The black and white cinematography by Erwin Hillier is gorgeous. The Ch창teau de Hautefort in Dordogne, France is well utilized as the film's location — both interiors and exteriors are filmed beautifully and add to the overall sinister atmosphere of the film. Kim Novak was originally supposed to play Catherine, but she was injured while on horseback and had to withdraw from the film. She was replaced with Deborah Kerr, who does a great job unraveling as she watches her husband embark on (to her) an inexplicable quest to save the vineyard. Kerr is closer in age to Niven, but Novak might have been interesting, as she would have been closer in age to Tate (in her first film appearance), which might have put their rivalry on a more equal footing. David Hemmings is menacing (and gorgeous) as Tate's blonde archer brother.
It was interesting to see Kerr's character spend most of the movie concerned for her husband and his fate, but mostly oblivious to the threat a dynastic tradition of sacrifice equalling successful harvest might hold for her son. Ten years later in The Omen the child would become the focus of evil in a film.
Odile is always hanging around the chateau
The locals are happy to see the Marquis back in town
Those de Caray kids sure wear a lot of black
David Hemmings never looked dreamier
Odile with Damien, errr ... Jacques
Be careful who you meet in the woods
Philippe is just tired and wants to get on with it
Donald Pleasance as the local priest
Sharon Tate looking very Mrs. Peel-esque
Niven in a scene with Kim Novak before she had to leave the film
