Carnival of Souls (1962) Movie Overview

Carnival of Souls is a low budget 1962 horror film starring Candace Hilligoss. Produced and directed by Herk Harvey for an estimated $33,000, the movie never gained widespread public attention when it was originally released as it was intended as a B film and today, has become somewhat of a cult classic. Set to an organ score by Gene Moore, Carnival of Souls relies more on atmosphere than on special effects to create its mood of horror. The film has a large cult following and occasionally has screenings at local film and Halloween festivals. Herk Harvey was a Lawrence, Kansas-based director and producer of industrial and educational films for the Centron Corporation. While vacationing in Salt Lake City, he developed the idea for the movie after driving past the abandoned Saltair Pavilion. Hiring an unknown actress, Lee Strasberg-trained Candace Hilligoss, and otherwise employing mostly local talent, he shot Carnival of Souls in three weeks, on location in Lawrence and Salt Lake City. The film tells the story of Mary Henry, a talented young organist (Hilligoss). At the beginning of the film, Mary is riding in a car with two other girls when some boys challenge them to a drag race th… Source

• Carnival of Souls Movie Details
• Director: Herk Harvey
• Tagline: She Was A Stranger Among The Living.
• Country: USA
• Run Time: 78 min | 91 min (original version) | USA:84 min (director's cut)
• Genre: Horror , Mystery

• Cast Overview
• Candace Hilligoss as Mary Henry
• Frances Feist as Mrs. Thomas, Landlady
• Sidney Berger as John Linden
• Art Ellison as Minister
• Stan Levitt as Dr. Samuels
• Tom McGinnis as Organ Factory Boss

Carnival of Souls Movie Review from New York Times

A drag race turns to tragedy when one car, with three young women inside, topples over a bridge and into the muddy river below. The authorities drag the river, but the search is fruitless and the girls are presumed dead until a single survivor stumbles out of the water with no recollection of how she escaped. Mary Henry (Candace Hilligoss) decides… Source

Carnival of Souls Movie Details from Imdb

Mary Henry is enjoying the day by riding around in a car with two friends. When challenged to a drag, the women accept, but are forced off of a bridge. It appears that all are drowned, until Mary, quite some time later, amazingly emerges from the river. After recovering, Mary accepts a job in a new town as a church organist, only to be dogged by a… Source

Carnival of Souls (1962) from YouTube