Known For
Directing
Born
Jun 03, 1924
Died
Apr 03, 1996
Place of Birth
Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
Credits
57 titles
Herk Harvey
Biography
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.
Known For
Filmography
exposer
The Man
The Movie That Wouldn't Die! – The 'Carnival of Souls' Story
Self
Murder Ordained
Jury Foreman
Signals: Read 'Em or Weep
Director
Shake Hands with Danger
Director
Korea: Overview
Narrator (voice)
Halloween Safety
Director
The Reluctant Witch
Director
Tell It Like It Is
Director
Take a Letter... From A to Z
Director
Jamaica, Haiti and the Lesser Antilles
Director
Case History of a Sales Meeting
Self (uncredited)
Pork: The Meal with a Squeal
Narrator
Carnival of Souls
The Man
To Touch a Child
Director
Operation Grass Killer
Farmer
Dance, Little Children
Your Junior High Days
Director
Exchanging Greetings and Introductions
Director
The Innocent Party
Director
The Trouble Maker
Director
What About Prejudice?
Doctor in Hospital
The Snob
Director
What About School Spirit?
Man in School (uncredited)
Manners in Public
Man in Bus
Understanding Others
Director
Manners in School
Director
None For The Road
Director
Make Your Home Safe
Director
Why Study Industrial Arts
Director
What About Alcoholism?
Director
Rebound!
Bob, the Blind man (uncredited)
Why Study Science?
Director
Cindy Goes to a Party
Director
The Gossip
Director
The Sound of a Stone
Director
What About Juvenile Delinquency
Director
Why Study Home Economics?
Construction Worker
What About Drinking
Director
Caring For Your Toys
Director
George Tackles the Land
Director
The Griper
Director
Star 34
William Jonathan 'Bill' Asher
A Life to Save
Director
The Show-Off
Director
A Citizen Makes a Decision
Director
The Good Loser
Director
Health: Your Cleanliness
Director
Health: Your Posture
Director
Responsibility
Director