Elvira, Mistress of the Dark (1988)

Country of Origin: USA
Year of Production: 1988
Running Times: 96 mins
Format: colour
Ratio:
Sound: Dolby

CREDITS

PRODUCTION
Production Companies: NBC Productions / New World Pictures / Queen B Productions
Executive Producer: Michael I. Rachmil
Supervising Producer: Joel Thurm
Producers: Eric Gardner, Mark Pierson
Production Manager: Robert Latham Brown

SCRIPT
Script: Sam Egan, John Paragon, Cassandra Peterson

DIRECTION
Director: James Signorelli
Archive Footage Director: Roger Corman (It Conquered the World (1956) (uncredited))

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: Hanania Baer
Lab: CFI

EDITING AND POST-PRODUCTION
Editor: Battle Davis
1st Assistant Editor: Neil Kirk

MUSIC
Music: James B. Campbell
Songs: Michael Sembello, Dennis Matkosky (Maniac)
Songs Performed By: Michael Sembello (Maniac); Screamin' Jay Hawkins (I Put A Spell On You); Elvira (real name: Cassandra Peterson) (Elvira Rap)
Songs Produced By: Phil Ramone, Michael Sembello (Maniac)

SOUND
Sound Designer: Clancy T. Troutman

MAKE UP AND COSTUMES
Make Up Department Head: Pamela S. Westmore
Costume Designer: Betsy Heimann
Costume Supervisor: Andrea E. Weaver

SPECIAL MAKE UP EFFECTS
Special Make Up Effects: Steve LaPorte

SPECIAL EFFECTS
Mechanical Effects: Larry Odien

VISUAL EFFECTS
Visual Effects Editor: Joseph Yanuzzi

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Production Designer: John DeCuir Jr
Storyboard Artist: David Russell

MISCELLANEOUS
Production Accountant: Marilyn Tasso
Choreographer: Patricia Birch
Publicist: Brad Stephens

LOCATIONS
Locations: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

STUNTS
Stunt Coordinator: Monty Cox
Stunts: Pete Antico, Rick Avery, Gregory J. Barnett, Geof Brewer, Anthony Cecere, Tony Cecere, Eurlyne Epper, Richard Epper, Jack Gill, Sandy Gimpel, Ted Gincig, John Hock, Thomas J. Huff, Steve Hulin, Rosemary Johnston, Matt McColm, Kathleen O'Haco, William R. Perry, James J. Poslof, Anna Maria Rapagna, Debby Lynn Ross, Edward J. Ulrich, Jack West

CAST
Cassandra Peterson (Elvira / Morgana Talbot)
William Morgan Sheppard (Vincent Talbot)
Daniel Greene (Bob Redding)
Susan Kellerman (Patty)
Jeff Conaway (Travis)
Edie McClurg (Chastity Pariah)
William Duell (Lesley Meeker)
Phil Rubenstein (director)
Larry Flash Jenkins (technical director)
Damita Jo Freeman (associate producer)
Tress MacNeille (anchorwoman)
Edwina Moore (hairdresser)
Mario Celario (Rudy)
Lee McLaughlin (Earl Hooter)
Bill Swearingen (cameraman)
Charles Woolf (Manny)
William Dance (messenger)
William Cort (lawyer / game show host)
Sharon Hays (game ghow girl)
Bill Cable (cop)
John Paragon (gas station attendant)
Joseph Arias (hitchhiker)
Kris Kamm (Randy)
Scott Morris (Sean)
Ira Heiden (Bo)
Bill Morey (Mr Rivers)
Pat Crawford Brown (Mrs Meeker)
Ellen Dunning (Robin Meeker)
Frank Collison (Billy)
Lynne Marie Stewart (bartender)
Deryl Carroll (Charlie)
Marie Sullivan (Mrs Morissey)
Jack Fletcher (Mr Bigelow)
Robert Benedetti (Calvin Cobb)
Kurt Fuller (Mr Clotter)
Kate Brown (Anita)
Hugh Gillin (sheriff)
Eve Smith (little old lady)
Raleigh Bond (minister)
Tony Burrier, Alexandre Magio, Alan Dewames, Sebastian Russell, Tim Hill, Read Scot, James Hogan, James Zyzack Sterling (Las Vegas dancers)
Peter Blanco Jr, Gabriel Colbert, Michael G. Jackson (Las Vegas rappers)
Derek Givens, Deron McBee (Las Vegas musclemen)
Dick Miller (Sergeant Neil in footage from It Conquered the World (1956) (uncredited))

Stand-Ins: A.J. Block, William Wallace Ward III

PLOT SUMMARY

TV horror host Elvira inherits her late aunt's New England mansion in a sleepy, remote town. The arrival of the flamboyant Elvira causes uproar in the town, as does her use of the magical items found in her new home.

AVAILABILITY

Korea
Video Distributors: Altomedia Co Ltd
DVD Distributors: Altomedia Co Ltd

USA
Theatrical Distributors: New World Pictures
Television Distributors: NBC Enterprises; New World Entertainment; Warner Bros. Television
Video Distributors: Anchor Bay Entertainment
DVD Distributors: Anchor Bay Entertainment (DV 11264)

CENSORSHIP HISTORY

Australia
Rating: M

UK
Rating: 15

USA
Rating: PG-13

West Germany
Rating: 12

AWARDS

1989
Razzie Awards, USA
Worst Actress (Cassandra Peterson) - nominated

1990
Fantasporto, Portugal
International Fantasy Film Award Best Film (James Signorelli) - nominated

TIMELINE

1990
January
24: France – theatrical release

February
Day Unknown: Portugal – shown at the Fantasporto Film Festival

2001
February
21: USA - DVD release (Anchor Bay Entertainment (DV 11264))
27: USA - video release (Anchor Bay Entertainment)

POSTER TAGS

Elvira makes her Big Screem Debut in her Hot New Comedy.

Unpleasant Dreams...

Here comes Elvira... there goes the neighbourhood!

ALTERNATIVE TITLES

Elvira - A Rainha das Trevas - Brazilian title
Elvira - Herrscherin der Dunkelheit - West German title
Elvira - Spanish title
Una strega chiamata Elvira - Italian title
Yön kuningatar - Finnish title

LINKS

SEQUEL
Elvira's Haunted Hills (2001)

INCLUDES FOOTAGE FROM
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes! (1978)
It Conquered the World (1956)

FOOTAGE INCLUDED IN
Heartstoppers: Horror at the Movies (1992)

SEE ALSO
Blood (1997)
Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 (2000)
The Exorcist (1973)
The Gumby Show (1957)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
Movie Macabre (1981)
The Thing with Two Heads (1972)
Urban Legend (1998)
The Wizard of Oz (1939)

REFERENCES

MAGAZINES

Film Review November 1989 p.10 (UK)
review

Première February 1990 p.19 (France)
review (by Cedric Quesnel)

BOOKS

Hoffman's Guide to SF, Horror and Fantasy Movies 1991 - 1992 p.119
credits, review

The Illustrated Vampire Movie Guide by Stephen Jones p.104
credits, review

KEYWORDS

disembodied hands, dogs, inheritances, magic, spell books, witchcraft

Last Updated: 1 January, 2009