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Post by The Walking Dude on May 24, 2011 17:20:17 GMT -5
This Friday,May 27th marks what would have been my favourite ever actor - Vincent Price's 100th birthday. To celebrate I'm planning to cram in as many Price films as I can over the course of 40 hours. Starting at midnight Thurs (AUS time) and continuing through to approx. 4pm Saturday,which is when I calculate Friday ends in the U.S.Then I'll sleep for the rest of the weekend.  I have 31 films to choose from,and I'm not sure of the exact line up yet.I'll post updates as I go. |
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Post by CT on May 25, 2011 15:50:48 GMT -5
Awesome, let us know how it goes!
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Post by The Walking Dude on May 26, 2011 15:08:36 GMT -5
As I sorta suspected(despite my best intentions), I fell asleep before midnight,so the marathon got delayed by a few hours.It's just after 6am and have commenced with House of Wax.Then onto The Mad Magician.
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Post by CT on May 26, 2011 17:51:20 GMT -5
Hahaha!
More caffeine was needed apparently!
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Post by The Walking Dude on May 26, 2011 18:09:02 GMT -5
Caffeine at first and then Beer  |
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Post by The Walking Dude on May 26, 2011 23:16:11 GMT -5
Ok I'm 6 films down at the moment House of Wax - I've waxed lyrical (pun most definitely intended) about this film in it's own thread, so nothing further to add. The Mad Magician - Basically House of wax again, except this time Price is a wronged Magician out for revenge rather than a sculptor.It was also released in 3D. The Tingler - This one's great.Price plays a DR. who is studying fear and discovers a creature that grows on one's spine.It can only be stopped by screaming. Most famous for it's gimmick of electric charges being set up on select seats in the theatre that would give you a 'tingling' sensation,encouraging the audience to scream.Price's acid trip is hilarious.I also believe that it inspired The Misfits song 'Scream'. Scream and Scream Again - A late 60's Amicus title, with small roles from Cushing and Lee as well.Not enough Price in it though for my liking today. Tomb of Ligeia - Probably the least of all the Corman/Price/Poe AIP movies,I actually found myself dosing off. Tales of Terror - A Poe anthology the highlight of which is definitely the middle segment 'The Black Cat' which features a hilarious drinking contest between Price and Peter Lorre. This film is also notable for having two of it's stories redone for 'Two Evil Eyes'- The Black Cat by Argento,And the Facts in the Case of M Valdemar by Romero. This last film has been my cue to start on the beers! Next up will be The Comedy of Terrors. |
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Post by GL on May 27, 2011 9:47:11 GMT -5
I think the same on Scream and Scream Again. For a film billed to contain appearances by such stars, it should've featured them more. Not that the rest of the film was all that good, but it would've helped distract from that fact.
Though I've always loved Ligeia personally as one of the best in the Corman/Poe series right after Usher. Glorious Gothic castle setting, some solid jumps and a fantastic finale in that grand old burning-down-the-house tradition that always works so well in these films. I never really cared with the pacing all that much, wasn't much of a bother for me strangely.
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Post by The Walking Dude on May 28, 2011 23:55:20 GMT -5
My marathon concluded with 3 of my Price favourites
The Comedy of Terrors - I love this film,one of the best macabre comedy's ever done.Price and Lorre are at it again,this time playing a pair of funeral parlour operators whose business has fallen on hard times,(they have been using the same coffin for 13 years)and decide to find their own customers. Great running gags,and some excellent supporting turns by Boris Karloff,as Price's out of it father in law,Basil Rathbone as a victim who just won't stay dead(and thinks he's Hamlet) and a sneaky little cat Rhubarb.
Next up was Madhouse - which for me was the last truly great Price classic.It similar to Karloff's Targets, in that it's a celebration of the old,but an appreciation of the new,modern styles of horror that were taking over at the time.Price is Paul Toombes,an actor who is making a comeback to his role of Dr. Death after a breakdown,bought on by the murder of his fiánce. Of course murders begin anew, with suspicion falling on Toombes once again.Also starring Peter Cushing, it features clips from some of Price's earlier films and plenty of in-jokes/homages to others (note the music in the climax, reminiscent of House of wax).
Last but certainly not least
The Haunted Palace - my favourite from the Poe cycle(which is ironic considering only the title is derived from Poe,it's actually an adaptation of Lovecraft's The Case of Charles Dexter Ward).I love the fog filled gothic atmosphere in this one in which Price plays the dual role of Joseph Curwen/Charles Dexter Ward,the former of whom is taking possession of his grandson's body, to get revenge on the village who killed him.
I tried later to watch House on Haunted Hill, but my tired eyes and mind got the best of me. It certainly was a fun way to pay tribute to one of my idols.
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Post by CT on May 29, 2011 12:34:53 GMT -5
I really need to watch more of the movies you mentioned in this thread, I've only seen a couple of 'em!  |
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Post by HiderInTheHouse on May 31, 2011 14:07:28 GMT -5
Finally watched The Abominable Dr. Phibes for the first time the other day. That was a cool fuck'n movie.
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Post by GP on Jun 17, 2011 3:10:50 GMT -5
Strange coincidence, so did I. Still a very entertaining movie. If you like Robert Fuest's visual style and sense of humour I recommend The Final Programme. It's a poor version of the Michael Moorcock book but if you watch it in isolation it's a fun film and, I'm pretty sure, Robert Fuest's last.
Back on VP I watched The Last Man on Earth a couple of weeks ago (in a triple bill with The Omega Man and the risble I Am Legend). Still the best adaptation of Matheson's novel, although I have yet to see The Asylum's I Am Omega. I think I can safely say that my opinion will not change when/if I do.
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Post by The Walking Dude on Jun 17, 2011 5:29:35 GMT -5
That probably is because Matheson actually scripted Last Man ... but he used the pseudonym Logan Swanson,as he was disappointed by some of the alterations they made.He has warmed to it now though,himself naming it the best of the three.
As for I am Omega,I've had a mate tell me he prefers it over the Will Smith version.
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Post by GP on Jun 17, 2011 6:34:54 GMT -5
The Will Smith version was doing ok right up until the reveal of the infected/mutated. The CGI was just horrible and pretty much ruined the whole film. Worth a watch with the alternate ending though. Still not faithful to the stroy but a vast improvement on the 'everything explodes' theatrical ending.
I'll have to check the Scify schedules, I Am Omega seems to pop up on their a lot.
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Post by GL on Jun 17, 2011 9:37:14 GMT -5
I have yet to see the Will Smith version myself, it looks okay but that part GP brings up, about the terrible CGI, has been holding me back. That I Am Omega version is actually a lot of fun, Dacascos is given a lot of good stuff to work with and the zombies look really good, plus it makes splendid use late in the film about his ability to withstand the virus, which is something that I don't think the Price version tackles. I really enjoy that one and think it's one of their best adaptions.
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Post by abraxas on Jun 10, 2012 7:26:52 GMT -5
My fellow Pricehead |
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