Tales of Terror

Rating:
Summary: JUVENILE HODGEPODGE....
Review: Interesting but lame all-star trio of Poe stories that kids may find fun. Admittedly bravura cast saddled with tame treatment of Poe tales tries to make good but ultimately sink beneath the silliness. The script (by the normally reliable Richard Matheson) could have been a lot better. First story "Morella" features a horrible actress named Maggie Pierce who cannot hold her own with Vincent Price. The next two stories are tritely handled and so tame they're boring. Price (who's in all three), Peter Lorre and Basil Rathbone liven things up a bit but the results are disappointing on an adult level. The Corman touches are here but the film has a low budget quickie feel. Watch "Tomb of Ligeia" for a "Morella" type tale and stick with the other Corman/Price/Poe adaptations--they're more sophisticated and SO much better. As for this?---leave it for the kids.

Rating:
Summary: Price, Lorre and Rathbone in a Poe Anthology Film
Review: Mention Roger Corman's 1962 "Tales of Terror" and you immediately think of Vincent Price teaming up with Peter Lorre and Basil Rathbone. But for me this film owes as much to writer Richard Matheson, who adapted four Poe stories into three film vignettes. "Morella" is another one of those dark family secret stories. The title character (Leona Gage) had died in childbirth 26 years before, cursing her baby daughter. When Leonora (Maggie Pierce) comes home suffering from a fatal disease, she discovers her father Locke (Price) has been keeping mom's mummified corpse in his bedroom. "The Black Cat" also works in elements of Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado." Montressor Herringbone (Lorre) finds out his wfie Annabel (Joyce Jameson) is having an affair with Fortunato Lucresi (Price), a rather foppish wine connoisseur. Unexpectedly funny because of the comic performances of the two stars, the story is this sequence inspired Corman to make "The Raven." Finally, "The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar," an elderly man (Vindent) whose dying days have been eased in part because of a hypnotist, Carmichael (Rathbone), whos wants to hypnotize Valdemar at the moment of death. The experiemnt succeeds, after a fashion, but Carmichael refuses to release Valdemar until his wife Helene (Debra Paget) agrees to marry him.

"Tales of Terror" is noteworthy for two particular impacts it had on horror films. The first was the emergence of anthology films that followed in its wake, such as "Dr. Terror's House of Horrors" and "Black Sabbath." The second was the revival of interest in former movie stars at American International, which would soon add Boris Karloff to their roster. The stand out segment of this film is certainly "The Black Cat," with Lorre and Price showing marvelous comic timing. Lorre takes such perverse glee in walling up his wife and Price, plus there is nothing like the macabre politeness of movie villains . There is something transcendent about watching these old Hollywood pros have fun with taking these roles so seriously, so to speak.

Rating:
Summary: Price, Lorre and Rathbone in a Poe Anthology Film
Review: Mention Roger Corman's 1962 "Tales of Terror" and you immediately think of Vincent Price teaming up with Peter Lorre and Basil Rathbone. But for me this film owes as much to writer Richard Matheson, who adapted four Poe stories into three film vignettes. "Morella" is another one of those dark family secret stories. The title character (Leona Gage) had died in childbirth 26 years before, cursing her baby daughter. When Leonora (Maggie Pierce) comes home suffering from a fatal disease, she discovers her father Locke (Price) has been keeping mom's mummified corpse in his bedroom. "The Black Cat" also works in elements of Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado." Montressor Herringbone (Lorre) finds out his wfie Annabel (Joyce Jameson) is having an affair with Fortunato Lucresi (Price), a rather foppish wine connoisseur. Unexpectedly funny because of the comic performances of the two stars, the story is this sequence inspired Corman to make "The Raven." Finally, "The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar," an elderly man (Vindent) whose dying days have been eased in part because of a hypnotist, Carmichael (Rathbone), whos wants to hypnotize Valdemar at the moment of death. The experiemnt succeeds, after a fashion, but Carmichael refuses to release Valdemar until his wife Helene (Debra Paget) agrees to marry him.

"Tales of Terror" is noteworthy for two particular impacts it had on horror films. The first was the emergence of anthology films that followed in its wake, such as "Dr. Terror's House of Horrors" and "Black Sabbath." The second was the revival of interest in former movie stars at American International, which would soon add Boris Karloff to their roster. The stand out segment of this film is certainly "The Black Cat," with Lorre and Price showing marvelous comic timing. Lorre takes such perverse glee in walling up his wife and Price, plus there is nothing like the macabre politeness of movie villains . There is something transcendent about watching these old Hollywood pros have fun with taking these roles so seriously, so to speak.

Rating:
Summary: Legends on parade
Review: Roger Corman directs this trilogy of terror starring Vincent Price, Peter Lorre and Basil Rathbone. Corman blends weird color schemes with a wide variety of visual effects and startling closeups to make the most of a limited budget. The script was written by Richard Matheson based on Poe's tales. With this cast, there is no reason to mention the acting other than to point out that Price is featured prominently in all three shorts and given a chance to explore his acting talent. He measures up to the task 100%, especially in the humorous drinking scenes. Lorre and Rathbone are consumate professionals who at this point in their careers were comfortable with this type of role.

The DVD itself features a crisp transfer that maintains all the bright colors and visual effects, however the only extra is the trailer. There are no audio commentaries from Corman or anyone else involved, but this is probably because the DVD is priced for sell thru.

The image of Debra Paget laying dead for twenty-five years in her bed is now immortal thanks to Famous Monsters Magazine.

Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE? Why, god? Why?
Review: The supreme horror anthology from the only slightly deranged mind of Edgar Allan Poe. This movie features horror greats Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, and Basil Rathbone. A must-see.

Rating:
Summary: An entertainly gruesome threesome!
Review: The way in which several Poe stories are combined into one in this DVD's feature, "The Black Cat", is worth the price of admission alone. But when you have these three terrific actors - Price, Rathbone and Lorre - together, you can double the DVD's value.

The film transfer itself is superb - in great shape, with a crystal-clear picture and crisp sound. The sets are quite picturesque (after seeing how Price really HAS let the housekeeper have too many days off in "Morella", I don't feel so bad about not vaccuming my own home - and it's amazing how the wine in the glasses on the dining rable is still red after all those years!) Lastly, "M. Valdemar" should teach any hypotist-wannabe that messing with any afterlife states is, at the very least, VERY unwise!

A great DVD for any fan of horror and these three great actors in particular!

Rating:
Summary: Tales of Not So Terror
Review: This is an interesting of tales based loosely on Poe's writings. The first tells of a family reunion-the daughter returns to her family's home to discover dear ole Dad (Price) wandering around a cob web covered filty house in s drunken stupor with Mother Dear rotting in her bed (dead for 26 years). It seems that Dad sent the daughter away after the death of the mother, blaming the child for her death. ...
The 2nd is based on the Cask of Amatillado, with the TellTale Heart and the Black Cat thrown in. Peter Lorre play Montressor, a drunken wino, married to a long-suffering wife. price plays Fontunato, a wine connessior. Lorre challenges price to a wine-tasting contest becomes drunk and Price carries him home,...

The Case of Mr. Valdemar is the oddest and scariest. Price plays Valdemar, a old man racked with pain who uses a hypnotist, Rathbone, to ease the pain. Price also agrees to be hypnotized at the moment of death. ...
A nice way to spend an evening

Rating:
Summary: The Sweet Die-and-Die
Review: This may be just about the best DVD in my collection. It's certainly one of my favorites. I saw this movie when I was about nine years old in the local Rialto Theater; a special Halloween weekend showing. They did things up special that night, with spiders and skeletons hanging from the ceiling, and theater attendents running around in rubber masks.

The theater was old, and elegant, and dignified, and they tore her down for a parking lot. But my fond memories of seeing this fun movie in that theater are still strong with me. And this DVD transfer is superior in quality.

Tales is presented in its original wide-wide screen ratio. The colors, images and sounds of this digital transfer are incredibly crip and vivid. This movie is indeed a treasure to Vincent Price/Roger Corman fans. The cast is without a doubt the finest, with Peter Lorre and Basil Rathbone, and the ever sexy and competent Joyce Jameson (she would the following year (1963) play the same demure, wounded wife with Price, Lorre, and Rathbone in A Comedy of Terrors, available in VHS).

The only extra is the original Theatrical Trailer, but don't let that stop you. Extras are fine, but it's really the movie, presented in the best possible manner, that a collector should be after. A movie can be watched time and time again, but extras get boring after two or three viewings.

This movie is like a living, breathing Halloween party you can watch all year round, with not-too-spooky chills, and tongue in cheek horror. There are plenty of laughs, and a good dose of horror.

Rating:
Summary: It may be Uneven for Some but it`s Sure is Fun.
Review: Three Segments are Told in the Stories from the Works of Edgar Allan Poe. The Segments are:Morella-About a Dying Father (Vincent Price) and also His Dying Daughter (Maggie Pierce) trying to Make Peace until thier Ghostly Mother (Leona Gage) comes to Haunt Them. The Black Cat-About a Alhocolic (Peter Lorre), Who takes Revenge on his Adulterous Wife (Leona Gage) and Her Rich Lover (Vincent Price). The Last:The Cast of M.Valdemar-When a Dying Millionaire (Vincent Price), who wants the Best for his Beautiful Wife (Debra Paget) but When he died, but His Mind is Still Alive, a Greedy Doctor (Basil Rathbone) wants to use his Mind for His Own Amusement.

Directed by Roger Corman (The Intruder, Little Shop of Horrors-1960, The Raven) made an Uneven Anthology of Horror Stories but This Flick does have a Few Moments of Scared and the Tongue in Cheek Humor. The Movie does have a Terrific Score by Les Baxter and a Strong (Often Bizarre) Cinematography work by Floyd Crosby, also the Screenplay is by Novelist and Screenwriter:Richard Matheson (I Am Legend, Stir of Echoes) are One of the few High-Lights of this Cult Horror Classic. The Best Segment is:The Black Cat, Which is Funny and Bizarre Entertaining Story. Unrated but Equivalent to a PG-Rating for Brief Violence and Tense Situations. Panavision. Grade:B+.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful horror anthology
Review: Vincent Price leads an all-star cast in this horror film. Price appears in all three segments. In the first, he plays a man named "Locke" who blames the death of his wife on his daughter who's just came back after 26 years. This is great, verbal horror sort of like a throwback to "Night Gallery" or other dramatic anthology shows, where the horror is in the character's personality and not in the graphics. only the final minutes does the story turn into what AIP movie goers expect. The second story, as has been voted by mostly all on here, is the stand-out. Peter Lorre and Joyce Jameson team up with Vincent in a re-telling of "Cask of Amontillado" but re-titled "The Black Cat". If you've heard or read the story, you pretty much know what's going to happen...the wine tasting scene is hilarious. The final segment offers Basil Rathbone and Vincent although Rathbone has the most action as Price's character, Valdemar, is bed-ridden. Rathbone plays an evil mesmerist who mentally tortures Valdemar's wife and keeps Valdemar in suspended animation you could say in an effort to kill him and run off with the wife! The segment ends with a memorable scene that isn't really sick...but it's not for the squeamish, either! It's one of Rathbone's finest roles, aside from Sherlock Holmes and the hilarious nut-case character in "Comedy of Terrors". This film came along in 1962. At 85 minutes in length, it's short for a feature-length film...but the material and the first-rate acting by everyone make it seem even SHORTER!!