Try to Survive a Night in the "Old Dark House"- Tonight!

Tonight on MeTV- comedian Tom Poston finds that what should be a routine automobile delivery  becomes an on-going collection of oddball family members, greedy heirs, and murder victims- in what film buffs call an “old dark house” chiller- appropriately titled- the “Old Dark House”!

This 1963 horror/comedy, based on an earlier 1932 film that featured Boris Karloff, has Poston as an American car salesman based in London named Tom (what we call the “Tony Danza syndrome”- having the lead character sharing his name with the actor playing him) who has procured a car that his roommate, Casper Femm, has requested. The odd thing is- without explanation, roommate Casper is never home every night, while Tom is gone during the day. Casper asks Tom to deliver the car to his family estate – an old mansion located in distant Dartmoor.

Tom drives the auto to the Femm Mansion, running into some adversity along the way- and even within the old place! He meets the eccentric Femm family, including dotty uncle Potifer, attractive female cousins Cecily and Morganna, Aunt Agatha, and head of the family Roderick- and learns, to his shock, that one relative he is familiar with has died! A terrible storm has isolated them all in the estate for the night- and Tom learns about a huge fortune bequeathed to the family that requires them all to be present in the house every night at midnight. No wonder Casper was never at Tom’s apartment!

It seems one death in the family was not enough- as, every hour, another relative ends up being killed off! Tom finds himself a target as well, and struggles with members of the family he can’t be sure he can trust, one that seems to have returned to life, and a final threat that could take him and any remaining relatives into oblivion!

This movie is an odd collaborative effort of the beloved British horror bastion Hammer Studios- and our old pal, the king of American ballyhoo horror William Castle! I have purposely not revealed a lot about the story ( and ask that our blog commenters refrain from any spoilers as well- yes, this means YOU!) since we have not shown this film before, and I know many of our viewers have never seen it. We’ll introduce you to the cast, including one British actor we especially think you’ll know-explain a little about the production- and supply some Sven fun, including a new song, and some Old Dark Household Hints from Tombstone!

The “Old Dark House” premieres tonight on MeTV at 8 pm eastern/pacific, 7 central, or check listings in your area ( or at www.metv.com ) for the time and channel. Feel free to join our Twitter fans in live-tweeting during the show, using the hashtag #svengoolie  ! Once again in the Chicago viewing area, due to sports programming, our usual show on the U will be airing at a special time- 10 am this morning- with an encore of “Revenge of the Creature”!  Next week, the show returns to its usual time for at least a couple weeks.

Here’s a reminder- I’ll be appearing at the new “Pet Supplies Plus” store at the Harlem and Cermak Plaza - 7133 Cermak Road- in Berwyn- yes, BERWYN! On Saturday, February 1^st  from 1-3 pm! And- later next month, I’ll be appearing at the annual fantastic C2E2 comics and entertainment convention at Chicago’s McCormick Place!

Tonight- join us in spending the evening in a creepy old mansion where a vast inheritance is just to die for- literally!