THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES 1971
The Abominable Dr. Phibes is a deliciously macabre 1971 British dark comedy horror film directed by Robert Fuest, who also directed the taut psycho-sexual And Soon the Darkness 1970 and offered up a torrential storm of horror camp and kitsch in 1975 with The Devil’s Rain.
Dr. Phibes, set in 1920s London, follows the vengeful quest of Dr. Anton Phibes, played with mesmerizing intensity by the incomparable Vincent Price at his flamboyant best.
Believed dead in a car crash, Dr. Phibes resurfaces in 1925, hideously disfigured and unable to speak. Convinced that a team of doctors is responsible for his beloved wife Victoria’s death during surgery, Phibes embarks on a grotesquely inventive killing spree inspired by the biblical Ten Plagues of Egypt, with the help of his otherworldly and elegantly enchanting Vulvavia, played by Virginia North.
Price’s performance as Phibes is a tour de force of silent acting. Stripped of his iconic voice for most of the film, Price crafts a character of chilling determination through his expressive eyes, subtle gestures, and macabre pantomime. His towering presence and ghoulish makeup create an aura of ominous power, while his post-dubbed dialogue, delivered through a phonograph, adds an eerie quality to his character.
As Phibes dispatches his victims with increasingly elaborate and darkly humorous methods – from a room full of hungry bats to a mechanical frog mask that strangles its wearer – Inspector Trout (Peter Jeffrey) of Scotland Yard races to unravel the connection between the murders. The film builds to a nail-biting climax as Phibes kidnaps the son of Dr. Vesalius (Joseph Cotten), the head surgeon, forcing him to perform a perilous operation to save the boy’s life.
Price’s flamboyant performance elevates the film beyond mere horror. He imbues Phibes with a tragic grandeur, his eyes conveying both maniacal glee and profound sorrow. Whether he’s conducting his clockwork band of automatons or tenderly caressing his wife’s photograph, Price’s Phibes is a captivating blend of monster and romantic hero.
The film’s Grand Guignol art deco sets, dark humor, and Price’s unforgettable portrayal have earned The Abominable Dr. Phibes a well-deserved cult following. It stands as a testament to Price’s versatility as an actor and his ability to create iconic characters, even when deprived of his most famous asset – his velvet voice.
THEATER OF BLOOD 1973
Theatre of Blood (1973) is a darkly comedic horror film directed by Douglas Hickox, starring Vincent Price as Edward Lionheart, a Shakespearean actor seeking revenge on his critics. The film combines Grand Guignol horror with a Shakespearean theme and flare.
Lionheart believed dead after a suicide attempt, systematically murders the critics who fail to recognize his genius. Each murder is based on a death scene from Shakespeare’s plays, including Julius Caesar (stabbing), Troilus and Cressida (impalement), Cymbeline (decapitation), The Merchant of Venice (heart removal) Richard III (drowning in wine.)
The film explores themes of revenge, artistic recognition, and the power of criticism. It cleverly intertwines Shakespeare’s works with modern horror elements, creating a satirical commentary on the relationship between artists and critics.
In keeping with his iconic flamboyant charm, Vincent Price delivers a tour de force performance as Lionheart, balancing melodrama and pathos. Diana Rigg plays Edwina Lionheart, Edward’s devoted daughter and accomplice who also dons elaborate makeup and costumes. The supporting cast includes notable British actors like Ian Hendry, Robert Morley, Arthur Lowe, and Price’s real-life wife, Coral Brown, as Chloe Moon as the ill-fated critics.
Hickox’s direction emphasizes the theatrical nature of Lionheart’s revenge, using location shooting and a constantly moving camera to prevent the film from becoming overly stagey. The murders are grand, often darkly humorous set pieces, once again blending horror with black comedy.
Theatre of Blood is a campy, humorous, avenging, and conceptual opera. Lionheart is considered one of Price’s film characters and a favorite of both Price and Rigg.
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