The House That Dripped Blood (1971)

Starring Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Nyree Dawn Porter, Denholm Elliott, Jon Pertwee
Directed by Peter Duffell
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)

A police investigation into a missing film actor finds that the man's house has had previous tenants who all suffered terrifying experiences.

An Amicus anthology film, the production links four individual tales around the setting of a supposedly evil house, but since the tales aren't exclusively set there, it doesn't make for the strongest framing story.  That doesn't matter however, because there's effective chills throughout the tales, and a quality cast, including Hammer stalwarts Cushing and Lee.  The first tale centers around a horror writer (played by Denholm Elliott) who purchases the house to complete his latest novel, and then begins to see a manifestation of his murderous character.  Well-staged and edited, the tale is a bit predictable but finely photographed and directed.  Next a lonely man (played by Peter Cushing), haunted by a lost love, sees her image in a nearby house of horrors.  Cushing is excellent, and the harrowing climax of the tale is extremely well done.  Christopher Lee then plays a businessman who purchases the home and hires a governess (Nyree Dawn Porter) to take care of his young daughter (Chloe Franks), who tries to unravel the mystery of why he shelters her from other children.  All three play their roles effectively, and the tale cleverly uses the audience's imagination to provide the horrific ending, rather than any gory special effects.  The final tale which also connects into the framing story's conclusion features Jon Pertwee as a horror actor making a vampire film, who purchases a cloak for the role from a mysterious costume shop, but soon discovers it's more authentic than he realized.  Rising star Ingrid Pitt, after making quite the impact in Hammer's The Vampire Lovers, co-stars as Pertwee's glamorous leading lady, who has her own special part to play in the climax.  I liked this tale the best, with entertaining characterizations and some worthwhile vampire effects.  Throughout the production, cinematographer Ray Parslow captures some beautiful scenery, worthingly contrasted with the darker shadows of the interiors, and Duffell's direction builds suspense admirably.