Rating: 
Summary: PREMATURE BURIAL SCARED ME AS A CHILD!!
Review: PREMATURE BURIAL horrified me as a child. Now watching it, I wonder why I found it so scary. It is certainly a good horror film directed by Roger Corman but it is not very scary to me anymore. THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH is a lot more disturbing and scary now that I am an adult. It retains an aura of creepiness and unholyness all the way to the end. These are both great films for the the price.
Rating: 
Summary: "He Does Not Rule - Alone..."
Review: Premature Burial may be considered merely an extra, on this DVD - it's passable, but overall not that hot. The real star of the show is Roger Corman's Masque of the Red Death, one of the best of his Poe cycle films. Both movies were co-scripted by genre master Charles Beaumont, a frequent Twilight Zone contributor, the former with assistance from fellow genre master Ray Russell. Premature Burial is the less impressive of the two due to general plot contrivance, which is rather hackneyed and predictable, and Ray Milland simply didn't have the presence for this kind of work that Vincent Price did.Masque of the Red Death is a very clever rendition of two of Poe's best works, the title story and another lesser-known little piece of nastiness called "Hop-Frog." Price plays the evil fourteenth century Prince Prospero, who safely ensconces all his country's nobles behind his castle's walls to keep them safe from the dreaded plague of the "red death" that is ravaging the populace. Prospero is a decadent and sadistic Satanist, who views his role in the proceedings as that of more or less a diabolical Noah, preserving his own kind until the plague passes. One of his guests - an equally despicable Patrick Magee - is horribly murdered by a dwarf he mocks and despises, constituting the "Hop-Frog" subplot. Prospero, meanwhile, delights in attempting to seduce and degrade innocent Christian peasant girl Jane Asher, much to wife Hazel Court's great ire and dismay. Eventually, an uninvited guest wearing the forbidden color red appears in Prospero and his partygoers' midst, whom Prospero takes to be none other than Satan, himself, come to delight in Prospero's evil handiwork - but who is actually none other than the Red Death, personified, with more than one gruesome surprise for Prospero... The dialogue and symbolism in Masque of the Red Death are stellar. The Red Death mocks Prospero from behind his mask, hinting at powers and knowledge Prospero only pretends to possess. When Prospero suggests that only Satan could have sent him, since he believes Satan rules the universe, the Red Death wryly responds, "He does not rule - alone..." The concluding exchange between the two, and the gruesome finale of gaudily dressed partiers dying in an off-key, bloody ballet, is brilliant - the whole film is very Ingmar Bergman-esque. The production is top-notch, extremely colorful, with absolutely gorgeous sets and costumes. Buy it for Masque of the Red Death. You might even enjoy Premature Burial, too.
Rating:
Summary: Mixed bag
Review: Roger Corman has been associated with a lot of bad, low-budget movies. His movie-making peak, however, came with his often high-quality Poe adaptations. On this disc, we get two such movies, one that is great, one that is merely passable. The Masque of the Red Death is the great movie. Starring Vincent Price as the deliciously evil Prince Prospero, this movie takes place in medieval Italy. Prospero, a dedicated Satan-worshipper, has invited all the local gentry to his castle to take refuge from a plague called the Red Death that is sweeping throughout the countryside. Price is fantastic as he relishes his evil deeds and tries to seduce a young Christian woman; he is a formidable fellow who is intimidated by almost nothing. This is a distinct difference from Ray Milland's lead character in the Premature Burial. Milland's protagonist is obsessed with a fear of being buried alive...to the point where he is one-dimensionally boring. The only thing that redeems this movie is a wonderfully creepy dream sequence. Milland has none of the delightful campiness of Price, and this movie suffers from Corman's inability to cast his usual Poe-movie star. The Masque of the Red Death rates around four-and-a-half stars, the Premature Burial maybe two-and-a-half. Add to this average some nice ten minute documentaries on each movie, and this disc rates four stars. My recommendation: watch them both, watching each documentary afterwards...but watch the Masque of the Red Death second, and enjoy it like a good dessert after a somewhat tasteless meal.
Rating: 
Summary: Corman's best on DVD at last!
Review: Roger Corman's finest, most colorful and detailed work finally arrives on DVD--hopefully, it'll prompt the release of the remaining 3 Poe/Corman flicks ("Raven", "Haunted Palace" and "Tomb of Ligeia" are still missing--and how about a widescreen DVD of Tourneur's "Comedy of Terrors" while you're at it, MGM?) "Masque of the Red Death" stands as the most influential (and influenced--see the many Hitchcock and Bergman homages throughout the mise en scene) of the Poe pictures, the pinnacle of Corman's directorial design (with the scrumptious settings, abetted by old sets from "Becket", by Daniel Haller, Nicolas Roeg's glorious color photography, which the DVD superbly balances, and David Lee's fine, ritualistic music), filled with Corman's characteristically energetic camera work, experimental anamorphic distortions and odd color washes (the latter are used to great effect in Hazel Court's lingerie-clad dream sequence, a symbolic rape/sacrifice bit which is pretty hot for l964). The story, of course, is well known--Vincent Price is at his cynical best as a misanthropic prince who seals his castle with several dozen noble guests against the plague, only to see the red spectre of Death, in Bergman-like robes, arrive as guest of honor. The expected bloody end for nearly all arrives on schedule, and "darkness, decay and Red Death" hold "dominion over all." Great, with a rainbow parade of Deaths at the end. Sic transit gloria Mundi . . .
The print even restores a line long scissored as 'blasphemous' for the sixties, in which the Spectre of the Red Death (John Westbrook at his most sonorous) notes that "each man creates his own God for himself, his own heaven, his own hell"--all pan-and-scan VHS/16mm prints cut the "creates his own God" line, not unlike the chopping of Colin Clive's railing against heaven in "Frankenstein". Hooray for restoration!
BUY IT, if you want to see the artistry possible in the drive-in horror genre; it's a bargain price, and you'll also get "Premature Burial", a minor entry in the series (Ray Milland is no Price, unhappily), but possessed of lush color, cobwebby settings, a nice dream sequence (a Charles Addams version of what might happen to a cataleptic in a supposedly burial-proof vault) and an EC Comics twist at the end. And again, Hazel Court's formidable bust appears in lace. Wish I were 15 again.
It's the Masque you want to attend, though--it's a helluva party. Poe rocks!
Rating:
Summary: Mannered double bill of Poe/Corman "classics"
Review: Roger Corman's Poe adaptions are only as good as the writer he's working with on them. Most of Corman's Poe films were scripted by writing wiz Richard Matheson. While these films were a bit flatfooted when it comes to the cinematography, they had their charms and Vincent Price made the films come alive with his performances. Masque of the Red Death is probably Corman's richest film visually but the mannered staging of many of the scenes gets in the way of some fine performances and powerful scenes. Charles Beaumont's adaption of two Poe stories manages to create a memorable story about wealth, status and the corruption of power. Price gives a delicious performance and Jane Asher is memorable as the female lead. The "dance" of death is a bit too stylized and distracting. Although it might have been considered arty and daring for its time (and genre), Masque isn't the masterpiece many Corman fans lead you to believe. Premature Burial, on the other hand, is an underrated gem. The script isn't quite as tight or well written as Masque but the performances and direction are more consistent. Ray Milland steps in for Vincent Price (who wasn't able to star due to his contract with AIP. Ironically, AIP eventually picked up the distribution rights to Burial). Milland might seem an odd choice for the main character at first, but he pulls it off quite well. His nervous and distracted acting style suits the main character in this film. Although not as visually memorable or stunning as Masque, Burial is a more consistently enjoyable film. The extras include brief introductions by Corman with some interesting stories on the making of both films. There's no booklet (as with most of The Midnight Movies series)but that's not really a problem.
Rating:
Summary: Extraordinary issue but for The mask of ...!
Review: The Mask of the red death may be the best achievement of Roger Corman in all his career. You feel a deep influence of Ingmar Bergman in this work . The gothic atmosphere and the Corman camera work are magnificent .
This film was a real inspiration motive for a cult movie filmed four years after in 1968 , The conqueror of Worms (widely recommendable).
A must in your personal collection.
Rating:
Summary: Buy this one for "Red Death"
Review: This disc features two of shocksploitation director Roger Corman's infamous Edgar Allan Poe adaptations: _Masque of the Red Death_ and _The Premature Burial_. As adaptations of Poe, they completely miss the mark, distorting his tales into simple morality plays. But at least one of these films succeeds very well on its own terms, and, for fans of early-'60s exploitation horror, is definitely worth the purchase price. _Burial_, a tired little chiller featuring a tired Ray Milland (but, sadly, no Vincent Price), ought to have been buried even sooner. The less said about it, the better. However, with _Red Death_ (starring Price in one of his most outlandish performances), we have one of Corman's most elaborate films. It's a wicked delight from start to finish. In _Red Death_ Corman has his best cast ever, cavernous sets, experimental visuals, a bigger budget and a worthy script. The film's Bergmanesque flourishes are laughable, but as with most of Corman's work the laugh is good-natured -- as much on us as on him. That said, the story manages to generate considerable tension, and Nicholas Roeg's cinematography adds flair to Corman's meat-and-potatoes visuals. As one might expect from a bargain-priced two-fer, the extras aren't exactly legion. But what's here, as they say, is "cherce." For each film, Corman gives a generous interview, and offers pleasant tidbits about the production. Video and audio transfers are acceptable, except for one massive print flaw at the climax of _Red Death_. Corman's films haven't exactly been handled with care, so we probably won't see them in better condition than here. _Red Death_ is a great film for Halloween, and that's gotta be worth fifteen smackers, right?
Rating:
Summary: Double Corman
Review: This is MGM at their best. A double-feature DVD with two Roger Corman classics, both in glorius widescreen, both in luscious technicolor. The first gem, "Masque of the Red Death", has never looked better. A tale of decadence set during the black plague, here represented as the "red plague", thus Edgar Allen Poe. But where Poes wonderful poem ends, is, so-to-speak, at the end of this film. Corman took Poes frightening vignette on the black death and spun a tale of Satanism versus Christain belief, all set in a richly atmospheric castle in the middle of a hellish landscape -- For those of you squemish about anything to do with Christianity, think of it as a morality play of Good against Evil; afterall, Corman is rather ambiguous as to who the hooded "death characters" really are -- And our host to the party to end all parties, none other than Vincent Price himself. The second film, Premature Burial, I'd never seen until this DVD. It is not as hypnotic at "Masque", but it is a fun, macabre journey into madness with a superb actor, Ray Milland, at the helm. Also starring the very sexy, very voluptious Hazel Court, which some Hammer Horror fans may remember from the up and coming dvd "Curse of Frankenstein", due out in October. The film is presented in widescreen. Both films, one on each side of the DVD, include very nicely produced extras with Roger Corman, giving some nice information on the creation and production of both films. If your a fan of Vincent Price, buy it for "Masque". If your a fan of Roger Corman, you will not be disapointed in either film.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding entry in MGM's Midnite Movies collection!
Review: Two great films for the price of one!
Masque of the Red Death, another in the Corman-Poe-Price series from American International, is considered by many to be among the best of the series. Great sets, vivid color, creepy story - all the elements are in play here. The DVD features a very clean print and a bonus documentary with the fascinating Roger Corman. Well worth the price MGM is charging, you should also pick up "The Fall of the House of Usher" and "Pit and the Pendulum," just some of the other AIP films available through this series.
Premature Burial, a Ray Milland vehicle directed by Corman, is about a man who is terrified to be buried alive. It isn't great, but it is solid nontheless, eminently viewable, with the signature gothic atmosphere that will delight fans of the Poe series. There is a Corman documentary for this one, too. If you like Milland, look for "X - The Man with the X-ray Eyes", "The Thing with Two Heads", "Frogs", and "The Attic".
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding entry in MGM's Midnite Movies collection!
Review: Two great films for the price of one! Masque of the Red Death, another in the Corman-Poe-Price series from American International, is considered by many to be among the best of the series. Great sets, vivid color, creepy story - in short, all the elements are in play here. The DVD features a very clean print and a bonus documentary with the fascinating Roger Corman. Well worth the price MGM is charging, you should also pick up "The Fall of the House of Usher" and "Pit and the Pendulum," just some of the other AIP films available through this series. Premature Burial, a Ray Milland vehicle directed by Corman, is about a man who is terrified to be buried alive. It isn't great, but solid nontheless, and eminently viewable, with the same gothic atmosphere that won't disappoint fans of the Poe series. There is a Corman documentary for this one, too. If you like Milland, look for "X - The Man with the X-ray Eyes", "The Thing with Two Heads", "Frogs", and "The Attic".
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