It’s that time of year again. When every television station digs into its archives and hauls out the hoariest old horror flicks they can find. They don’t have to be good or even scary. If they feature one of the “classic” horror movie actors — Boris Karloff, Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, Lon Chaney Jr., Bela Lugosi (you can sing along because I’m sure you know the usual suspects) — it’s good to go.
After avoiding the movie for 50 years, I sat through an entire showing of The Raven. It stars the usual suspects: Vincent Price, Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre. It features some very serious curtain-chewing by Vincent Price who can barely keep a straight face.Given the dialogue, I can well understand why. Boris Karloff is very Boris Karloff. And surprise! There’s a major role for a very youthful Jack Nicholson. Directed by (who else?) Roger Corman.
Jack Nicholson? In a B horror movie? Yesiree. I didn’t recognize him until Garry pointed him out. Then he made a Jack Nicholson face and I said, “OH yeah, that’s Jack.” He did a couple of films with Roger before Easy Rider catapulted him to fame and fortune.
Vincent’s recitation of Edgar Allen Poe‘s at the beginning of the film is (sorry about the pun) priceless. It’s an unintentionally funny poem anyhow, but Price’s recitation is so camp I realized the movie was never intended to be taken seriously. This was being played for laughs.
Sure enough, the movie is a comedy. So much so I felt as if I were watching “Young Frankenstein.” It wasn’t belly laugh or guffaw funny, but it was funny. Kitsch, camp and way over-the-top.
If you haven’t seen it — on purpose or by omission — take a look. I assume it’s playing on more than one cable channel. Consult your guide. It is bound to be playing somewhere. It’s funny and no, it isn’t scary unless you are 3-years-old and extremely easily frightened.
I will not burden you with the plot. It’s irrelevant. Not to worry. It’s just a bunch of old horror movie stars doing their thing, playing parodies of themselves. And a historically interesting performance by a very early Jack Nicholson, long before he found his way to superstardom.
This is a movie that’s fun to watch and surprisingly entertaining.
For extra credit, try reciting “The Raven.” No laughing allowed. Ham it up as much as you can. I’d be surprised if you can come anywhere near Vincent Price’s classic performance. He was The Ham of Hams. I don’t believe anyone before or since can match his lugubrious tones.
- The Very Best Films of Vincent Price (dreadcentral.com)
- Greatest Films of Vincent Price (houseofgeekery.com)
- The Terror (1963) (canadiancinephile.com)
- Horror On The Lens: Tower of London (dir by Rowland V. Lee) (unobtainium13.com)
- Bad Movie Studios Review: House on Haunted Hill (1959) *spoiler warning* (thatfighterguy.wordpress.com)
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Categories: Entertainment, film, Holidays, Movies, Reviews, Show Business, Supernatural
SERENDIPITY - SEEKING INTELLIGENT LIFE ON EARTH 
You are welcome, Frau B.
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Neigh, my good man. Neigh.
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This “Raven” is very famous and beloved by film makers and movie mavens. AI (American International), AI Guru Sam Z. Arkoff, and, especially, Producer-Director Roger Corman INTENTIONALLY did this and other horror classics as double ham on rye parodies. Young Jack Nicholson did a number of these for his resume sheet and to pay the rent. Everyone is chewing the scenery including the co-stars like voluptuous Hazel Court (If you noticed her scene chewing more than her low cut outfits and ample bosom). These flicks are handsomely produced in color on an el cheapo budget. They did well at the box office and savvy critics recognized them for what they were. Corman, as many movie mavens know, is “Godfather” to many directors like Scorcese, Friedkin, Van Sant and Spielberg among others. And, yes, Mel Brooks is a BIG fan of these films and has often acknowledged them in this the year of officially recognizing Mel Brooks. Walk this way.
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Thank you master.
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