Mystery, gore and humor mix as a young writer Kenneth Magee (Desi Arnez Jr.), takes a bet from his publisher Sam Allyson (Richard Todd) that he can write a novel in twenty-fours. To make this assignment difficult, Magee has to stay in a spooky mansion believed to be empty. The property is not vacant; four odd inhabitants (played by horror icons Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing and John Carradine) will be joined with others to distract the gullible author.What all will have to be endured for the writer to succeed in winning his bet? Will the payoff be worth it? Don't expect award-winning acting. Atmospheric and a hoot for horror fans.Other players: Sheila Keith, Richard Hunter, Louise Englsh and Julie Peasgood.

"House Of Long Shadows" is a fantastic film with a brilliant cast of horror legends and I just can't believe that this movie isn't more well known, I've personally never even heard of it until quite recently and given the fact that it's directed by the ever brilliant Pete Walker whose other works I've enjoyed (Frightmare, The Comeback, House Of Whipcord). He displays the same elegance and chills in this underrated masterpiece and sad to see that this would be his last horror movie, but well I must say that this was a well and truly fitting end and going out with a bang.This does have that classic old school feel to it and given the fact that this came out in 1983, where horror had moved on to stalk and slash with the likes of Jason and Michael Myers. Well this may have seemed a bit old fashioned, but that doesn't take away the brilliance of this. The plot to this was very good and thought out with an American writer Kenneth Magee takes a bet with his publisher, that he can write a novel within 24 hours and arranges for him to go a secluded mansion called Baldplate Manor in the Welsh country side. But soon as he arrives he is greeted by two creepy caretakers and despite being told that the place is deserted, more and more people start to turn up, namely the previous owners The Grisbanes who hold a dark secret surrounding the place, and soon enough things start to take a strange turn with people ending up getting murdered.Well for starters the mystery element to this is very effective, and the tension that surrounds the mansion is well handled along with perhaps every horror movie cliché known to man thrown in for extra delight and plus featuring the legendary cast of Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing and Sheila Keith all in one movie, is a pure joy for any movie buff. Once all the guests arrive at the manor then the movie gets going at a very brisk and cracking pace, where event after event is thrown at the viewer, and the shocks and thrills never seem to stop and I loved the angle of which the story takes you, where we find out about the reason why the Grisbanes have returned to free their long lost son/brother from his prison of 40 years for committing a murder of a pregnant girl, then finding that he's escaped and is on a rampage of revenge, where the innocent bystanders get caught up in this terrifying web. The horror scenes are well delivered in this with some shocking twists and turns that keeps you guessing until the very end and with some brilliant and grisly deaths to enjoy along the way, and okay there are two random characters thrown in about halfway through for just pure fodder, but that only adds more fun to this movie.The acting performances, well what can I say from such legends and even the other cast members are well performed. The main character played by Dezi Arnaz Jr really holds his own surrounded by the screen legends and gives a very decent performance as the cynical American writer. Vincent Price gives a wonderful performance as always and may be known for hamming it up at times, but who cares with his brilliant dialogue and scene stealing presence. Christopher Lee, gives a no nonsense presence and pulls it off greatly, with his sharp dialogue and forceful manner, and as the movie goes on, he's given more layers to his character which works superbly. Peter Cushing plays a different type of character than his usual domineering presence in the Hammer films, here he is wonderfully eccentric and lovable and is the perfect foiling against the other two. Sheila Keith whose another brilliant and genius addition to this cast, in full creepiness mode and always a joy to watch in this and (House Of Whipcord, Frightmare and The Comeback), despite not given enough screen time and bows out relatively early, she gives an astounding memorable performance. John Carradine is another pleasing surprise in this, and gives a strong performance. Then finally Julie Peasgood as the love interest Mary, who I found rather likable and despite not being as memorable as the others, she was still a nice addition to the cast.All in all "House Of Long Shadows" is a wonderful throwback to the good old glory days of horror, that's highly entertaining and a hell of a lot of fun, the ending may be a slap in the face to some, but I found it rather fun, although does get rather confusing at the very end, but the other twists and turns that precede this, are brilliantly done and this stands as a brilliant must see for any horror fans.

House of Long Shadows is a joy to watch simply to see the great horror actors together. Base loosely on Seven Keys To Baldpate, it is about a popular novelist Kenneth Magee making a bet with his publisher as to whether he can write a Wuthering Heights type novel in 24 hours. In order to be able to write and to soak up the right kind of atmosphere, he drives through the Welsh countryside to a manor house called Baldpate Manor. There he finds an elderly couple, father and daughter who are supposedly the caretakers. That is when the fun really begins. I have always loved the old style horror movies and I grew up watching the films of John Carradine, Vincent Price, Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. Seeing them together was an absolute treat and while the story itself becomes a little silly, their presence lifts it into something more. The rest of the cast a wonderful in their roles, but really the film belongs to the four actors that play father and sons. Even if you find the plot of the film a little simplistic, sit back and watch the masters of the silver screen do their stuff. Enjoy.

House of Long Shadows (1981) (Vincent Price's last horror film) – Directed by Peter Walker, starring Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Desi Arnaz Jr., John Carradine, Sheila Keith, Julie Peasgood, and Richard Todd.House of the Long Shadows should be noticeable enough for any fan of horror as it was the last B Horror film that Vincent Price made. This film is the sixth adaption of George M. Cohan's satire novel "Seven Keys to Baldpate". The Plot involves a writer (played by Desi Arnaz Jr), who makes a bet with his publisher (Richard Todd), and visits a spooky house. While there he hopes to get relaxation, but is instead visited by some very strange characters.House of the Long Shadows is among the final films that Vincent Price made in his career that were B-budgeted horror films, nearly seventy when it was released. House of the Long Shadows is also the last time that Price received top billing in. The film also reunited Price with both Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing (the trio starred in Scream and Scream again, 13 years earlier), and it's good to see them on the screen again (Price and Cushing appeared together in Madhouse, and Dr. Phibes rides again, and Price also starred with Lee in the Oblong Box). This is also the last time that Lee and Cushing appear together in a film (the two appeared in a total of 22 movies). It is also the sixth of seven films that Price and John Carradine made together. Lee is good as Mr. Lawson (who seems to be pretty resistant about a lot of things), and Peter Cushing is great as ever in his role as To be fairly honest the worst thing about this film without a doubt is Desi Arnaz Jr., Lucille Ball's son, who is pretty pathetic in the "supposed" leading role, showing little to no range, and is totally miscast, bringing the film down quite a notch. However the music is great (especially the music that plays in Vincent Price introduction scene which is perfect, setting the introduction to a legend of horror, and reminding us of why he is so great in the first place), and it's great to see four horror legends on the screen (Price, Lee, Cushing, and Carradine). Not a huge recommendation, but still good to watch on a rainy day.