The Skull

Plot:

Adapted from the Robert Bloch short story "The Skull of the Marquis de Sade," this inventive gothic chiller from Amicus stars Peter Cushing as Professor Maitland, a collector obsessed with obtaining artifacts reputed to have occult powers -- including the title object, believed to be from the crypt of the notorious French nobleman. Shortly after the Professor brings home his latest find, the skull begins making nightly rounds (the gliding camera peers through the eye sockets for the nifty "skull-cam" point-of-view shots) before eventally dominating Maitland's will. Despite the potentially cheesy premise (which sounds better suited to a William Castle project), the film is remarkably subtle and spooky thanks to the deft hand of director Freddie Francis and an excellent performance from Cushing.

Cast:

Peter Cushing as Dr. Christopher Maitland
Patrick Wymark as Anthony Marco
Jill Bennett as Jane Maitland
Nigel Green as Inspector Wilson
Patrick Magee as Police Surgeon
Peter Woodthorpe as Bert Travers, Marco's Landlord
Michael Gough as Auctioneer
George Coulouris as Dr. Londe
April Olrich as French Girl
Maurice Good as Pierre, Phrenologist
Anna Palk as Maid
Frank Forsyth as Judge
Paul Stockman as First Guard
Geoffrey Cheshire as Second Guard
George Hilsdon as Policeman
Jack Silk as Driver
Christopher Lee as Sir Matthew Phillips