My Top 10 Favorite Vincent Price Movies

 

  He’s been called the great prince of horror cinema and for good reason because actors don’t get any classier yet frightening as Vincent Price. He’s like if a Shakespeare villain came to life and took an interest in Horror. He had a wide range of acting talents and was the kind of actor who treated every performance like he was aiming to win an Academy Award. Beyond his iconic status, Vincent Price was a true Renaissance actor and a legend in horror cinema. 

Thus, for this October season, I felt I was long overdue to put the spotlight on one of my favorite classic horror movie actors. Just to clarify, while most people remember him for his gothic and villainous roles, he wasn’t limited to them either, appearing in a variety of different genera pictures. As such, while most of my favorite Vincent Price movies are indeed horror films, there will be others that I feel are worth praising. With all that addressed, here are my personal, top 10 favorite movies starring Vincent Price.

 

#10 “Edward Scissorhands” (1990) 

Back in 1982, director Tim Burton made a short movie called “Vincent”, which focused on a boy who idolized Vincent Price, and the talent himself even provided the narration. Clearly, the famed director was a longtime fan himself, so it was cool that he casted Vincent Prince in his 1990 Gothic Romance “Edward Scissorhands”. Vincent Price portrayed the lonely inventor, who created the titular Edward Scissorhands creature, and is absolutely delightful in his own kooky way. 

While it was an admittedly small role, it was still wonderful for the actor at his late age, and you can tell he was so happy to be a part of it. This marked his final theatrical, on screen movie role, and for a generation of young viewers, it was also their introduction to the legendary titan.

 

#9 “The Abominable Dr. Phibes” (1971) 

Following after a horrific car accident, one Dr. Phibes is horribly scared, loses his ability to speak and his wife tragically died on an operating table over seen by nine physicians. Consumed with feelings of loose, anger and revenge, the made Doctor Phibes aims to kill all who failed to save his wife. The twist is that he bases his means of assassination on nine of the plagues of Egypt … because he may be crazy, but he still relishes in creativity. 

It’s both a silly and horrific film with a very mixed tone, but the saving grace naturally is Vincent Price as the devious Dr. Phibes. Full disclosure, this movie as a whole is personally not a favorite of mine, and a part of me didn't want to include it, but with that said, it's undeniably one of Vincent Prices most iconic and sinister villain roles, which is well worth highlighting. He even returned for a sequel in 1972 titled “Dr Phibes Rises Again”, making this one of the rare bad guy roles he played more than once.

 

#8 “House of Usher” (1960) 

In the early 1960’s, the late Roger Corman produced and directed eight movies based on the classic literary work of Edgar Alen Poe. Vincent Price was the main reoccurring lead through most of these films, and arguably the most famous was his first film, “House of Usher”, in which Vincent Price portrayed the titular homeowner, Lord Usher. He’s at the mercy of a fatal disease and refuses to let his lovely sister wed a young man, as he fears she’ll pass on the hereditary evil that’s part of their family lineage. 

It’s a very miserable character, but Vincent Prince keeps it from being one note, giving him a sadistic and haunted persona. It’s the kind of morbid role he’d be best known for, and for obvious reasons. While we’ll see his acting range in more horror and villain roles to come on my list, it’s here in this movie we get a Gothic and melancholy performance, which Vincent Price was most recognized for.       

 

#7 “The Fly” (1958) 

While Vincent Price didn’t star as the title scientist turned monster, he was noteworthy as the leads brother Francois, who’s an emotionally devastated, yet very loving character. His portrayal of Francois is arguably one of his most comforting on-screen roles and highlighted once again that he had range beyond acting creepy. He’d even reprise the role in the 1959 sequel “Return of the Fly”, which rarely happed with his characters. All that being said, he did contribute to the film’s most famous and disturbing part of the film. 

At the very end, they find the “human-headed fly” in a spider’s web, and he starts crying out “Help me! Help me!”, which is such a creepy and unsettling image. It was Vincent Price who supplied the vocals for the insect, and that scream just rings in your ears afterwards. Of cores this became the most memorable part of the film and has been spoofed several times in properties like “The Simpsons”, amongst others. The first time I ever heard this was a short parody in Disney’s “The Emperor’s New Groove”.

 

#6 “House on a Haunted Hill” (1959) 

Once again, we have Vincent Price in a spooky house setting, portraying a cheerful but deceptive host. Unlike the previously mentioned Lord Usher, who was characterized through a melancholy demeanor and pathos, this spooky house host has a mischievous and dark sense of humor. It again highlights the flexibility in Vincent Price as he pulls off this slimy schemer with class and charm but never loses a sense of intimidation. 

It's not the kind of horror movie that would leave an impression today, but it was perfect as a fun house experience from the 1950's. The movie as a whole is admittedly one of Vincent Prices more campy outings, but it’s also ripe with atmosphere and is certainly one of his most memorable leading performances.  

 

#5 “The Invisible Man Returns” (1940) 

While Claude Rains was the first and, in my opinion, best portrayal of the iconic character, Vincent Price is a strong second best. I feel all the best horror movie talents feel complete when they have one of the classic movie monsters on their resume, and for Vincent Price, he certainly was a credit for portraying the Invisible Man. He would also reprise the role for a quick cameo in the 1948 comedy crossover “Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein”. While he had acting credits prior to this film, “The Invisible Man Returns” marked his very first horror movie role, and with his young voice he’s almost unrecognizable. 

Regardless, he's still just as captivating with his blend of cheerful charisma and subtle imposing menace. On a side note, the invisible effects were outstanding for its time, winning the film an Oscar for Best Special Effects, which is a rarity for early monster movies.

 

#4 “The Last Man on Earth” (1964) 

In the wake of an apocalyptic plague, Vincent Price portrays the titular last man on Earth, while all the other inhabitants are either dead or mutated into mindless drones colorfully referred to as “Zombie-Vampires”. Richard Matheson’s 1954 novel “I Am Legend” was adapted into film three times, with the latest 2007 version staring Will Smith arguably being the best known today. 

Not to be overlooked is Vincent Price’s portrayal in the first movie adaptation of Richard Matheson’s work. You know you’re in the presence of a great actor when he carries a whole movie mostly by himself and no one else to work off of. It’s something that only the best talents in the business can pull off, and Vincent Price not only rose to the challenge, but he delivered a tour de force with his emotionally beaten, yet still charming screen presence. If Vincent Price was ever more deserving for an Oscar, it would have been for this film.

 

#3 Disney's “The Great Mouse Detective” (1986) 

Despite not physically appearing on screen, I take immense satisfaction from Vincent Price as the voice of one of my favorite animated Disney villains ... Professor Ratigan from Disney’s “The Great Mouse Detective”. Ratigan is very sinister and intense, but he’s also an exceptionally funny villain, with a bombastic ego to match. The character already had an intimidating design and well written rivalry with the lead hero, but once again, it’s Vincent Price who really brought Ratigan to life in every possible way you can enjoy a great villain. 

That may be understating it … he doesn’t just bring the character to life … it’s actually really hard to separate the voice actor from the character. He is just so full of himself, laughing at his own crimes, and enjoying his vileness so much that it’s honestly hard not to have fun with him. Even though this is an animated Disney movie, Vincent Price’s portrayal of Ratigan remains one of my absolute favorites of his long-standing career.

 

#2 “The Pit and the Pendulum” (1961) 

Back when I first started high school, my literature class had a two-month long tribute to the works of Edgar Alen Poe, in which I was introduced to both his famous writing and Roger Cormans 1960’s movies adapted from them. While I’d heard the name Vincent Price before, and was familiar with many of his vocal roles, like the previously mentioned Disney film, and as the narrator in Mickale Jaksons “Thriller” music video, it was upon watching the 1961 movie “The Pit and the Pendulum” that I was introduced to Vincent Price proper for the first time, and instantly became a fan. 

His role is similar to the previously mentioned “House of Usher”, in which he’s a grief-stricken homeowner who speaks in a relentlessly melancholy tone. Yet, this film I feel gives more for the actor to chew on, as we see the gradual deterioration of his mental health, to the point where he gradually transitions from a sympathetic character to a full-on villain and takes on an openly sinister mannerism. It’s classic Vincent Price all around, and for me is the peak of his long-running Edgar Alen Poe saga.    

Before I reveal my number one favorite Vincent Price movie, here are some quick Honorable Mentions …

“The Raven” (1963)

 

“The Masque of the Red Death” (1964)

 

“The Tingler” (1959)

 

“Madhouse” (1974)

 

“Tower of London” (1939)

 

#1 “House of Wax” (1953) 

Have you ever been to a wax museum, and found yourself so impressed by the displays that you could almost swear they’re real people? Well, after a string of murders, a young woman soon discovers that the pore victims are being put on display in the form of colorful wax characters in a wax museum … that’s the plot to the 1953 movie “House of Wax”, and at the center is Vincent Price in my favorite horror movie role of his. While he had dabbled in horror movies before, this is when he became immortalized as one of the great horror movie titans. 

He has such a chilling yet commanding presence, you just can’t take your eyes off the guy. This is also a really colorful film that almost looks like a comic book come to life, but it still captures the dark and eerie atmosphere of a wax museum. Despite being a remake of the 1930’s picture titled “Mystery of the Wax Museum”, this one stands on its own and is a great example of a remake being remembered as more of a classic. Vincent Price’s performance as the creepy museum owner is still just as bone chilling as ever, but we also see a wide range of charm and class on display, which for me makes this the most satisfying of his collective works, and personally one of my favorite horror movies.

Thanks for reading my countdown … and continue to enjoy the movies you Love!     

Boo to you Too! Winnie the Pooh (Holiday Special Review)

 

  Happy Halloween season to all, and for the occasion I wanted to highlight one of my earliest favorite childhood specials that helped shape my love for the season. Along with “It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown”, the 1996 Holiday Special “Winnie the Pooh: Boo to You Too!” was one of the very first Halloween specials I ever saw in my lifetime. While I’d obviously discover even better specials in the years to come, I still look back on this as one of my essential pillars that helped shape Halloween into my childhood favorite holiday. It was the special that highlighted Trick R' Treat as a mini adventure in of itself, a time when kids journey out into the night, imagine facing their own fears or dangers, and return home for sweet treats, celebrating their victory. It originally aired on CBS and was adapted from the 1988 animated series “The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh”. That too was one of my earliest programs I regularly watched on TV, which made this special feel right at home.

  At the moment of the momentous occasion, Pooh Bear, Tigger and friends are eager to go out Trick T’ Treating … all except for little Piglet, who naturally is terrified of the unknown haunts that come with Halloween night. Still, he’s also very eager to be there with his friends, and celebrate the holiday, even though his anxiety is taking over. As the weather gets worse outside, the group gets separated, and it’s up to Piglet to find his feet, bring everyone together, and prove to his friends that he’s brave enough to face whatever the night throws at him. The message of standing up to your fears and concurring personal obstacles is a familiar but timeless message to present to kids, and this special conveys it very well. I even remember taking some inspiration from it during my early boy hood years, as I too was facing my own personal obstacles at the time.   

  Piglets original voice actor, the late John Fieldler was still portraying the character at the time, and he’s absolutely wonderful in this special. Steve Schatzberg provided Piglet’s singing voice, and even the characters song “I am not Afraid” is a sentimental little piece that’s well staged, well scored and always left me feeling comforted inside. 

Peter Cullen of “Transformers” fame is naturally present as the voice of Eeyore, and Gopher has a cute running gag of dressing up as his closest friends as he can’t think of any original costume ideas for Trick R’ Treat. Of course, the great Jim Commings voiced both Winnie the Pooh and Tigger too. He arguably understands the character of Pooh Bear better than anyone, as he not only nails all the inflections and mannerisms, but he also gives the character a soul, which is present in this special. Of course, Tigger more than anyone was my childhood favorite, and in this outing, his love for the Halloween season was absolutely infectious. I distinctly remember when I was a kid, getting excited for the holiday, and replicating many of Tigger’s quirks and mannerisms.   

  John Rhys-Davies, famous for his roles in “The Lord of the Rings” and “Indiana Jones” franchises is the titular Narrator of this story and is sensational. In later years, this special got interwoven with another Holiday offering called “Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween Movie”, in which the character Roo took over as narrator … and it just wasn’t as good. Seriously, it may seem minor, but this special isn’t the same without John Rhys-Davies narration, especially in the opening. Quick side note, “Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween Movie” is also a perfectly good Halloween special on its own, I just wish it was on its own without utilizing "Boo to you Too!" as a story within a story. Getting back on track, just like with “It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown”, nothing supernatural occurs … but it still feels enchanting in how it presents the season. From the opening title sequence, this animated special captures a magical sense of the holiday, as it’s both eerie and ominous, yet still enticing and engaging.

  I’m not kidding when I say this special is dripping in warm Autom atmosphere, laced with the chills and excitement that come with the growing darkness of the night. 

Also, for a simple, mid-90’s TV production, the animation is wonderful, with gorgeous backdrops, an artistic eye for lighting and no shortage of personality to the settings. It’s very amusing how just about every tree in the forest has taken on a monstrous form for the occasion, each looking like the scary nightmare trees from “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”. Back in 1997, Phil Spencer won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation for his work on his special, and rightfully so. Even with the enhanced animation of recent animated Pooh offerings, both in shows and specials, I still find myself drawn back to the crud, but expressive illustrations as seen in this Halloween special.  

 The last highlight to mention is the showstopping musical number “I Want to Scare Myself”, which aside from the opening is my favorite part of the film. I’m convinced … this musical number right here is when my love for the holiday was set in stone. No joke, one of the first things I loved about Halloween was its collection of different characters and creatures. 

This musical number was the first time I saw so many at once, like all Halloween characters on parade. The song isn’t even that long, about a minute at best, and yet, it still left an impact. The music tempo was bouncy, the lyrics were easy to remember, and the melody still lingers in the back of my mind whenever spooky season comes around. Once more, this song is exploding with energy and delightfully spooky visuals that are constantly being thrown at the screen. We get headless horsemen, mad scientists, haunted mansions, a selection of costumes, and a parade of all kinds of ghosts and goblins. Basically, it was just an awesome treat to see as a child, and it left a lasting impression on me.

  With a timeless message, humble animation, catchy songs, and no shortage of warm nostalgic feelings, “Winnie the Pooh: Boo to you Too!” is still a perfect special to get little kids brought up on the Halloween season. It may be slight stuff compared to what children have access to now days, but for me, this was a special animated experience from my childhood that added an important flavor to Trick R’ Treat. Putting my sentimental feelings aside, I think it still holds up as a solid offering for kids, and one that may shape the feelings of younger viewers today.

Thanks for reading my review of the 1996 Holiday Special “Winnie the Pooh: Boo to you Too!” … and let’s continue to make every day in October feel like Halloween!

 

The Phantom of the Opera (1925) (Movie Review)

 Celebrating 100 years, it’s the original 1925 classic “The Phantom of the Opera”. It was at the dawn of motion picture cinema … at the height of the silent-film area … “The Phantom of the Opera” marked one of America’s first true landmark horror movies and featured one of the first iconic villain performances put to screen. After all these years, this film is almost universally regarded as the absolutely greatest and most influential film version of "The Phantom of the Opera". While most of the classic movie monsters in the vein of “Dracula” and “Frankenstein” achieved their iconic status through their 1930’s sound films, “The Phantom of the Opera” is that one rare exception in which the silent film is what launched its iconic status at the cinema. So, I felt the time was right to look back on this early classic and see how well it’s held up for 100 years to date.

 Based on the 1910 French novel “Le Fantôme de l'Opéra” by Gaston Leroux, we follow the events of a lavish Opera house in the late 1890’s, in which a young, initially unknown Opera performer named Christine Daaé replaces the theaters leading celebrity Carlotta in a production of the stage show “Faust”. It’s soon revealed that the opera mangers were blackmailed by a mysterious under dweller, who gradually builds a reputation as the theater’s titular “Opera Ghost”. While operating in the shadows, he secretly teaches Christine Daaé to be an Opera singing sensation, gradually falls in love with his student, and does all in his power to make sure she stays in the spotlight. Things take a turn when Christine’s old flame Raoul enters the picture and asks for her hand in marriage. Feeling betrayed, the Phantom becomes more possessive of his prized pupal and aims to snatch her away to his gloomy dwelling, in which only he can appreciate her musical talents.  

 Before I get lost in all the details, I should note that this wasn’t the first movie to be adapted from the French novel. There was actually a silent version back in 1916, which has since been lost to time, with no surviving print. Also, there were several re-edited and modified versions of this 1925 classic. It’s kind of like the original “Star Wars”, in which there have been so many special editions that it’s more likely to see one of those as opposed to what was originally shown on the screen back in the day. The most commonly available version of the silent film “The Phantom of the Opera” is a 1950’s re-edit known as the “Eastman Print”, which features cleaned-up picture quality, different color tinting as opposed to Black and White, and an added cold opening with a man holding a lantern. The 2011 Blue-Ray release features both an original Black and White cut with choppy picture quality, and the enhanced, color tinted “Eastman Print”, which is personally my preferred version to watch the film.

 Regardless of which version you watch, the film’s production was extraordinary for its time, and the Opera house setting felt like a character all its own. Back in the days of Silent Cinema, film was a visual medium first and for most, with the biggest draw for audiences being what was presented on the screen. 

Thus, “The Phantom of the Opera” was largely presented in immersive wide shots, showing off all the detail of the sets and costumes. There’s a lot of personality to this setting, with decorations and sets that almost seem exaggerated even for a lavish theater. One of my favorite settings is a backstage room with a giant monster head framed as an entrance … which doesn’t have any practical significance, but it gives the setting some flavor. Also, great use of shadows and silhouettes. Obviously, the titular Phantom is characterized through use of shadows, but so are many of the ensemble performers, including this line-up of ballet dancers, who are presented as shadowy dancers in some frames, and it looks awesome.  

  Of course, beyond the impressive sets, the big attraction of this film is Lon Chaney in the role of The Phantom, who conveys a great deal of menace, passion and emotion into this performance without speaking a single line of dialogue. 

It’s a great example of a “visual performance”, and he’s honestly quiet captivating in the role all these years later. I first saw this movie way back when I was just a High-School student studying in Drama class, and I remember Lon Chaney’s performance captivating me through his use of body movements, postures and speaking through his hands. His parents were both deaf, so he mastered the art of silent communication from a young age. Chaney already had a reputation as one of the decades great silent actors and already portrayed deformed creatures, earning him the nickname “The Man with a Thousand Faces”. Two years prior to the Phantom, he portrayed Quasimodo in 1923’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”, although the Phantom is still frequently sighted as his most iconic performance. After being built-up as a shadowy presence, the Phantom makes his first appearance wearing a stage mask and big hat, which is the design that carried over into most other adaptations of the story and the famous Andrew Lloyd Webber stage musical.

 However, it doesn’t take long for the Phantoms true features to appear on screen. 

Even if you’ve never seen this movie, you may still be aware of the footage of Chaney’s famous unmasking scene, which is often cited as one of the most startling moments from the age of silent motion picture cinema. Aside from his towering performance, Lon Chaney also contributed to the look and design of the Phantom. Chaney was his own make-up man, and his grotesque face is still one of the most iconic of the whole horror genera. Even though the stage mask is often utilized as his trademark image in the pop-culture, this films visual depiction of the Phantom is closer to his description in the book, as he’s described as featuring a more “skull like face”, and surprisingly hasn’t been replicated in other movie adaptations. In the movie, it’s revealed that the Phantom was a man named Eric who was born with human deformities and secretly was an architect who helped create the Opera house, both of which were details carried over from the original book.  

  Not to be overlooked is Mary Philbin as Christine Daaé, who’s able to stand out when acting alongside the larger-than-life Lon Chaney. She was able to convey all the required emotions of empathy and fear without going too far in her delivery. 

In her short eight-year acting career, this was certainly a bright spot for her, and arguably her best known. She’d also stand out in the lead role of Dea in Universals 1928 silent horror picture “The Man Who Laughs”, which saw her once again acting alongside an iconic deformed character, one which happened to inspire the creation of Batman’s most famous adversary the Joker. After the 1920’s, Mary Philbin retired from acting and didn’t make too many public appearances … although her last public appearance was certainly worth noting. In 1989, she attended LA’s opening premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hit musical “The Phantom of the Opera” … we’ve come full circle. Other noteworthy cast members from the silent film include Norman Kerry as the boyfriend Raoul de Chagny, and Arthur Edmund Carewe as a mysterious observer named Ledoux, who’s secretly a policeman trying to find the Phantom.    

 The film also has its memorable moments, which are frequently replicated in other films and stage versions. The exciting drop of the chandelier kicks off the momentum early on, whereas most other films save it for the finale. 

When the Phantom first takes Christine to his underground lair, it’s a lengthy sequence which shows off more impressive set designs, and one can easily view it as an inspiration to the famous musical number from the stage show. On a side note, if you thought Christine riding a horse was created for the musical, it actually originated right here in the silent film. Of course, the big scene is the masquerade ball, in which the Phantom makes his grand entrance dressed as the Red Death. The Phantoms original author Gaston Leroux was fan of Edgar Allan Poe’s written work, and while it's speculation on my part, I have no doubt the Masquerade ball was a direct nod to Edgar Allan Poes famous poem “The Mask of Red Death”. Most versions of the silent film feature this Masquerade sequence in full color, and it looks amazing. Even when we return to the tinted color palette in the following rooftop scene, the Phantoms cape is still red, which is an awesome specially added addition to the film.

  As we segue into the film’s final act, the Phantom captures Christine, taken back to his secluded lair, with both Raoul and undercover cop Ledoux following close behind. They face a series of obstacles, including a heated furnace room, a flooded room, and a room stocked with gun powder, which is ready to be ignited. 

We also get a unique moment of the Phantom sneaking up on a victim while underwater, highlighting him as a genuine sewer monster. An angry mob breaches the underground catacombs, forcing the Phantom to the surface with his captive. What follows is an exciting chase, with the Phantom driving a coach, and all set to riveting opera quire. Originally the film was going to end with the Phantom releasing Christine to Raoul, and dying of a broken heart shortly after, which would have been closer to the novel. However, audience demand at the time wanted something more exciting, and for the villain to receive a more satisfying comeuppance. I have to say, seeing the monstrous villain chased down by an angry mob with torches certainly feels like a prelude to the iconic finale of “Frankenstein”.

 While I’m partial to other versions of “The Phantom of the Opera”, especially the classic Andrew Lloyd Webber stage musical, I’m still fond of this 1925 silent original, as it still holds my attention, and is significantly more re-watchable then most other classic silent movies I’ve seen. If anything, I absolutely respect its status as a motion picture classic. Even though I wouldn’t personally call this my absolute favorite incarnation of the classic character, it’s still well worth viewing. Even if you’re not a fan of old silent films, you might still be impressed by this movie … just as long as you view it as an accomplishment for its time. More than anything, weather you’re a fan of the Phantoms stage musical, or his early sound horror movies, or even his original novel, I’d encourage you check out this original silent movie classic … which is responsible for the characters iconic status over the past 100 years.

Thanks for reading my review of the 1925 horror movie classic “The Phantom of the Opera” … and continue to enjoy the movies you Love!