Vincent Price was brought in at the last minute to substitute for Robert Cummings, who had become indisposed through illness. Price was cast most likely because he had forged a good working relationship with producer Burt Kelly and Joe May in October 1939 while working on The Invisible Man Returns (1940).
The House of the Seven Gables (1940), was originally budgeted at $161,625, and the production wrapped two days over schedule with the cast and crew typically working until 10 p.m. Final cost: $178,000.
This is only Vincent Price's second film role. In the previous The Invisible Man Returns (1940), his time on screen was limited by his entrance very late in the film. This makes The House of the Seven Gables (1940) the first fully starring character for Price.
Jack P. Pierce, makeup artist famous for his work in Universal's horror movies of the 1930's, came up with the makeup design for the lead performers (who age two decades or more during the course of the picture).