Herk Harvey

Born: 1924-06-03

​From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.   Harold Arnold "Herk" Harvey (June 3, 1924 – April 3, 1996) was an American film director, actor, and film producer. Harvey is best known for his sole feature film, Carnival of Souls, a low budget 1962 horror film starring Candace Hilligoss. It was produced and directed by Harvey for an estimated $33,000. Harvey had witnessed the recent success of Elmer Rhoden Jr. and fellow industrial filmmaker Robert Altman in producing low-budget feature films in nearby Kansas City, and began to secure backing from local investors in order to mount a similar project in Lawrence. While returning to Kansas after shooting a Centron film in California, Harvey developed the idea for Carnival of Souls after driving past the abandoned Saltair Pavilion in Salt Lake City, Utah. Hiring an unknown New York actress, Lee Strasberg-trained Hilligoss, and otherwise employing mostly local talent, Harvey shot Carnival of Souls in three weeks, on location in Lawrence and Salt Lake City, using a script penned by Centron associate John Clifford. Harvey also played an uncredited role as the film's most prominent "ghoul." Originally marketed as a B film and released by an upstart distribution company that quickly went bankrupt, Carnival of Souls never gained widespread public attention upon its original release but today has become hailed as 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 psychological horror. The film has a large cult following, built up primarily via late-night television screenings, and has been released on DVD by the Criterion Collection (complete with a host of special features, including an hour of excerpts from Harvey's Centron productions). To this day, the movie is still discussed by film buffs and occasionally has screenings at Halloween and art film festivals. Description above from the Wikipedia article Herk Harvey, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.


Placeholder

Carnival of Souls

as The Man
Released: 1962-11-02

Mary Henry ends up the sole survivor of a fatal car accident through mysterious circumstances....

Movie page

Horrible Horror

as The Man in 'Carnival of Souls'
Released: 1986-01-01

A collection of trailers and previews from various low-budget horror films of the '50s and '60s.

Movie page

Speech: Using Your Voice

as uncredited
Released: 1950-12-31

An educational short film about correct speaking methods.

Movie page

The Movie That Wouldn't Die! – The 'Carnival of Souls' Story

as Self
Released: 1998-01-01

Documentary about the making of the 1962 cult film "Carnival of Souls".

Movie page

Rebound!

as Bob, the Blind man (uncredited)
Released: 1955-12-31

Short movie from Centron Corporation

Movie page

Star 34

as uncredited
Released: 1954-06-03

Promotional short film for the state of Kansas and its historic landmarks.

Movie page

exposer

as The Man
Released: 2022-02-02

A man battling drug addiction is stalked by an ominous masked photographer.

Movie page

Case History of a Sales Meeting

as Self (uncredited)
Released: 1963-12-31

Short movie from Centron Corporation

Movie page

Why Study Home Economics?

as Construction Worker
Released: 1955-01-05

Two sisters are trying to decide which classes to take next semester. When one wants to take...

Movie page

Dance, Little Children

as uncredited
Released: 1961-01-23

Remember Lynn. You will see her again. The legendary Herk Harvey (CARNIVAL OF SOULS) knows how...

Movie page