Review(s): DVD Abominable Dr Phibes/Dr Phibes Rise a
The Mad Genius Of DR. PHIBES!!!
"Nine killed her..." - his wife - "...and nine shall DIE!..." - his promise of revenge - "...nine eternities IN DOOM!!" - which is the basic premise of the Dr. Phibes movies. Mess with Anton Phibes, and you might as well pick out your casket now. That is, if he leaves anything left to bury...
The incomparable fear-film figurehead Vincent Price essays Dr. Phibes as a well-read and devious fiend; a disfigured, high-class mastermind. Phibes is quite the Renaissance man, with interests ranging from music to science to theology, and Vincent Price is convincing as any and all of these. He's also convincing as a twisted soul bent on revenge, which is key to the Phibes movies.
In "The Abominable Dr. Phibes", he seeks retribution on nine doctors that he blames for the botched operation that caused the death of his beloved wife. He keeps her corpse perfectly preserved, and promises her that he will exact a bloody and deserved revenge. Phibes is as much monster as man, having been disfigured in a near-fatal car accident after his wife's death. His silent, and also quite attractive, assistant, Vulnavia, is loyal and efficient, and Phibes is a creative genius. Thusly, the deaths of those foolish enough to have crossed Phibes are often complex and imaginitive. So imaginitive, in fact, that the horror becomes humor, as the bumbling detectives assigned to stop Phibes are increasingly perplexed by the maniacal methods of the Abominable one. A great use of an orchestral version of "Over The Rainbow" adds to the macabre fun.
"Dr. Phibes Rises Again" features, yep, the mad, organ-playing doctor rising again. Here, with Vulnavia again at his side (though played by a different actress this time around), he plans a journey to Egypt where he will use the mystical waters of eternal life to preserve himself and his wife for all time. The detectives from the first film return, but his most worthy obstacle is a rival named Beiderbeck, played by Robert ("Count Yorga" films) Quarry. Beiderbeck and his crew soon learn, however, what fate awaits those who stand in Phibes' way. "Over The Rainbow" is used again at the end of this film, with one crucial difference - in this version of the orchestration, Vincent Price actually sings the song! You owe it to yourself to hear that, if you are at all a self-respecting horror fan.
The second movie is not quite as good or endearing as the first, although they are both entertaining. There was actually a third planned in the series, according to a trivia book I read, but that never happened. Considering how the second one ends, I'm not exactly sure where they could have gone with "Dr. Phibes III". The features on the "Phibes" discs are barely there, but no matter, as these two movies are remarkable additions to the collection of any Vincent Price fans, or anyone who likes well-written, amusing horror stories.
Nobody seeks revenge like the Abominable Dr. Phibes!
Once again the mails have betrayed your faithful reviewer, which means that tonight's double-feature of "Screaming Skull" and "The Werewolf vs. Vampire Woman" has been postponed. So tonight we substitute a pair of classic over-the-top revenge movies starring Vincent Price as Dr. Anton Phibes (short "e" not long "e" on the last name). Not since Dante came up with appropriate eternal punishments for those sent to the Inferno has there been such a macabre genius for taking vengeance as Dr. Phibes. There are some imitators. After making the sequel here Price himself did "Theatre of Blood" and there is also "Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?" But both of those are closer to the buffet approach to splatter flicks more in the mode of the "Friday the 13th" movies than the diabolical Dr. Phibes.
In "The Abominable Dr. Phibes" the title character, played to the hilt and beyond by Price, seeks revenge upon the nine doctors he feels are responsible for the death of his beloved wife, Victoria. As a source of inspiration, Phibes uses the Plagues of Egypt, knocking off victims (including Terry-Thomas) with frogs, locusts and the like with the help of his silent and voluptuous assistant Vulnavia (Virginia North), while trotting off to have fun playing his grand pipe organ. Poor Inspector Trout (Peter Jeffrey) tries to get one step ahead of the Good Doctor, but he cannot even keep up as the murders progress. Phibes saves the best for last and Dr. Vesalius (Joseph Cotten), the man who botched the operation, at least in Phibes twisted view. By this point Phibes is up to the Death of the First Born and Dr. Vesalius has to operate on his son to keep the boy from suffering the same fate as Phibes (shudder).
"The Abominable Dr. Phibes" is like "Richard III" and "Silence of the Lambs" in that you find yourself rooting for the villain. This might be camp but it is done with such style and flair, not to mention a macabre (if not sick) humor. I love the fact that Vincent Price does all of his lines as a sort of disembodied voice. His lips never move, a result of having his character's mouth currently being in the side of his neck (what did you expect in a film that is so tongue in cheek?). This 1971 film, directed by Robert Fuest, was scripted by James Whiton and William Goldstein, a pair of decidedly sick human beings.
The film was enough of a hit that the next year we were treated to "Dr. Phibes Rises Again," directed again by Fuest who co-wrote the script along with Robert Blees (who co-wrote "The Cage" pilot with Gene Rodennberry for the original "Star Trek"). This rushed sequel is not as good as the original mainly because it was a rushed sequel. Gary Owens from "Laugh-In" actually provides a voice-over narration to recaps the first film in case we forgot something important. It turns out Dr. Phibes wakes up after three years in what is now considered suspended animation to find his mansion has been demolished (must have forgotten to pay taxes). Missing is an ancient Egyptian papyrus which the doctor can use to resurrect his beloved Victoria (Caroline Munro) and which is now in the hands of Darius Beiderbeck (Robert Quarry), a famous scholar putting together an expedition to a remote mountain in Egypt. There he hopes to find inside the mountain a tributary of the River of Life, which bestows immortality. Beiderbeck is several centuries road and is running out of his personal stock of elixir and needs a new source.
Along for the ride are Beiderbeck's fiancée Diane (Fiona Lewis) and Professor Ambrose (Hugh Griffith), who are joined by Phibes, a new Vulnavia (Valli Kemp), Victoria's body, and the doctor's collection of clockwork musicians. Phibes starts killing people, but his methods start off being more outrageous than clever. Having created an opponent who might actually stand a chance against Vibes, this movie brings back Inspector Trout to be just as ineffectual as he was the first time around. If the first movie had engaged in this much schlock there would not have been a sequel. When they do the "I don't think--I know" gag you are about ready to because the first movie was so much fun and this one is trying so hard but substituting enthusiasm for wit.
That is until the final scene. You see, "The Abominable Dr. Phibes" is rated five stars and "Dr. Phibes Rises Again" was coming in at three-and-a-half until we get to the song for the grand finale. That makes us round the movie up to four, which has the disc averaging four-and-a-half stars. But "The Abominable Dr. Phibes" is essentially horror comedy viewing so again, we round up, even though the presence of only the original trailers as DVD extras is an insult. It will be interesting to see how Dr. Phibes deals with those that dare insult him in this manner.
4 1/2 stars for the dark humoured "Dr Phibes" movies
You can never keep a good villan down much less kill him. Dr Phibes has started taking revenge against an odd assortment of people. He plays his organ and has his "mechanical men" play an assortment of oldies before retiring for the evening and then coming out again to kill. It seems that he holds these men responsible for the death ofhis wife and when he does payback its in the key of murder.
The first film was a witty horror surprise with sharp direction by Robert Fuest ("The Avengers")and sharp acting. Peter Cushing was originally set to play in the film but withdrew when his wife passed away. Price gives a great performance that's perfect for the film.
The second film on the flipside of this dual sided disc is the sequel "Dr Phibes Rises Again". Fuest had a hand in the screenplay and it's just as much fun as the first film. Robert Quarry (who Price would come to resent when he found out that American Internation Pictures was planning to replace him with Quarry for many future releases). Sadly, there weren't any more films in the series but then again they went out on a high note.
Picture quality is worth screaming about and the DVDs look very good. We only get the original theatrical trailers as extras which is too bad as director Fuest is still (at this moment) around and could given a couple of insightful commentary tracks. Because these were released by AIP people tend to look down on them but their stellar films made with wit, charm and intelligence. They're also ghoulish fun.
Related DVD's Abominable Dr Phibes/Dr Phibes Rise a
I have not seen Madhouse, so this review is a reprint of one I wrote on the previously available single film DVD version.
In an interview with NPR's Terry Gross, the daughter of the late great Vincent Price was asked which of her father's films was his favourite. She said he loved Theatre of Blood because he got to do Shakespeare (albeit with a bit of poetic license).
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... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Vincent Price DVD Release Date: Released the 15 February 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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I enjoy the master of horror Vincent Price in movies like this one, along with Boris Karloff and Peter Lorre. This is a cult classic that anyone who enjoys comedy mixed with a little terror will surely want to watch. This very early performance by Jack Nicholson is great to see. The picture quality of this DVD is very good. More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Vincent Price - Peter Lorre - Boris Karloff Director(s): Jacques Tourneur DVD Release Date: Released the 26 August 2003 Usually ships in 24 hours
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The Masque of the Red Death (1964) is Roger Corman's, and most people's, choice as the best of the Edgar Allan Poe pictures. Masque offers the expected creepy atmosphere and violence against peasants, plus metaphysical ponderings and pointed satanic cruelty. (Corman was operating as much under the influence of Ingmar Bergman as of Edgar Allan Poe.) Nicolas Roeg's color cinematography and Daniel Haller's elaborate production design would be stellar in any Hollywood A-movie; the mono-colored rooms of the prince's castle are a startling effect. Vincent Price is in fine fettle as Prince Prospero, the devil-worshipping sadist who throws lavish parties while the countryside is ravaged by the plague.
The Premature Burial (1962) substitutes Ray Milland in the usual Price... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Vincent Price Director(s): Roger Corman DVD Release Date: Released the 27 August 2002 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Made at the height of Roger Corman's successful Edgar Allan Poe series (with his perennial star Vincent Price), these two pictures, while similar in tone to the Poe films, adapt two different writers. Tower of London, a remake of the Basil Rathbone/Boris Karloff film from 1935, is a version of Shakespeare's Richard III, with Price taking on the role of the villainous hunchback, plotting and killing his way to the throne of England. The Haunted Palace, meanwhile, takes its title from a Poe poem, but in every other respect is an adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft's The Case of Charles Dexter Ward. Here Price comes to the creepy town of Arkham to claim his inheritance: the palace of the title. Once there, his mind is taken over by the vengeful spirit of his warlock ancestor, determined to continue... More Info about this DVD Director(s): Roger Corman DVD Release Date: Released the 26 August 2003 Usually ships in 24 hours
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House of Wax brought Vincent Price into the horror genre, where he fit as snugly as a scalpel in a mad scientist's hand. A remake of the 1933 film Mystery of the Wax Museum, this entertaining Gothic shocker casts Price as a sculptor of wax figures; his unwilling victims--er, "models"--lend their bodies to his lifelike depictions of Marie Antoinette and Joan of Arc. The film was one of the top 10 moneymakers of its year, thanks in part to the 3-D gimmick, which explains why so many things are aimed at the camera (why else would the paddleball man be there?). Footnote to history: director Andre De Toth was blind in one eye, and thus could not see in three dimensions.
Not at all a musty relic of the early-sound era, the original Mystery of the Wax Museum (shot in a... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Vincent Price - Frank Lovejoy Director(s): André De Toth DVD Release Date: Released the 05 August 2003 Usually ships in 24 hours
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