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The Tell-Tale Heart

  • 19531953
  • PassedPassed
  • 8m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
2K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
39,985
2,111
The Tell-Tale Heart (1953)
AnimationShortCrime
A madman tells his tale of murder, and how a strange beating sound haunted him afterward.A madman tells his tale of murder, and how a strange beating sound haunted him afterward.A madman tells his tale of murder, and how a strange beating sound haunted him afterward.
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
2K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
39,985
2,111
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Ted Parmelee
    • Writers
      • Edgar Allan Poe(story)
      • Bill Scott(story adaptation)
      • Fred Grable(story adaptation)
    • Star
      • James Mason(voice)
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Ted Parmelee
    • Writers
      • Edgar Allan Poe(story)
      • Bill Scott(story adaptation)
      • Fred Grable(story adaptation)
    • Star
      • James Mason(voice)
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 25User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 1 win & 1 nomination total

    Photos17

    The Tell-Tale Heart (1953)
    The Tell-Tale Heart (1953)
    The Tell-Tale Heart (1953)
    The Tell-Tale Heart (1953)
    The Tell-Tale Heart (1953)
    The Tell-Tale Heart (1953)
    The Tell-Tale Heart (1953)
    The Tell-Tale Heart (1953)
    The Tell-Tale Heart (1953)
    The Tell-Tale Heart (1953)
    The Tell-Tale Heart (1953)
    The Tell-Tale Heart (1953)

    Top cast

    Edit
    James Mason
    James Mason
    • Narrator
    • (voice)
    • Director
      • Ted Parmelee
    • Writers
      • Edgar Allan Poe(story)
      • Bill Scott(story adaptation)
      • Fred Grable(story adaptation)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The first animated short film to be rated X by the British Film Board of Censors.
    • Quotes

      [first title card]

      Title Card: The film you are about to see is based on a story told a hundred years ago by America's greatest master of drama and suspense.......

    • Connections
      Featured in Hellboy (2004)

    User reviews25

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Brilliant
    A boarder becomes increasingly horrified by the nasty eye of his landlord, and plans to kill him. However, he hasn't taken the power of a guilty conscience into consideration. One is faced with a challenge when adapting something that is already impeccable in its original form. To make one's work worth producing and, for others, to take in, one must truly do justice to what made it so. Poe's short story has chilled countless people for more than a century, with its downright disgusting descriptions, how direct he is in the rendition of pure terror, and of the immersion into madness. Many of his words are used here, with a pristine performance by James Mason bringing them to life. The sound FX and eerie music further enhance this retelling, and completing the trifecta is the vivid, at times surreal animation. Never a tale of people but one of states of mind, of emotion and mood, this barely shows faces, it is not a clear, chronological narrative, no, rather, you feel what our narrator felt, and while you undoubtedly want to distance yourself from his actions, you can't look upon the situation from the outside, with judgment and clarity, you are pulled in, and drown in the insanity. The dark, dingy colors, the sparse detail, indeed, at one point, even... sheer black. Silence. This is how you adapt this magnificent author, R.I.P. There is disturbing content in this. I recommend this to any fan of Gothic horror. 8/10
    helpful•2
    0
    • TBJCSKCNRRQTreviews
    • Mar 28, 2012

    FAQ5

    • What do the opening title cards say?
    • What did 'Motion Picture Exhibitor' write about this film?
    • Was this film released in 3-D?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 17, 1953 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • El corazón delator
    • Production company
      • United Productions of America (UPA)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      8 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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