Rating: 
Summary: Vincent Price At His *BEST*
Review: This movie is one of Vincent Price's *BEST* films, in my opinion. I bought the VHS around four years ago. I love the movie so much that I just bought the DVD. Vincent Price is truly brilliant in this film. If you love Vincent Price and you haven't seen this movie I suggest watching it.
Rating:
Summary: Theatrical...
Review: 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...
Rating: 
Summary: What Hammer wishes they could have produced...
Review: Vincent Price gets to truly shine in an over the top performance as a demented actor who turns to revenge against a snobbish group of London theater critics. There is a grisly murder in the opening minutes of the movie and they don't stop until the end of the film. Each murder is staged from the pages of Shakespeare plays. Diana Rigg (of The Avengers fame) gives a great performance as the daughter of Edward Lionheart (Price) and she seems to truly enjoy this role, as does the entire cast. Tightly crafted and fast paced, this is a movie that Hammer Studios could have stayed in business with, if only they had been able to make the transition from Gothic Horror to the modern era.
Rating:
Summary: Bard to The Bone
Review: Vincent Price in his finest role - it's as simple as that.
Not only does it feature a fantastic ensemble cast, but it also allows Vincent to showcase his trademark theatrical approach to Shakespere.
Viewers may not realise Vincent Price was a Hollywood heart-throb years before Roger Corman came calling and Poe came tapping, as if someone gently rapping, rapping at Vincent's trailer door.
Vincent has a roaringly good time playing Edward Lionheart correcting 'critical miscalculations' by a bunch of snobbish theatre critics.
With enough references to the Bard you could shake-a-spear at, Theatre of Blood is pure educational, entertaining escapism.
Lets hope the proposed re-make remains not to be.
The actual DVD is a bit of a disappointment though.
It's widescreen, but not anamorphic and looks a little rough around the edges. The sound has the occasional crackle to it and the only extra is the theatrical trailer.
Lets hope they release a special edition of this magnificent movie...."Ah to dream"..
Rating:
Summary: Hail Mr Price!
Review: Vincent Price was the obvious choice for this tongue-in-cheek horror movie, about an aged Shakespearian actor, who exacts revenge on those who gave him bad "notices". An all-star cast brings credibility to a first rate movie, produced to give it a "B" movie slant. The soundtrack is sumptious, and the dialogue very entertaining.
I first saw this at the drive in theater where I live, at the impressionable age of 10. Although I don't recommend this movie for a 10 year old (for the somewhat intense gore); at the time, we didn't realize it was such a movie. It was over ten years later that I actually saw it on German television, then promptly picked it up on VHS, later to be replaced by DVD.
I've watched it over and over again, and do so, for the admiration of the venerable Vincent Price, and the unique story that captures the complexity of Shakespeare with the fun of late night horror.
...well written
...well acted
watch it!
Rating:
Summary: Price is priceless once again!
Review: Vincent Price's acting is excellent in this movie. He puts great expression when quoting Shakespeare. The movie itself is on the weird side, which is what makes it so great. Vincent's character (Edward Lionheart) does not win the award he thought he deserved. Never fear, he seeks sweet revenge in some of the strangest Shakespearean ways. One that got my attention was the beheading! Oh my gosh! And the pie! LoL. So, if you like Vincent Price, Shakespeare, or you have a twisted sense of humor, this is a must see! Trust me.
Rating:
Summary: A hoot
Review: What a great idea: have Vincent Price kill people and recite Shakespeare. He's terrific at both. A very entertaining film and Price is obviously having a ball, hamming up every characterization to the hilt. I wonder if there is any recording of him actually playing any of the Shakespearean roles? His Shylock is great...
Rating:
Summary: Slaughtering critics...What's not to love?
Review: 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?
Rating:
Summary: "Now is the winter of our discontent..."
Review: Who knew Shakespeare could be so much fun? More often than not, his plays seemed to put me to sleep in high school literature class. Funny how a movie like this can make you see things in a different light, even make you appreciate his work. I guess it's all in the presentation.In Theater of Blood, Vincent Price plays Edward Lionheart, a Shakespearian actor who takes revenge on his critics through some particularly devious means after suffering many a bad review. What I really enjoyed, besides Price's outstanding performance, was how he incorporated the murders to fit in with Shakespearian plays. It was a really nice touch that elevated this movie from your typical horror movie to a masterpiece of the genre. Price plays it perfectly, as an over the top actor, quoting lines from various plays as the curtain falls on each of his victims. I loved how he had that big book containing all his reviews, to which he would refer before dispatching some of his intended targets. Also, I thought Diana Rigg was wonderful as Price's daughter, Edwina. Not only is she very easy on the eyes, but also she complimented Price's performance nicely. If you've seen the earlier Price movie, The Abominable Dr. Phibes, you will certainly recognize a number of similarities in the plot of both movies. Both involve the main character supposedly coming back from the dead to exact revenge. In 'Phibes', his vengeance is focused on the doctors and nurses Price feels are responsible for his wife's death, while here his wrath is aimed at those responsible for the death of his career. Also, both movies involve meticulous planning of the murders to fit into a specific, overall theme, including rather gruesome and horrifying means of demise for the intended victims. It's all played tongue in cheek, and works so well. This is one of my favorite Price films, and really excellent example of him at his best. If for nothing else, this movie is worth watching to see Price in the guise of a hairdresser, in setting up a death sequence with a female victim. Seeing him in those groovy clothes, glasses stolen from Elton John, and ridiculously oversized afro is truly 'priceless'. Cookieman108
Rating:
Summary: "Now is the winter of our discontent..."
Review: Who knew Shakespeare could be so much fun? More often than not, his plays seemed to put me to sleep in high school literature class. Funny how a movie like this can make you see things in a different light, even make you appreciate his work. I guess it's all in the presentation. In Theater of Blood, Vincent Price plays Edward Lionheart, a Shakespearian actor who takes revenge on his critics through some particularly devious means after suffering many a bad review. What I really enjoyed, besides Price's outstanding performance, was how he incorporated the murders to fit in with Shakespearian plays. It was a really nice touch that elevated this movie from your typical horror movie to a masterpiece of the genre. Price plays it perfectly, as an over the top actor, quoting lines from various plays as the curtain falls on each of his victims. I loved how he had that big book containing all his reviews, to which he would refer before dispatching some of his intended targets. Also, I thought Diana Rigg was wonderful as Price's daughter, Edwina. Not only is she very easy on the eyes, but also she complimented Price's performance nicely. If you've seen the earlier Price movie, The Abominable Dr. Phibes, you will certainly recognize a number of similarities in the plot of both movies. Both involve the main character supposedly coming back from the dead to exact revenge. In 'Phibes', his vengeance is focused on the doctors and nurses Price feels are responsible for his wife's death, while here his wrath is aimed at those responsible for the death of his career. Also, both movies involve meticulous planning of the murders to fit into a specific, overall theme, including rather gruesome and horrifying means of demise for the intended victims. It's all played tongue in cheek, and works so well. This is one of my favorite Price films, and really excellent example of him at his best. If for nothing else, this movie is worth watching to see Price in the guise of a hairdresser, in setting up a death sequence with a female victim. Seeing him in those groovy clothes, glasses stolen from Elton John, and ridiculously oversized afro is truly 'priceless'. Cookieman108
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