Jess Franco's USHER: Part 2

There are now three versions of Jess Franco's 1983 adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER. The one that is the most doggedly unavailable, which was pretty much booed off the screen when it was shown in Spain almost 40 years ago, is the long lost first director's cut. This is the one the dedicated Jess Franco scholar most wants to discover. Since it's never been theatrically released anywhere, has no video or digital presentation and has virtually disappeard for four decades, hopes are slim for a reevalutation. The most well-known version, with additional scenes and produced by Eurocine, has had nuermous titles and releases over the last 40 years. The original 1983 title:El hundimiento de la casa Usher, followed by, Alternative titles: La chute de la maison Usher (FRA) Los crímenes de Usher

La Chute De La Maison Usher (French: 1993 Century VHS)

Revenge in the House of Usher (GBR) Zombie 5 (USA) Revolt of the House of Usher The Fall of the House of Usher Névrose Neurosis (Blu-ray) The trouble started with a screening of the director's original cut of EL HUNDIMEINETO DE LA USHER at Imagfic in Madrid, but the project's difficulties continued. Given that was a non-started Franco attempted to save this vision by directing a re-edited and re-shot follow up, THE CRIMES OF USHER. This iteration seems to have had a very limited Spanish release. Before going into that version it is necessary to consider the film which Franco himself has stated was the inspiration for filming the story. That would be Jean Epstein's 1928 THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER. Lastly little over an hour this silent version is heavily influence by Expressionist/Romantic Art, as were the previous silent films of Fritz Lang (DIE NIEBELUNGEN) and F.W. Murnau (NOSFERATU, FAUST).