Herk Harvey

Directing·Jun 3, 1924·Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

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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.

Film	Credit
Signals: Read 'Em or Weep1981 · Director	Director
Shake Hands with Danger1980 · Director	Director
KKorea: Overview1980 · Narrator (voice), Director	Narrator (voice), Director
Halloween Safety1977 · Director	Director
The Reluctant Witch1971 · Director	Director
TTell It Like It Is1968 · Director	Director
TTake a Letter... From A to Z1967 · Director	Director
JJamaica, Haiti and the Lesser Antilles1964 · Director	Director
Case History of a Sales Meeting1963 · Director	Director
PPork: The Meal with a Squeal1963 · Narrator, Director	Narrator, Director
Carnival of Souls1962 · The Man, Director, Producer	The Man, Director, Producer
To Touch a Child1962 · Director	Director
OOperation Grass Killer1961 · Farmer, Director	Farmer, Director
Dance, Little Children1961 · Actor, Director	Actor, Director
Your Junior High Days1961 · Director	Director
Exchanging Greetings and Introductions1960 · Director	Director
What About Prejudice?1959 · Doctor in Hospital, Director	Doctor in Hospital, Director
The Trouble Maker1959 · Director	Director
The Innocent Party1959 · Director	Director
MManners in Public1958 · Man in Bus, Director	Man in Bus, Director
What About School Spirit?1958 · Man in School (uncredited), Director	Man in School (uncredited), Director
Manners in School1958 · Director	Director
The Snob1958 · Director	Director
Understanding Others1958 · Director	Director
None For The Road1957 · Director	Director
MMake Your Home Safe1957 · Director	Director
Why Study Industrial Arts1956 · Director	Director
WWhat About Alcoholism?1956 · Director	Director
Rebound!1955 · Bob, the Blind man (uncredited), Director	Bob, the Blind man (uncredited), Director
Why Study Science?1955 · Director	Director
Cindy Goes to a Party1955 · Director	Director
The Gossip1955 · Director	Director
The Sound of a Stone1955 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
What About Juvenile Delinquency1955 · Director	Director
Why Study Home Economics?1955 · Construction Worker, Director	Construction Worker, Director
What About Drinking1954 · Director	Director
CCaring For Your Toys1954 · Director	Director
George Tackles the Land1954 · Director	Director
The Griper1954 · Director	Director
Star 341954 · William Jonathan 'Bill' Asher, Director	William Jonathan 'Bill' Asher, Director
A Life to Save1954 · Director	Director
The Show-Off1954 · Director	Director
AA Citizen Makes a Decision1954 · Director	Director
The Good Loser1953 · Director	Director
Health: Your Cleanliness1953 · Director	Director
Health: Your Posture1953 · Director	Director
Responsibility1953 · Director	Director
Cheating1952 · Director	Director
The Procrastinator1952 · Director	Director
SStreet Safety Is Your Problem1952 · Director	Director
Buying Food1950 · Director	Director