Theater of Blood
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Movie Reviews of Theater of Blood
Movie Review: Even Better Than Phibes
Summary: 5 Stars
Price fans can debate for hours whether this or the Abominable Dr. Phibes is a better movie (although all will agree both are amongst the best black comedies ever made). Like the Phibes movies, this one has Vincent Price playing an insane genius getting revenge on those he perceives have wronged him by killing them in extremely imaginative ways (each based upon Shakespeare's plays) while bungling cops (after finally figuring out the themes and motive connecting the crimes) try to stop him. In comparison to Phibes, this film is far more gorey and Price's motive makes far more sense (the victims did actually do him wrong) making him more of a anti-hero. Also, the cops are a little less bungling, which forces Price's character to devise more brilliant ways to carry out his murders while getting past the police. Most of the murders are also far more humourous than in Phibes (although they are also more sickening for the most part). He also has an interesting crew of helpers. And you get to see Vincent having fun playing Shakespeare as a total ham. Unfortunately, in comparison to Phibes, the cops are less funny, the sets are less interesting, it has a less surreal atmosphere and you don't get Price speaking through an old Vitrola attached to his neck, but this movie is slightly nearer to perfection than Phibes.Movie Review: Price has a ball
Summary: 5 Stars
Price decided to ham it up for the Abominable Dr. Phibes and Dr. Phibes Rides again. Riding on a tide, he took up this high camp film, and some of England's biggest name actors came out to play his victims. In Phibes style, you have a series of set victims - in this case, Stage critics - and the much scorned Shakespearian Actor Edward Lionheart extracting his revenge by killing his victims through acting out a scene from Shakespeare's plays. Deliciously witty Diana Rigg is there to support Price as his doting, darling daughter Edwina, who mourns her father's recent death, and hisses at the critics who refused to honor his talent while he was alive.
Price's all-star victims include his real-life wife, Coral Browne, Harry Andrews, Ian Hendry, Jack Hawkins, Robert Morley (especially funny twist on the tale!), Denis Price and Diana Dors and more. Hot on the trail of the killer, with Hendry in tow, are Inspector Boot (Milo O'Shea) and Sergeant Dogge (Eric Sykes), but Price and his "helper" are one step ahead.
It's Price at his wickedly delightful best. And great to see the funny takes of the Bards tales being used as a murder medium. Douglas Hickox (Zulu Dawn, Sitting Target), ably orchestrated the marvelously talent crew of actors through this
black humor marathon.
Movie Review: Slaughtering critics...What's not to love?
Summary: 5 Stars
While it is not without it's flaws (particularly, the fact that it strangely tips it's hand so early as to the killer's accomplice), "Theatre of Blood" is not only one of the great revenge movies every made, but one of the best, if unorthodox, examples of Shakespeare on film. Vincent Price, in the role of a lifetime, plays hack British actor Edward Lionheart, who goes to extremes to get revenge upon a group of smug theatre critics who denied him a Best Actor award. Price is obviously having a glorious time as Lionheart (and his snippet as Shylock is so wonderful it makes one wish he had gotten the chance to do the entire play on film), but the film also features an incredible supporting cast as the critics, all of whom wryly represent one of the seven deadly sins each. On top of that, there's the beauteous Diana Rigg in her prime. Some of the murders are overly gory, one or two are overly spoofy, but even that can't detract from a terrific black comedy featuring truly stellar, Oscar-worthy work by Vincent Price. There was talk of a remake in recent years, but really...who's out there today that could pull this off?Movie Review: Price's Personal Favourite of All His Films...
Summary: 5 Stars
In an interview with NPR's Terry Gross, late great Vincent Price's daughter was asked which of her father's films was his favourite. She said he loved Theatre of Blood because he got to do Shakespeare.1973's Theatre Of Blood followed the two Dr. Phibes films which were marvelously devilish black comedies. In Theatre Of Blood, Price tops his Phibes performances. Price plays Edward Lionheart, a Shakespearan actor loved by his fans but mercilessly reviled by a group of snobby theatre critics who berate his performances in print and later humiliate him at an awards ceremony. Lionheart sets out to get revenge on the nine critics by use of murder plots in Shakespeare's plays. The makeup and costumes are superb as well as the supporting cast -- particularly the lovely Diana Rigg, Milo O'Shea, and Robert Morley. Price dons dozens of disguises as he methodically carrys out his mission. He's hysterically funny as "Butch", a hairdresser for one of the female critics. This film should be considered among his essential works.
Movie Review: Theatrical...
Summary: 5 Stars
Vincent Price (The Abominable Dr. Phibes, Dr. Phibes Rises Again) stars as a shakespearean actor driven to homicide. Every critic in London seems convinced that he is just an overblown ham, which causes him to jump out a window to his "death" right in front of them. Soon, these same critics start turning up dead in grizzly ways that match the death scenes in Shakespear's plays (Othello, Merchant Of Venice, etc.). Has Vincent risen from the grave to enact his vengeance? Is his daughter (played by Diana "Emma Peel" Rigg!!!!) trying to help him? Watch as this delectable dose of ghoulishness unfolds! My personal favorite VP movie. I think THEATER OF BLOOD may have been a direct influence on SE7EN and other "themed" murder spree movies. Check it out! Highly recommended...