You know that feeling when you stumble upon a movie that feels like it shouldn't exist because the lineup is just too good to be true? That’s 1968’s Curse of the Crimson Altar. Honestly, it’s a weird one. It’s got this psychedelic, late-sixties British vibe mixed with old-school Gothic dread. But the real reason people still talk about it—and the reason it’s a cult staple today—is the cast of Curse of the Crimson Altar. We’re talking about a once-in-a-lifetime collision of horror royalty.
Imagine putting Christopher Lee and Boris Karloff in the same room. Now throw in Barbara Steele, the undisputed queen of Italian Gothic cinema. It’s basically the horror equivalent of the 1992 Dream Team, but with more capes and occult rituals.
Released in the US as The Crimson Cult, the film follows a man named Robert Manning who goes looking for his missing brother at a remote estate. What he finds is a coven, a whole lot of green face paint, and some of the most iconic actors to ever grace a flickering screen.
The Heavy Hitters: Christopher Lee and Boris Karloff
When you look at the cast of Curse of the Crimson Altar, your eyes immediately go to the top of the bill. Christopher Lee plays Morley, the master of the manor. Lee was at the height of his Hammer Films fame here, but this wasn't a Hammer production—it was Tigon British Film Productions. Lee brings that signature, towering authority to the role. He’s elegant. He’s menacing. He makes wearing a cravat look like a threat.
Then there’s Boris Karloff.
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This was one of Karloff’s final roles before he passed away in 1969. He plays Professor Marsh, an expert on witchcraft who uses a wheelchair. There’s something deeply poignant about seeing Karloff here. He was struggling with his health during filming—legend has it he was frequently on oxygen between takes—yet his performance is sharp. He doesn't just phone it in. He provides the intellectual weight the movie desperately needs when the plot starts getting a bit trippy.
Seeing Lee and Karloff share the screen is a bit like watching a passing of the torch, even though they had worked together before (most notably in Corridors of Blood). In this film, their chemistry is built on mutual respect and a shared understanding of how to make even the pulpier dialogue sound like Shakespeare.
Barbara Steele and the Occult Aesthetic
If Lee and Karloff are the foundation, Barbara Steele is the lightning bolt. As Lavinia, the black witch executed centuries prior, she dominates every scene she's in, even though she spends a lot of her time in bizarre, colorful dream sequences.
Steele is famous for Black Sunday, and she has these incredible, expressive eyes that seem to pierce right through the film stock. In the cast of Curse of the Crimson Altar, she represents the transition from classic horror to the more avant-garde, psychedelic horror of the late 60s. She wears this massive, ornate headpiece and green skin tint. It sounds campy. On anyone else, it probably would be. On Steele? It’s genuinely unsettling.
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The Supporting Players and the Leading Man
While the big three get the glory, the rest of the cast of Curse of the Crimson Altar fills out the edges of this fever dream perfectly.
- Mark Eden: He plays Robert Manning, our protagonist. Eden does a solid job playing the "normal guy" caught in a nightmare. You might recognize him from Doctor Who or his long-running role as Alan Bradley in Coronation Street. He has that classic British leading-man stoicism.
- Virginia Wetherell: She plays Eve, the love interest and Morley’s niece. Wetherell was a staple of British exploitation and horror around this time. She brings a necessary groundedness to the more outlandish scenes.
- Michael Gough: Yes, Alfred from the Tim Burton Batman movies is here too! Gough plays Elder, the eccentric (and slightly creepy) butler/handyman. Gough was a master of the "weird guy in the corner" roles before he became a household name.
Why This Specific Lineup Mattered
It wasn't just about big names. This cast was a bridge. You had Karloff representing the Universal Monsters era of the 30s and 40s. You had Lee representing the bloody, colorful Hammer era of the 50s and 60s. And you had Steele representing the atmospheric, stylish European horror movement.
It was a perfect storm.
The director, Vernon Sewell, wasn't exactly a visionary on the level of Mario Bava or Terence Fisher, but he knew enough to stay out of the way of his stars. The movie is loosely—and I mean very loosely—based on H.P. Lovecraft’s The Dreams in the Witch House. While it ditches most of Lovecraft’s cosmic nihilism for a more standard "haunted house" plot, the cast elevates the material. They make you believe in the ancient curse even when the sets look a bit flimsy.
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Behind the Scenes Dynamics
Interestingly, the atmosphere on set was reportedly a bit strange. Karloff was very old and frail, but he was reportedly delighted to be working. Lee, ever the professional, was protective of Karloff. There's a story that during a night shoot in the freezing cold, Lee became furious because he felt the production wasn't taking enough care of the aging Karloff. This wasn't just a job for these guys; it was a craft.
The film also captures a specific moment in British culture. The "Swinging Sixties" are bleeding into the frame. There are parties with mini-skirts and loud music that clash violently with the 17th-century witchcraft themes. It’s this jarring contrast that makes the cast of Curse of the Crimson Altar so effective—they are the anchors of tradition in a world that’s rapidly changing.
Actionable Takeaways for Horror Fans
If you're looking to dive into this era of film, don't just stop at the credits. Here is how to actually appreciate what this cast did:
- Watch for the Eye Contact: In the scenes between Lee and Karloff, notice how they use their eyes. Karloff, even with his physical limitations, uses his gaze to command the room. Lee uses his height and sharp stares to intimidate.
- Compare the Styles: Watch Black Sunday (Steele), Horror of Dracula (Lee), and Frankenstein (Karloff) before watching this. It makes the "crossover" aspect of this movie ten times more satisfying.
- Look for the Tigon Touch: Tigon was the "third" studio behind Hammer and Amicus. They were grittier. Knowing the cast of Curse of the Crimson Altar worked for this underdog studio helps explain the film's unique, slightly less polished feel compared to a Hammer production.
- Check the Blu-ray Extras: Several modern restorations (like the one from 88 Films) include interviews with the surviving crew. These provide incredible context on what it was like to work with Karloff in his final days.
The film isn't perfect. It’s slow in places. The "psychedelic" scenes are definitely a product of 1968. But the sheer magnetism of the performers keeps it alive. You don't watch Curse of the Crimson Altar for a tight, logical plot. You watch it to see three legends of the macabre treat a B-movie script with the seriousness of a royal gala. That’s where the real magic—or witchcraft—happens.
To truly understand British horror, you have to spend time with these actors. They defined the genre for generations. This film is your chance to see them all together, one last time, in a swirl of incense, green makeup, and Gothic shadows.
Next Steps for Your Movie Night: Start by sourcing the high-definition restoration of the film to appreciate the vibrant color palette and Steele’s costume design. Follow it up with a viewing of Witchfinder General (another Tigon classic) to see how the studio was pushing boundaries during the same year. Finally, look into the filmography of Michael Gough to see how many horror gems he hid in before joining the DC universe.