Rating: 
Summary: Murder, Art Deco Style
Review: If you are a fan of Vincent Price, Art Deco, and "The Avengers", then "The Abominable Dr. Phibes" should be your glass of champagne. "Phibes" was directed by Robert Fuest, who had worked on "The Avengers" as a set designer, then later as a director. (Fuest directed several "Tara King" episodes) The film is a visual delight, from Phibes' bizarre late 1920s-style abode, which looks like a set from a Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers musical, to Joseph Cotten's smart deco digs. There is an abundance of sly, sick humor-proving Price doesn't even NEED to use his famous silvery voice! The gruesome murders (the THOUGHT of them is even more gruesome than what is shown) are offset by the tongue-in-cheek performances and great camp sense involved. I met Vincent Price in 1978, and when I asked him about "The Abominable Dr. Phibes", he said "Oh, that's the 'No, No Nanette' of horror films!"
Rating:
Summary: One of Vincent Price's Best.
Review: If you can just sit back and enjoy this movie until the plot unravels you'll have a wonderful time. The murders that the plot centers around are rather predictable once the pattern is revealed, but that's just to get you to the wonderfully weird ending. (I particularly enjoyed listening to "Over the Rainbow" as the ending credits rolled - how beautifully incongruous!) Vincent Price does not have to say a word to emote effectively as the tragic Dr. Phibes. Once you learn why Dr. Phibes is on his rampage he becomes a beautifully sympathetic psychopath and you actually root for him! The eerie mansion with its pipe organ, the clockwork musicians and the mysterious assistant Vulnavia all lend themselves to a beautiful gothic setting. (I found it odd that the actress who played Victoria Phibes was not credited, but this has nothing to do with the rest of the movie) A wonderful addition to my video collection.
Rating:
Summary: Phibes is Phabulous Phun!
Review: Sorry about the title, but I was reminded of the "Style B" poster that was displayed outside the theater when I first saw this film as a kid--it asked "Is Dr. Phibes a Phiend?" Actually, he is. But you root for him anyway. This is the best Vincent Price flick, bar none. Director Fuest, a veteran of the Avengers TV series, brought the tongue-in-cheek flavor of that series to the film, along with his (former) art director's eye for striking sets. The result is completely enchanting. It's scary and oftentimes bloody, but never once do you take it seriously enough to become disturbed. The performances are uniformly excellent, with a special nod to Virginia North as Vulnavia. Without saying a word, she creates an indelible impression as Phibes' companion. (My absolute favorite scene shows Vulnavia cleaning up as "One for My Baby (and Another One for the Road)" is sung on the soundtrack. That's all that happens--she cleans up. It should seem horribly out of place in a horror movie, but that shows the brilliance of this film--everything, even the throwaway bits, contribute to the absolute uniqueness of the proceedings.) You'll never see another film quite like The Abominable Dr. Phibes, and that's a pity.
Rating:
Summary: A great movie
Review: As usual Vincent Price, the master or terror, does it again. This guy can't be matched... As Dr. Phibes a mad scientist, who is seeking revenge on surgeons who let his wife die, he goes by the most ancient of books to help with his death wishes. The entire movie is a clymax, and then when you expect the huge battle scene, nope. Just a creepy movie ending that will chill your spine. I suggest to be a must see. This movie is great.
Rating:
Summary: Deliciously Macabre and Wickedly Funny
Review: Vincent Price is "THE MAN" in this witty horror classic from 1972. Playing a man horribly scarred who seeks revenge on those medical professionals he feels erred in their treatment of his late wife, Price, as Phibes, is a joy to behold. As he systematically - and most maliciously - does away with each individual, the viewer tries to figure out how devilish is each "execution." One of the most expensively produced films from budget-concious American-International, this movie shows that the expense was well worth the investment. With a cast that also includes Joseph Cotton, funnyman Terry Thomas, and Oscar-winner Hugh Griffith, "Phibes" has class in its intriguing storyline and outstanding direction and cinematography.In addition to the aforementioned, this film makes excellent use of music, necessary because of the profession of Dr. Phibes, a classical composer. Each musical snippet is a gem tied to the actions of the central character and his warped mind. This is Price's best film and he came close to repeating the same a few years later in the similarly-themed "Theatre of Blood." Both of these show that Price was the master performer of the genre.
Rating: 
Summary: Death was never so amusing
Review: This dark comedy focuses on a deformed doctor (Vincent Price) who is duplicating the plagues from the bible to exact revenge on the medical personel who could not save his wife years ago. This is a strange but enjoyable film as we watch the Doctor equally enjoy balllroom dancing and giving out death to those that wronged him. Virginia North is like a rose with thorns as Vulnavia, the assistant to Dr.Phibes. The sets are very colorful and the doctor's lair really helps to show the contrast between his overblown persona and the drabness of the world around him. The film also movs along very well and really holds your attention. This film is followed by the slightly superior Dr. Phibes rises again.
Rating: 
Summary: Question about the new video
Review: I'm hoping MGM has restored the original music to this new VHS release. Does anybody know? The version that's been running on Pay Cable for years has SUBSTITUTED the opening organ music (and other music), which seriously hurts the movie.
Rating:
Summary: Supreme Camp of the Horror Art Film
Review: An art film of the greatest kind, a magnificient, campy tour de force of the horror genre like you've never seen it before or since. The writers and directors let Price have his head, and man, did he use it! The opening scene is probably something Price wanted to do for years; Dr. Phibes plays the organ so well, that, at one point, he uses no hands! ;) The sets are done in what can only be described as High Art Deco-Narco-Surrealism. Designer Eatwell did a fanastic job; In the opening scene, Phibes rises from the pit to greet his marble domain, flanked by dead trees stocked with stuffed birds. It's just too much, man! Virginia North (Vulnavia) is like a deranged orchid; she simply needs no excuse, and her presence offsets Price's antics with panache and aplomb; without uttering one word of dialog throughout the whole film, she slinks along wonderfully in high fashions, with all the grace of a mute Python. Naturally, such madness requires a straight man to play against, and Joe Cotton plays the straight man very well indeed. May Amazon and MGM re-release the sequel, The Return of Dr. Phibes, very soon!
Rating:
Summary: Stylishly gruesome, scary, but fun...
Review: The trailer for this movie scared me so badly as a child, that I stayed away from cinemas until I was 7 or 8! Images of locusts dropping onto nurse's heads while they slept, bats and rats devouring people - I had nightmares for years! When I was finally old enough to sit through the movie on TV with the lights out, I found it to be extremely clever and scary, but also a lot of fun! Vincent Price is great, and the film has a sort of old-fashioned 'Sherlock Holmes' quality to it.
Rating:
Summary: Vincent Price in a great, if deranged role
Review: Vincent Price. A Deranged doctor out to enact revenge for the death of his beautiful wife while on the operating table. What more needs to be said? This movie has Price at his campy best. While the plot is somewhat ploding at times, in terms of sheer cinematic shock value this is a great flick. I won't give away any of the various murders but suffice it to say none of them are pretty. All in all one of Vincent's best and a great movie to watch late at night with the covers up.
|
