I picked quite the week to jump back into the League of Extraordinary Bloggers!
The open ended assignment: put together a Top 10 Movies list. Doing a personal Top 10 would be a fairly rote exercise with few surprises so I decided to do...
My Top 10 Vincent Price Movies
10. Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine
4. The Abominable Dr. Phibes/Dr. Phibes Rises Again!
Forget Freddy, Jason and Michael, Doctor Phibes is the real deal! The sequel's not as good as the original but I love this villain.
3. House on Haunted Hill
Absolutely fantastic dark house film. Price's verbal sparring with his wife is wonderful. Just watched the colorized version a couple months ago.
2. The Last Man on Earth
To be followed by The Omega Man and I Am Legend, this is the original movie adaptation of the short story I Am Legend. I'm may be a little biased, but I say it's the best. Price is the only speaking character for most of the movie. He pulls it off effortlessly and keeps you watching. This is like a feature length Twilight Zone episode. Have to track down the colorized version to check it out.
1. The Comedy of Terrors
We started with comedy and we're ending with it, although a bit darker. I adore this movie. You can't really ask for a better cast. Price and Lorre make quite the comedy team as a pair of undertakers who have to resort to making new clients.
When you think Vincent Price, chances are your first though isn't comedy. This movie is zany! Where else can you see a boat on wheels being pursued by a cable car? It's also got quite a few in-jokes for fans of Price and/or bikini beach movies. Also, the opening titles are done by Art Clokey, Gumby's creator.
9. The Tomb of Ligeia
It's still odd to see a mustache-less Price. He does tortured very well in this flick. The first, but not last, entry with Roger Corman and Poe...
8. Masque of the Red Death
Probably the most visually stunning movie on this list. The use of color is a thing of beauty here.
7. The Tingler
This one would probably not even make my Top 10 if it weren't the brainchild of William Castle. There is a scene where the creature gets into a movie theater and causes the power to go out. This in turn causes a black picture/screen which would mean you'd be sitting in total darkness watching this in a theater while the audience in the movie is screaming and random seats buzzed under people causing further chaos. Genius! Castle is the king of gimmick cinema.
6. The Mad Magician
Not one of the more well known Price films but quickly became a favorite due to the stage magic angle.
5. Witchfinder General
In my opinion, Price is often at his best when he's being bad and in this one, he's a real bastard! Until somewhat recently, this wasn't readily available on DVD.9. The Tomb of Ligeia
It's still odd to see a mustache-less Price. He does tortured very well in this flick. The first, but not last, entry with Roger Corman and Poe...
8. Masque of the Red Death
Probably the most visually stunning movie on this list. The use of color is a thing of beauty here.
7. The Tingler
This one would probably not even make my Top 10 if it weren't the brainchild of William Castle. There is a scene where the creature gets into a movie theater and causes the power to go out. This in turn causes a black picture/screen which would mean you'd be sitting in total darkness watching this in a theater while the audience in the movie is screaming and random seats buzzed under people causing further chaos. Genius! Castle is the king of gimmick cinema.
6. The Mad Magician
Not one of the more well known Price films but quickly became a favorite due to the stage magic angle.
5. Witchfinder General
4. The Abominable Dr. Phibes/Dr. Phibes Rises Again!
Forget Freddy, Jason and Michael, Doctor Phibes is the real deal! The sequel's not as good as the original but I love this villain.
3. House on Haunted Hill
Absolutely fantastic dark house film. Price's verbal sparring with his wife is wonderful. Just watched the colorized version a couple months ago.
2. The Last Man on Earth
To be followed by The Omega Man and I Am Legend, this is the original movie adaptation of the short story I Am Legend. I'm may be a little biased, but I say it's the best. Price is the only speaking character for most of the movie. He pulls it off effortlessly and keeps you watching. This is like a feature length Twilight Zone episode. Have to track down the colorized version to check it out.
We started with comedy and we're ending with it, although a bit darker. I adore this movie. You can't really ask for a better cast. Price and Lorre make quite the comedy team as a pair of undertakers who have to resort to making new clients.
Honorable Mentions That Barely Didn't Make the List
The Raven
Madhouse
The Raven
Madhouse
Check out other Leaguers Lists
Brother Midnight at Green Plastic Squirt Gun joins the League with an eclectic Top 10
Howie Decker from Underscoopfire tells the Top 10 he hasn't seen
Top 10 Villains over at Branded in the 80s'
...and visit Cool and Collected for the complete list of participants
...and visit Cool and Collected for the complete list of participants
Nice!I started seeking out Vincent Price movies after I watched Edward Scissorhands the first time.Before that I only knew him from The 13 Ghosts of Scooby Doo.
ReplyDeleteI think I subconsciously block out Scissorhands when thinking about Price's movies. I love the movie but seeing him in it always makes me a little sad because it was near the end of his life.
DeleteWOW! Quite a list....have not seen any of these but will soon! I really like old movies like these...lets you use your imagination more than now!
ReplyDeleteBTW.. You were interested before and I came across another Optimus Prime Robot Heroes pointing finger...if you want it its yours.
DeleteOh no, I have one I'm looking to find a home for =)
DeleteOoops! I thought you meant you needed one! Oh well, next time :)
DeleteDid you ever hear the story about Price and Witchfinder General director Michael Reeves? Apparently Reeves commented on Price's performance and wanted a reshoot of a scene. Price, angry at being told how to perform the scene, said, ''My boy. I've starred in over fifty movies. How many have you directed?'' to which Reeves replied, ''Three. Good ones.''
ReplyDeletePrice apparently had a newfound respect from him from then on and they got on really well.
Ha, I don't recall if I heard that particular story. I do remember reading there was trouble on the set. Love your avatar
DeleteGreat list! I haven't seen as much Vincent Price as I would have liked to, so I really want to remedy that. My father was a Hammer Horror fan, so I saw more of those movies growing up. I particularly want to see 'The Comedy of Terrors'. I keep hearing good things about that movie and what a cast!
ReplyDeleteUntil a few years ago, I'd never seen a Hammer film. There was a UHF tv channel that had Creature Double Feature on Saturday afternoons and that's where I got most of my monster education as a kid.
DeleteThen a few years ago I had a Hammer summer where I watched all the Dracula and Frankenstein movies along with a couple of the Mummy ones. I think my favorites so far have been the movies that aren't part of a series, although Frankenstein Created Woman is probably my favorite out of the series movies.