Pic of the Day: “Francis in the Haunted House” revisited

As Halloween approaches, we take another look at Hugo, hulking castle minion, in Francis in the Haunted House (1956), directed by Charles Lamont. Here he calmly assess the situation with Helen Wallace, Virginia Welles, Charles Horvath (holding the empty suit of armor) and (I’m fairly certain) Paul Cavanagh.

Francis in the Haunted House (1956)

Horvath was one of the top stuntmen in Hollywood, brawling his way through countless films and television shows from the late 1940s until his death in 1978. He and Timothy had uncredited roles in Joseph M. Newman‘s The Gunfight at Dodge City (1959). And like Tim, he worked with John Cassavetes late in his career, in A Woman Under the Influence (1974).

Bonus Pic: Happy Birthday Mickey Rooney!

Today is the 92nd birthday anniversary of the indefatigable Mickey Rooney! Here he is with Timothy and Helen Wallace in a promotional still for Francis in the Haunted House (1956).

Rooney is one of our few remaining Hollywood legends. We wish him a wonderful birthday!

Pic of the Day: “Francis in the Haunted House”

Boo! Our pic for today is from Charles Lamont‘s Francis in the Haunted House (1956). Tim doesn’t have much to do but look menacing and open doors and gates. At least in this shot, with Helen Wallace and Mickey Rooney, he gets to indulge in some comedy. He thinks he’s seen a ghost.

Francis in the Haunted House
You will probably remember Helen Wallace in her uncredited role as the customer in search of humane bug powder in Sam Loomis’ hardware store who declares, “And I say, insect or man, death should always be painless,” in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960).