin, Stan Winston, John McNaughton, Tom Holland and Ridley Scott.

Hollywood Halloween

1997

Working with Orson Welles poster
5.8

"Working with Orson Welles" is a low-budget production put together by Gary Graver, who worked as a cameraman for Welles in the last 15 years of his life.

Working with Orson Welles

1993

The Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome poster
6.4

Lord Shiva wakes. A convocation of magicians in the guise of figures from mythology; a masquerade party at which Pan is the prize. The wine of Hecate is poured: Pan's cup is poisoned by Shiva. Kali blesses the assembly as a bacchic rite ensues.

The Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome

1954

The Horror of It All poster
8.3

A collection of film clips from horror movies and interviews with the actors and directors who made them.

The Horror of It All

1983

The Films of Kenneth Anger: Volume One poster
10.0

Covering the first half of Anger's career, from his landmark debut FIREWORKS in 1947 to his epic bacchanalia INAGURATION OF THE PLEASURE DOME, Fantoma is very proud to present the long-awaited first volume of films by this revolutionary and groundbreaking maverick, painstakingly restored and presented on DVD for the first time. Contains the films: Fireworks (1947) Puce Moment (1949) Rabbit's Moon (1950, the rarely seen original 16 minute version) Eaux d'Artifice (1953) Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome (1954)

The Films of Kenneth Anger: Volume One

2007

The Fall of the House of Usher poster
6.0

Curtis Harrington's student film based on the Edgar Allan Poe short story.

The Fall of the House of Usher

1942

Sex, Death & The Hollywood Mystique poster
NR

Larry Wessel presents darkest Hollywood and explores some of tinsel town's most grisly tragedies, including the murders of Sharon Tate and The Black Dahlia.

Sex, Death & The Hollywood Mystique

1999

House of Harrington poster
6.5

Profile of the late iconoclastic director Curtis Harrington, featuring images from many of his poetic and haunting films.

House of Harrington

2009

Fragment of Seeking poster
5.7

A young man desperately seeks out the fleeting image of a female companion, and though he never quite catches her, he discovers much more through the surreal explorations of his own sexuality. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2012.

Fragment of Seeking

1947

Behind the camera

Night Tide poster
6.4

A young sailor falls in love with a mysterious woman performing as a mermaid on the local pier. As they become entwined, he comes to suspect the woman might be a real mermaid who lures men to a watery death during the full moon.

Night Tide

1961

Night Tide poster
6.4

A young sailor falls in love with a mysterious woman performing as a mermaid on the local pier. As they become entwined, he comes to suspect the woman might be a real mermaid who lures men to a watery death during the full moon.

Night Tide

1961

Mata Hari poster
4.1

Based loosely on the real-life story of the World War I spy. The exotic dancer uses her contacts in European high society, along with her seductive charm, to collect military secrets during the war. She successfully plays both sides against each other until at last her deceptions catch up with her.

Mata Hari

1985

Devil Dog: The Hound of Hell poster
6.5

A dog that is a minion of Satan terrorizes a suburban family.

Devil Dog: The Hound of Hell

1978

Queen of Blood poster
5.3

A spaceship is sent to Mars after an alien distress signal is picked up. They find one survivor, but when a crew member is found drained of blood it's evident they have rescued a bloodsucking monster. Uses footage from Encounter in Space (1963).

Queen of Blood

1966

Queen of Blood poster
5.3

A spaceship is sent to Mars after an alien distress signal is picked up. They find one survivor, but when a crew member is found drained of blood it's evident they have rescued a bloodsucking monster. Uses footage from Encounter in Space (1963).

Queen of Blood

1966

Whoever Slew Auntie Roo? poster
6.2

A demented widow lures unsuspecting children into her mansion in a bizarre "Hansel and Gretel" twist.

Whoever Slew Auntie Roo?

1972

Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet poster
4.1

In 2020, after the colonization of the moon, the spaceships Vega, Sirius and Capella are launched from Lunar Station 7. They are to explore Venus under the command of Professor Hartman, but an asteroid collides and explodes Capella. The leader ship Vega stays orbiting and sends the astronauts Kern and Sherman with the robot John to the surface of Venus, but they have problems with communication with Dr. Marsha Evans in Vega. The Sirius lands in Venus and Commander Brendan Lockhart, Andre Ferneau and Hans Walter explore the planet and are attacked by prehistoric animals. They use a vehicle to seek Kern and Sherman while collecting samples from the planet. Meanwhile John helps the two cosmonauts to survive in the hostile land. Re-edited version of Soviet sci-fi Planet of Storms (1962) by Pavel Klushantsev, dubbed into English with additional scenes.

Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet

1965

Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet poster
4.1

In 2020, after the colonization of the moon, the spaceships Vega, Sirius and Capella are launched from Lunar Station 7. They are to explore Venus under the command of Professor Hartman, but an asteroid collides and explodes Capella. The leader ship Vega stays orbiting and sends the astronauts Kern and Sherman with the robot John to the surface of Venus, but they have problems with communication with Dr. Marsha Evans in Vega. The Sirius lands in Venus and Commander Brendan Lockhart, Andre Ferneau and Hans Walter explore the planet and are attacked by prehistoric animals. They use a vehicle to seek Kern and Sherman while collecting samples from the planet. Meanwhile John helps the two cosmonauts to survive in the hostile land. Re-edited version of Soviet sci-fi Planet of Storms (1962) by Pavel Klushantsev, dubbed into English with additional scenes.

Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet

1965

Usher poster
5.5

Writer Truman Jones travels to the home of old, eccentric poet Roderick Usher in his quest for wisdom from the aging poet.

Usher

2002

Usher poster
5.5

Writer Truman Jones travels to the home of old, eccentric poet Roderick Usher in his quest for wisdom from the aging poet.

Usher

2002

The Cat Creature poster
5.4

When a rich man dies, some items from a collection of his are stolen- an ancient Egyptian gold amulet and the mummy that was wearing it. The police consult scholars from the local University to help with the investigation, which is taking a more serious turn as people connected with the case are killed by wounds that seem to be from a housecat.

The Cat Creature

1973

Ruby poster
4.5

Strange killings occur at Ruby's drive-in theatre, sixteen years after the murder of her gangster boyfriend.

Ruby

1977

What's the Matter with Helen? poster
5.9

Two middle-aged women move to Hollywood, California after their sons are convicted of a notorious murder and open a dance school for children eager to tap their way to stardom.

What's the Matter with Helen?

1971

Games poster
6.2

A mysterious woman in black moves in with married Manhattan thrill-seekers and helps one trick the other.

Games

1967

The Dead Don't Die poster
6.0

In the 1930s, a sailor trying to prove that his brother was wrongly executed for murder finds himself becoming drawn into the occult world.

The Dead Don't Die

1975

The Killing Kind poster
6.0

A young man returns home to his mother's boardinghouse after serving a prison sentence for a gang rape he was forced to participate in. He seeks revenge on his lawyer and the girl who framed him.

The Killing Kind

1974

How Awful About Allan poster
6.0

After an eight-month stay in a mental hospital, a tormented man comes home to live with his sister; but a mysterious boarder may be trying to kill him.

How Awful About Allan

1970

Killer Bees poster
4.4

A strong-willed woman not only dominates her family of California winegrowers, but also has a strange hold on a colony of bees in her vineyard.

Killer Bees

1974

The Fall of the House of Usher poster
6.0

Curtis Harrington's student film based on the Edgar Allan Poe short story.

The Fall of the House of Usher

1942

The Wormwood Star poster
6.4

A portrait of artist, actress, poet and occultist Marjorie Cameron, it shows images of her paintings and recitations of her poems. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2006.

The Wormwood Star

1956

The Wormwood Star poster
6.4

A portrait of artist, actress, poet and occultist Marjorie Cameron, it shows images of her paintings and recitations of her poems. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2006.

The Wormwood Star

1956

On the Edge poster
5.7

In this fragile yet frightening poetic fantasy set against a dark industrial landscape, a woman sits knitting on the porch of her home when a man appears and takes the knitting from her.

On the Edge

1951

The Assignation poster
5.7

Long considered lost, The Assignation was Curtis Harrington's first color film. It was shot in Venice, Italy, and follows a masked figure through the labyrinthine canals of the city, building to a spectacular climax. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2006.

The Assignation

1953