My favorite Price horror film is, hands down, "Theater of Blood". The theater where I worked as an usher, held it over for three solid weeks. Every night, I delighted in the reactions of the audience to every scene. And, no matter how graphic the scene (Merridew forced to eat his "babies"), everyone was solidly behind Lionheart and probably thought about their own revenge scenarios against bosses, ex-lovers, and the rest ("I'll kill you when I am ready. Next week, next month, perhaps next year!") The fact that Price was having such obvious fun in playing the part just made you root for him all the more. God Bless You, Vincent, for all of the joy you brought us.
Price's range was endless. Let's not forget he could even convince the audience without being on camera. He is, without a doubt, the star performer in Disney's The Great Mouse Detective as the evil Ratigan.
And he had memorable performances in film noir - LAURA, LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN, SHOCK, THE WEB, WHILE THE CITY SLEEPS. Our daughters know him as the narrator of Michael Jackson's Thriller. Now THAT is range. :)
Vincent Price is one of the Unholy Three of the greatest post-war horror genre superstars alongside Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. He also links to the original horror classic stars after receiving his baptism in the original Tower of London. Such great films - all the Poe films by Corman he starred in are all beautiful classics, Houses of Wax and Haunted Hill and Witchfinder and Tingler and definitely the two Phibes movies and perhaps best of all the superlative Theatre of Blood. Vinny was quite simply superb 👍
i like, how you said, "post war". right away, i thought of lugosi and karloff. here's a ? for you. of, all the "horror classics" actors, which 4, would go on your "classic horror" mount rushmore ? who do you leave out ? besides, price and karloff, i got to think about the other 2 spots.....
Thanks and you raise a good question as to who we can identify as most prominent among the great horror stars. I think we can include Lon Chaney Snr because he really is the grandaddy of iconic horror stars. And Lugosi of course - can't leave him out! And then there's Conrad Veidt and Peter Lorre... and countless others once you start recalling the likes of Lionel Atwill etc. Plenty others deserving of mention I'm sure. Too many to say perhaps but my own personal favourites remain Chaney, Lugosi, Karloff, Price, Cushing & Lee 👍
@@lallancashire2201 really...you just ruined my day, got a lot to think about...lol-only kidding. how, could i forget, lon chaney. and, lorre, too. i can see, lorre on the list, but for me, i have stronger points for the others.
I love Vincent Price since my earliest childhood, I am 66 now. He was a great actor and a very nice person. So sad he had so many health issues in his later years, but he lived his life to the fullest, and his fans loved and love him dearly. R.I.P.
Phibes appears to have been such a hit that there was a 3rd movie intended, as well as a planned series of novels. It's a pity, as he could have been a sort of horror anti-hero in a hell of a franchise.
I love the Phibes movies and found I liked the second film better than the first because I loved that we got to root for this tragic character. I also would have loved to have not only seen a third film to see if he was able to bring Victoria back but how she would have reacted to the whole two films.
I remember him being interviewed on a talk show, he said one of his favourite things was to go to the cinema to watch his own films, he would sit behind people and at the end of the film he would lean forward and say in that trademark voice 'Did you enjoy that', he said their reaction was priceless, a giant of an actor and sadly missed
I'm 71 years old and grew up on a diet of Vincent Prince films because my parents were fans. The peers of his generation were outstandingly impressive, but there was something different and something special about Vincent Price. He was totally unique. Thank you for this video. It's good to see Mr Price is still recognised.
I love Dr. Phibes and Theater of Blood, both of which have horrific deaths that are fun to watch. One interesting point of fact was Vincent Price hosted the series called "Mystery" which showcased British mysteries and thrillers. When he left the series he recommended Diana Rigg to be his replacement, she was his co-star in Theater of Blood where she played his devoted daughter.
Ah, THAT'S who she was! Mystery was my first exposure to the Jeremy Brett version of Sherlock Holmes from Granada Television (still the purest adaptations of Arthur Conan Doyle's original stories ever filmed) and I vividly recall Price up there for those. Given that I got to know Rigg later through watching old episodes of The Avengers (and of course, Theater Of Blood), I'm surprised I never made the connection.
See also Shock, where he gives a complete performance as a psychiatrist attempting to neutralize the only witness to his accidental killing of his wife.
To me there are 3 actors who always class up whatever movie or TV show they're in: Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing and Vincent Price. I'd watch them sitting around waiting for their clothes to dry. The conversation would be amazing.
Lee had an extraordinary presence. Cushing REALLY classed up any movie he was in. Price combined presence with class. Lee was the fiercer one, physically, Cushing had the most class, Price the wider range.
@xhagast - love Price but "range" is not the word I'd use to describe his chops. Always felt Price was essentially the same character in nearly everything I've ever seen him in. Cushing & Karloff had range.
@@xhagast - I'm certainly no James Lipton but whether he's menacing, sarcastic, or silly, Price always came off like a slight variation on the same guy to me. Again, I like him; especially the Corman/Poe films. Al Pacino's approach to role diversity reminds me of Price, except that Price was entertaining.
Both Price and Cushing were the definite horror actors. Classy, versatile, GREAT actors that could play anything, and with a great sense of humour. My two main horror icons.
Great idea for a list, here mine: 10. The Invisible Man Returns 9. The Tingler 8. The Last Man on Earth 7. The Abominable Dr. Phibes 6. The Masque of the Red Death 5. Madhouse 4. House of Usher 3. House of Wax 2. House of Haunted Hill 1. The Witchfinder General
I was in a law school class, in the building next to the cemetery where Edgar Allan Poe is buried, when the professor suddenly said, "Vincent Price is in the graveyard!" And he was. Not everybody can say actually saw Vincent Price in a graveyard.
I would ask if you knew why he was in the graveyard, but when it comes to Vincent Price, being in a graveyard just makes sense for him lol. Perhaps he was simply paying tribute to the great author who provided the vehicle for many of his greatest films.
I had the privilege to see Vincent Price do a one-man show , Diversions and Delights. at Ford's Theater in Washington, DC. He portrayed Oscar Wilde giving a lecture post-Reading gaol. Great show. It's available on RUclips.
I was luckily present, selling books, for a talk Mr. Price had at my college, years ago, and he and I had a lovely conversation after. I don't know that I've ever met such a delightful and 'gentlemanly' individual. A very great actor, chef, artist, and genuinely nice man. :)
Those men were so talented in multiple dimensions. It’s always nice to hear more about VP. He was supposed to be kind & bright as well as the rest of the package. Legit legend. All the Hammer Humans.
Thank you for another well written, researched and thoughtful essay. As a lifelong Vincent Price fan, it was music to my ears. I’d like to also add to this appreciation of Price’s horror career his deliciously chilling rap in Michael Jackson’s Thriller. And although it is not part of the genre, I really love one of Price’s last performances as the down on his luck former Russian nobleman in The Whales of August with Bette Davis and Lillian Gish. Your hard work in keeping this channel a Mecca for movie lovers is appreciated.
Don't forget Welcome to My Nightmare by Alice Cooper Vincent did the voice-over narration and I believe traveled with Cooper for the stage show just for that part.
What I like about you Robyn is unlike your competitors is you really do have an amazing passion for film. Not just effects and box office. Thanks for that. Never stop
Excellent job in putting this list together. Vincent Price was certainly a character unto himself and no matter what film he did, you knew you were going to get that special kind of character he could play so well. I always love to watch "House On Haunted Hill" and "The Pit And The Pendulum" as personal favorites. I also enjoy the lesser known "Madhouse", both for its murder mystery plot and co-star Peter Cushing.
I watched Witchmaster General today, because I saw it on this list. Holy crap, disturbing is right. That movie's damn near tortureporn. I was rooting like hell for the soldier guy. The scene where he comes back to town and finds his wife in the church is powerful.
It always amazes me how an actor or actress can be deceased for many years, but just put on one of their films and their they are, young and talking and walking, almost if they were alive again. To me, Being in a movie is as close to physical immortality as someone can get.
Although not an horror film, I would like to remember here Price's role as Robur in "Master of the World" - a film which also includes Charles Bronson in the cast.
I do think Dragonwyck might have been worthy of mention. While not strictly horror, it has strong gothic elements, and Price's character is both charismatic and sinister, something of a precursor to his Prince Prospero.
@@danthsmith Against type in that he was playing a serious character instead of his usual silly characters-normally he'd play a guy like Hopkins the same as he played Ratigan 🐁 But sorry if I used the wrong phrase
I'm a huge Price fan.I had the pleasure of briefly meeting him back in 1981 when he came to speak at my JR high school.He spoke about his life and career and the importance of art.I was struck by how tall he was when he graciously greeted students after his appearance.What an incredible man!After all these years,I think 'Masque of the Red' death might be my favorite but I love all his films.'Dragonwycke' is another lesser known fave with Gene Teirney.
Vincent Price was one of my many childhood heroes, and we all love his elegant ghoulishness, he was also a person gifted with a wonderful sense of humor and excellent comedic timing. There's an odd old little known film Price starred in called "Champagne for Caesar" ( a jibe at T.V. game shows) Where he played a media mogul/ T.V. exec named Burnbridge Waters who was completely bat-scat crazy! And we can't forget the many animation voices he did. (Zig-Zag from "The Thief and the Cobbler" and Rattigan from Disney's " The Great Mouse Detective" for example.) To put it simply, Vincent was wonderful!
Glad you brought that one up so I wouldn't repeat the film. Champagne was a totally delightful film, and Vincent's role was hilarious. The whole world was required to stand still while he came up with another amazing thought.
I know I've said this several times, I love your short comedy reviews but you also have a talent for these respectful reviews. Your recent coverage of Corman and Price has felt like an education for me. I always associated Corman with schlock but he has also created some admirable movies as well as played a wider role in the filmmaking industry. I also associated Price with being a novelty actor which sort of disrespects the talent he had. He's not the only actor to be his own brand, but clearly many directors wanted Vincent Price to embody himself rather than embodying a character. Nicely made but also heart-warming video giving him the respect he deserves.
Theater Of Blood is by far my favourite, and one of my favourite films of all time. I also enjoy the Tales Of Terror anthology film. But a special shout-out, for me, goes to the Kenny Everett film Bloodbath At The House Of Death where Price plays a bad guy and his death scene includes him whining about missing out on all the fun.
Vincent is the star of my 3 favorite horror movies, Theater of Blood and both Phibes films! One of the best voices in entertainment, his audio show "The Price of Fear" is so great! Last Man on Earth is my favorite of the "I am Legend" based movies!
The first film I saw Vincent Price in was Edward Scissorhands, his last role. I knew who he was, but for some reason they never showed his films on tv in my country. We had Hammer films galore, with Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee on tv quite often, but no Price. Why, I don't know. Even now, I've not seen half the films on this list.
Was talking about horror movies once with younger people and I told them, you can have your Freddie, Jason and Michael, I'll take Dr. Anton Phibes over them anytime.
As usual an excellent presentation. I was amazed at the picture quality of these old masterpieces. I think I shall watch one tonight. Thanks, Robin and crew.
i was hoping you'd have comedy of terrors in your list (@10:57). i have many favorite price movies, but this probably leads the pack. 'what ... place is this?' (if I'm remembering that line correctly)
When I was in middle school honors English, our teacher would assign books or stories that included Poe and Shakespeare. The sometimes arduous task of reading the antiquated language of several of the works was rewarded by allowing the class to watch a film adaptation. This is the first time I saw Vincent Price and I was instantly a fan of his. I may have forgotten most of what I learned in that class, however I never lost the love of reading that it gifted me, but I still remember Vincent Price in Roger Corman's Poe films. To this day they're still among my favorites. RIP Vincent Price, you were a gentleman and a scholar. He was not simply a great actor but he seemed to be a genuinely wonderful human. I am such a fan of his that I named my first Son Vincent.
Edward Scissorhands was Vincent Price's last feature film. Price was Tim Burton's childhood hero and he was able to fulfill his lifelong wish of making a movie with him. It was a fairly small role but it was the film that introduced me to his work and I'd guess that's true for many others as well.
Thank you so much, for posting about this great great actor and character.....🎉 reminds me all movies, 40 years ago, i was watching, here in Greece....❤
I do agree with your top three picks, but I would reverse the order. And I really appreciate the respect & in-depth research that you've employed in all your recent Vincent Price retrospectives. While I've always enjoyed Price's work, the background & analysis you bring to your video essays never fails to cast new light on classic (and sometimes not classic!) movies. Always looking forward to your next project!
Despite Matheson's issues with how his script was treated, Last Man On Earth remains the most faithful adaptation of I Am Legend to this day. I once heard someone on RUclips say the novel was a metaphor for getting older, which make Price's involvement make even more sense when you account for Robin's notion of Price being a kid's idea of an adult.
I don’t think there’s any praise i can add that other commenters haven’t voiced already, so i’ll just say that the inclusion of the Shrunken Head Apple Sculpture promo shot ( 13:26 ) was an inspired choice 😆 The adverts for that bit of macabre merchandise graced the back cover of many comic books that i read as a kid, and i haven’t thought about it in ages 😊 Thanks for that bit of nostalgia, Robin & Graham.
He even brought dignity to the Batman TV. series as egghead One of the few villains that narrowed down who Batman really was, I enjoyed his work on Mystery and was gratified to see that after his passing Dame Diana Riggs from Theater of Blood took over the seat.
That's a great tribute. I think his best talent is exemplified in the tv movie An Evening of Edgar Allan Poe where he does Poe at his most faithful i.e. narrated at the first person.
A true showcase for his stage chops if you look at it, that one. He also gives extremely different performances for each segment. Best of all, you can find it here on RUclips.
I grew up watching Vincent Price. Sadly, he passed away when I was a little kid so I never got the chance to meet him. However, my uncle, in his last years, lived with a quiet elderly woman who was actually a cousin to Price. And I was able to meet his daughter, Victoria, at a convention in 2017. She had a collection of personal family photos of him just being a totally awesome dad and she had a wonderful conversation with my wife and myself.
Thanks for including that Muppet Show clip! That was arguably my favorite episode as a kid, especially because of the incredibly spooky rendition of "You've Got A Friend" with all his monster pals. Ironically, I wouldn't hear the original version of that song until years later, and I would be deeply disappointed by the lack of organ. Somebody needs to put Vincent Price and Uncle Deadly singing "You've Got A Friend" on a Halloween playlist.
Masque of the Red Death and House of Wax have generally been my two favorites, but in terms of achievement and uncompromising artistry I think Witchfinder General is easily his greatest film. You are correct about this. I have Phibes and Theater of Blood as a virtual tie; they're almost the same movie for me; I might lean by a hair to Phibes, but it's all a parlor game. An interesting American gothic movie that is often overlooked is the 1940 film, House of Seven Gables, with Price. Worth a look at any rate. 1946's Dragonwyck is also very good, a kind of retread of Rebecca and Gaslight with tons of atmosphere. The greatest movie he was ever in is probably Laura (1944) but that is not horror or strictly a Price vehicle, and that's what we're talking about here.
As far as his work in TV is concerned, I was during my early childhood introduced to Price via his voiceovers to characters he played in Rankin-Bass holiday specials and 13 Ghosts of Scooby Doo (as, appropriately, Vincent VanGhoul). And he has had memorable supporting roles in non-horror films of the 50's alongside other legends, such as The Las Vegas Story (opposite Victor Mature and Jane Russell), The Three Musketeers (opposite Gene Kelly and Angela Lansbury) and The Ten Commandments (opposite Charlton Heston and Yul Brynner). It really is a testament to his versatility.
One of my favorite actors of the 20th century. This list actually had a few films mentioned that I haven't seen and may have to track down. Thank you. Always good to hear that sonorous voice of his again.
Quick story. I met Vincent Price and unintentionally scared him. It was 2 am in a parking garage in LAX. I was waiting for my ride when I spotted Price walking through the garage. He had two heavy bags so I said, “Good evening, Mr. Price, can I help you with your bags?” He glanced at me with a look of fear and quickly trotted away from me. Must have thought I was going to mug him. 😂
I still remember watching Dr Phibes as a child. It gave me nightmares for years, but for as much as it scared me, it fascinated me. I will always cherish these movies
I loved this, and yes, I do agree with your top three. I first saw Vincent Price in 'The Long Night' a Noir Thriller about love rivals, and then in 'Dragonwyck', and 'Laura', but I liked his performances in horror films the best, particularly the Roger Corman 'Poe' films.
If you haven't seen it yet, I'd also recommend 1946's Shock, which casts him as a psychiatrist using escalating methods on his traumatized patient to cover up his murder of his wife.
@@johnathonhaney8291 I have seen it once many years ago about 45 to 50, but I need to see it again as I don't remember it well. Thank you for the suggestion, it's appreciated.
Awesome video as always! When I saw WItchfinder General recently, I was shocked at how brutal it was! It's great for sure, but like you point out here, it lacks the levity and charm that many of his other films had, he was so serious as Hopkins, and the movie's setting so dismal and cynical, it was a side of Price I've never seen before. My top 3 would be: House on Haunted Hill, Fall of the House of Usher, and Witchfinder General, but he makes every movie he's in better. He's my favorite horror actor of all time, and he has stiff competition with so many of the other stars you mention here!
Price was so associated with Horror, that when "Phantom Manor" opened in Disneyland Paris, he did the English Narration. Even though that was only briefly, his laugh could still be heard as the Phantom. Fortunately, during a recent renovation to the attraction, his narration was restored. He said he enjoyed voicing "Irontail" in Rankin Bass's "Here Comes Peter Cottontail", because at the time it was made, it was the only performance he was doing at the time, which was age appropriate to his young daughter Victoria.
I've always just loved that voice, The Simpsons parody of Price was always hilarious and certainly still respectful. My favourite role of his has to be Matthew Hopkins.
Thanks to "Theatre of Blood", I can't go for a haircut without thinking, "Hello. I'm Butch... Dishy, dishy hair." I also can't believe "This Is Your Dish" hasn't been made into a real TV show. Minus the dog murdering, of course.
Sort of like Yogi Berra's voice over in "Paradise by the dashboard lights" we have VP's voice over in "Thriller". Ice cream on top of MJ's apple pie...making great even greater
When I was 7 years old (in 1967) my first exposure to Vincent Price was on The Hollywood Squares. And during the 70s, Dr Phibes didn't get a lot of play, but I had heard of it. I finally saw it on a late show in 1983, and I've been a fan ever since (both of Price and the film). I'm glad you gave Comedy of Horrors a mention too!
Great video! Price also had a long career in horror radio plays and spoken word albums, Aliens of the mind with Cushing is wonderful, it's complete here on RUclips
The first time I saw The Tingler on TV, the station actually had a parental advisory, which was repeated before the segment where the mute wife was terrorized.
Sir, I enjoyed this but I would be left empty if I (or someone else) would not point out that his radio performance - especially as the Saint (which you can find for free on most if not all old radio drama websites). His portrayal of the sleuth added his charm and wit. There I am fulfilled. Thank you again for your channel.
You left out what was in my opinion his single best role of all, "The Pit and the Pendulum," where he goes from grieving husband to sadistic psychopath. I believe that some of this best work was in the Corman films and I can't believe you would leave out the best of the lot. I loved The Abominable Dr. Phibes, Theater of Blood was the ultimate in camp, and his classic "House on Haunted Hill" will remain a black-and-white classic.
I'll never forget Vincent Price's performance in "House on Haunted Hill", a movie which they showed weekly on Million Dollar Movie when I was a kid. My two sisters and I would watch it in the dark, on top of a quilt. Whenever something scary happened on screen, we would hide beneath the quilt till the screaming stopped. Hail to thee, Vincent Price! King of Horror, along with Christopher Lee, my favorite Dracula. As long as your films survive, you will live forever.
I love so many of his films, but Comedy of Terrors is probably my favorite. And Witchfinder General/Conqueror Worm is a terrific double-feature with Cromwell (1970).
Vincent Price was such a wonderful man. An actor, chef and art lover.
thats right, i keep forgetting, he even put cook books out.
I'd love to find some of his cooking segments online.
❤❤❤VINCENT PRICE! A PLEASURE IN EVERY THING HE APPEARED IN,RIP MR.PRICE
@arthurdrew4933 absolutely right.
Who didn't take himself too seriously.
No actor could fill his shoes. His eyes and voice...I will never forget.
My favorite Price horror film is, hands down, "Theater of Blood". The theater where I worked as an usher, held it over for three solid weeks. Every night, I delighted in the reactions of the audience to every scene. And, no matter how graphic the scene (Merridew forced to eat his "babies"), everyone was solidly behind Lionheart and probably thought about their own revenge scenarios against bosses, ex-lovers, and the rest ("I'll kill you when I am ready. Next week, next month, perhaps next year!")
The fact that Price was having such obvious fun in playing the part just made you root for him all the more.
God Bless You, Vincent, for all of the joy you brought us.
This was supposedky also Price's own favorite films. Because he got to kill all of his acting critics...
It's my favorite Price film, too. It gave him the opportunity to perform characters from the Bard's famous plays and each one was done so admirably.
Just watched that one lol. It was great. I loved his disguises
@@kyuss89Just watched it and came here to RUclips to get more of Mr. Price.
@@kathypiazza7228 excellent!
Price's range was endless. Let's not forget he could even convince the audience without being on camera. He is, without a doubt, the star performer in Disney's The Great Mouse Detective as the evil Ratigan.
I love his two villain songs in that movie. Great fun!
And he had memorable performances in film noir - LAURA, LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN, SHOCK, THE WEB, WHILE THE CITY SLEEPS. Our daughters know him as the narrator of Michael Jackson's Thriller. Now THAT is range. :)
Yes, his acting in film noir isn't mentioned as much. He gave some chilling performances in them as well.
He also starred in "Three Skeleton Key," a harrowing radio play about a lighthouse overrun by an army of hungry rats - you can find it on YT.
Vincent Price is one of the Unholy Three of the greatest post-war horror genre superstars alongside Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. He also links to the original horror classic stars after receiving his baptism in the original Tower of London. Such great films - all the Poe films by Corman he starred in are all beautiful classics, Houses of Wax and Haunted Hill and Witchfinder and Tingler and definitely the two Phibes movies and perhaps best of all the superlative Theatre of Blood. Vinny was quite simply superb 👍
One of the absolute best, period!!!🙏👌📽️👻❣️
i like, how you said, "post war". right away, i thought of lugosi and karloff. here's a ? for you. of, all the "horror classics" actors, which 4, would go on your "classic horror" mount rushmore ? who do you leave out ? besides, price and karloff, i got to think about the other 2 spots.....
Thanks and you raise a good question as to who we can identify as most prominent among the great horror stars. I think we can include Lon Chaney Snr because he really is the grandaddy of iconic horror stars. And Lugosi of course - can't leave him out! And then there's Conrad Veidt and Peter Lorre... and countless others once you start recalling the likes of Lionel Atwill etc. Plenty others deserving of mention I'm sure. Too many to say perhaps but my own personal favourites remain Chaney, Lugosi, Karloff, Price, Cushing & Lee 👍
@@lallancashire2201 👌👻
@@lallancashire2201 really...you just ruined my day, got a lot to think about...lol-only kidding. how, could i forget, lon chaney. and, lorre, too. i can see, lorre on the list, but for me, i have stronger points for the others.
I love Vincent Price since my earliest childhood, I am 66 now. He was a great actor and a very nice person. So sad he had so many health issues in his later years, but he lived his life to the fullest, and his fans loved and love him dearly. R.I.P.
Got to actually meet him in 1980 during his promotion of his gourmet cook book:
The man was a true gentleman
lol he was my great uncle and I never met him
@@Jordan-nr7vr...seriously? You're kidding, right?
Wow.
In person too! Please see my above comment that really happened.
😯
How come?
Phibes is such an underrated classic of Price films. Well done DCR. There will never be another like Vincent Price, truly one of a kind
Phibes appears to have been such a hit that there was a 3rd movie intended, as well as a planned series of novels. It's a pity, as he could have been a sort of horror anti-hero in a hell of a franchise.
Agree 💯 It's my favorite Vincent Price movie of all time, the sequel too 👍
I love the Phibes movies and found I liked the second film better than the first because I loved that we got to root for this tragic character. I also would have loved to have not only seen a third film to see if he was able to bring Victoria back but how she would have reacted to the whole two films.
When you think about it, Phibes was actually the first SAW movie
I remember him being interviewed on a talk show, he said one of his favourite things was to go to the cinema to watch his own films, he would sit behind people and at the end of the film he would lean forward and say in that trademark voice 'Did you enjoy that', he said their reaction was priceless, a giant of an actor and sadly missed
Robin, as a lifelong fan of Vincent Price, thank you for this!
I'm 71 years old and grew up on a diet of Vincent Prince films because my parents were fans. The peers of his generation were outstandingly impressive, but there was something different and something special about Vincent Price. He was totally unique. Thank you for this video. It's good to see Mr Price is still recognised.
Sunday morning espeically if it was a rainy sunday morning, I'd watch these old movies in black and white on our old tube tv.
I love Dr. Phibes and Theater of Blood, both of which have horrific deaths that are fun to watch. One interesting point of fact was Vincent Price hosted the series called "Mystery" which showcased British mysteries and thrillers. When he left the series he recommended Diana Rigg to be his replacement, she was his co-star in Theater of Blood where she played his devoted daughter.
Ah, THAT'S who she was! Mystery was my first exposure to the Jeremy Brett version of Sherlock Holmes from Granada Television (still the purest adaptations of Arthur Conan Doyle's original stories ever filmed) and I vividly recall Price up there for those. Given that I got to know Rigg later through watching old episodes of The Avengers (and of course, Theater Of Blood), I'm surprised I never made the connection.
As amazing as he is in horror, the sublime performance he turns in for “Laura” made me reevaluate his acting. He is masterful in that film!
See also Shock, where he gives a complete performance as a psychiatrist attempting to neutralize the only witness to his accidental killing of his wife.
To me there are 3 actors who always class up whatever movie or TV show they're in: Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing and Vincent Price. I'd watch them sitting around waiting for their clothes to dry. The conversation would be amazing.
Lee had an extraordinary presence. Cushing REALLY classed up any movie he was in. Price combined presence with class. Lee was the fiercer one, physically, Cushing had the most class, Price the wider range.
@xhagast - love Price but "range" is not the word I'd use to describe his chops. Always felt Price was essentially the same character in nearly everything I've ever seen him in. Cushing & Karloff had range.
@@mantislake4141 Hmm, I understand but disagree. I have seen him play roles where he wasn't one bit funny... So you MIGHT be wrong.
John Gielgud reading Jack Vance.
@@xhagast - I'm certainly no James Lipton but whether he's menacing, sarcastic, or silly, Price always came off like a slight variation on the same guy to me. Again, I like him; especially the Corman/Poe films. Al Pacino's approach to role diversity reminds me of Price, except that Price was entertaining.
Both Price and Cushing were the definite horror actors. Classy, versatile, GREAT actors that could play anything, and with a great sense of humour. My two main horror icons.
They also knew how to turn on the chills when necessary.
@@johnathonhaney8291 Totally!
That voice, that VOICE. He could read a phone book and I would listen and watch with intense joy!
Catching any of his voiceover and radio work brings that point home even more.
@@johnathonhaney8291 , YES!
I used to call him "Pipes".
Red Death was probably his greatest movie performance. Mind you Fall of Usher was pretty amazing..
Very true.
My favorite. He was such a good actor.
agree
💯
Great idea for a list, here mine:
10. The Invisible Man Returns
9. The Tingler
8. The Last Man on Earth
7. The Abominable Dr. Phibes
6. The Masque of the Red Death
5. Madhouse
4. House of Usher
3. House of Wax
2. House of Haunted Hill
1. The Witchfinder General
I'd personally swap Masque of the Red Death, for House of Usher, but I can respect your choices
Good list, but with so many great Price films it's hard to go wrong :D
Pit and the Pendulum should be in the top ten, imo.
I was in a law school class, in the building next to the cemetery where Edgar Allan Poe is buried, when the professor suddenly said, "Vincent Price is in the graveyard!" And he was. Not everybody can say actually saw Vincent Price in a graveyard.
!!
Fellow U of M graduate?!
I would ask if you knew why he was in the graveyard, but when it comes to Vincent Price, being in a graveyard just makes sense for him lol. Perhaps he was simply paying tribute to the great author who provided the vehicle for many of his greatest films.
I'm 61 I use to love his movies much better classy then now good movies
I had the privilege to see Vincent Price do a one-man show , Diversions and Delights. at Ford's Theater in Washington, DC. He portrayed Oscar Wilde giving a lecture post-Reading gaol. Great show. It's available on RUclips.
I was luckily present, selling books, for a talk Mr. Price had at my college, years ago, and he and I had a lovely conversation after. I don't know that I've ever met such a delightful and 'gentlemanly' individual. A very great actor, chef, artist, and genuinely nice man. :)
Peter Cushing's delivery of the line, "Oh, oh dear." is lovely.
Those men were so talented in multiple dimensions. It’s always nice to hear more about VP. He was supposed to be kind & bright as well as the rest of the package. Legit legend. All the Hammer Humans.
Thank you for another well written, researched and thoughtful essay. As a lifelong Vincent Price fan, it was music to my ears. I’d like to also add to this appreciation of Price’s horror career his deliciously chilling rap in Michael Jackson’s Thriller. And although it is not part of the genre, I really love one of Price’s last performances as the down on his luck former Russian nobleman in The Whales of August with Bette Davis and Lillian Gish. Your hard work in keeping this channel a Mecca for movie lovers is appreciated.
Don't forget Welcome to My Nightmare by Alice Cooper Vincent did the voice-over narration and I believe traveled with Cooper for the stage show just for that part.
@@jamescampbell39 That’s right. Forgot this.
Thank you for this. I've enjoyed Vincent Price for a long time and I don't think he gets the recognition he deserves.
What I like about you Robyn is unlike your competitors is you really do have an amazing passion for film. Not just effects and box office. Thanks for that. Never stop
Thank you.
Excellent job in putting this list together. Vincent Price was certainly a character unto himself and no matter what film he did, you knew you were going to get that special kind of character he could play so well. I always love to watch "House On Haunted Hill" and "The Pit And The Pendulum" as personal favorites. I also enjoy the lesser known "Madhouse", both for its murder mystery plot and co-star Peter Cushing.
His turns as Dr Phibes and Matthew Hopkins are sure to be on the list.
Spoiler alert: they are.
I watched Witchmaster General today, because I saw it on this list. Holy crap, disturbing is right. That movie's damn near tortureporn. I was rooting like hell for the soldier guy. The scene where he comes back to town and finds his wife in the church is powerful.
I love him, totally and completely, he wasn't just a great horror actor he was a great actor PERIOD...his work with Corman alone can prove that! ❤
The Corman/Price movies are definitely classics.
It always amazes me how an actor or actress can be deceased for many years, but just put on one of their films and their they are, young and talking and walking, almost if they were alive again. To me, Being in a movie is as close to physical immortality as someone can get.
Although not an horror film, I would like to remember here Price's role as Robur in "Master of the World" - a film which also includes Charles Bronson in the cast.
He also had a cameo in The Whales of August with Lillian Gish, Ann Southern and Bette Davis.
No one portrayed the gradations of madness and horror better than Vincent Price. It is extremely difficult to rank his best. I love them all.
I do think Dragonwyck might have been worthy of mention. While not strictly horror, it has strong gothic elements, and Price's character is both charismatic and sinister, something of a precursor to his Prince Prospero.
This video is outstanding. Price will always be remembered for these roles.
This was excellent!! Great collage of Price in his signature film roles, thanks for posting and sharing this gem!!! 👺💕👍👍👍
Oh yay, we're going to talk about Witchfinder General! I love that movie, and seeing him play against type.
Against type, a sadistic witchfinder! A kindly father figure would be against type
@@danthsmith Against type in that he was playing a serious character instead of his usual silly characters-normally he'd play a guy like Hopkins the same as he played Ratigan 🐁 But sorry if I used the wrong phrase
Theatre of Blood is my very favorite Price movie and Diana Rigg, Coral Browne and the others are wonderful.
Well done Dark Corners 👏
Your specials are always written and edited so well, and of course extremely informative!
This is an excellent and loving tribute.
I can’t tell you how proud folks like myself from St. Louis, Missouri are that he came from here.
I'm a huge Price fan.I had the pleasure of briefly meeting him back in 1981 when he came to speak at my JR high school.He spoke about his life and career and the importance of art.I was struck by how tall he was when he graciously greeted students after his appearance.What an incredible man!After all these years,I think 'Masque of the Red' death might be my favorite but I love all his films.'Dragonwycke' is another lesser known fave with Gene Teirney.
Vincent Price was one of my many childhood heroes, and we all love his elegant ghoulishness, he was also a person gifted with a wonderful sense of humor and excellent comedic timing. There's an odd old little known film Price starred in called "Champagne for Caesar" ( a jibe at T.V. game shows) Where he played a media mogul/ T.V. exec named Burnbridge Waters who was completely bat-scat crazy! And we can't forget the many animation voices he did. (Zig-Zag from "The Thief and the Cobbler" and Rattigan from Disney's " The Great Mouse Detective" for example.) To put it simply, Vincent was wonderful!
Glad you brought that one up so I wouldn't repeat the film. Champagne was a totally delightful film, and Vincent's role was hilarious. The whole world was required to stand still while he came up with another amazing thought.
I know I've said this several times, I love your short comedy reviews but you also have a talent for these respectful reviews. Your recent coverage of Corman and Price has felt like an education for me. I always associated Corman with schlock but he has also created some admirable movies as well as played a wider role in the filmmaking industry. I also associated Price with being a novelty actor which sort of disrespects the talent he had. He's not the only actor to be his own brand, but clearly many directors wanted Vincent Price to embody himself rather than embodying a character. Nicely made but also heart-warming video giving him the respect he deserves.
Theater Of Blood is by far my favourite, and one of my favourite films of all time.
I also enjoy the Tales Of Terror anthology film.
But a special shout-out, for me, goes to the Kenny Everett film Bloodbath At The House Of Death where Price plays a bad guy and his death scene includes him whining about missing out on all the fun.
Vincent price is an icon to me and the wax museum is still my favorite movie of his. Any movie he was in was instantly elevated by his presence
Vincent is the star of my 3 favorite horror movies, Theater of Blood and both Phibes films!
One of the best voices in entertainment, his audio show "The Price of Fear" is so great!
Last Man on Earth is my favorite of the "I am Legend" based movies!
The first film I saw Vincent Price in was Edward Scissorhands, his last role. I knew who he was, but for some reason they never showed his films on tv in my country. We had Hammer films galore, with Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee on tv quite often, but no Price. Why, I don't know. Even now, I've not seen half the films on this list.
Always a delight to have a new Dark Corners review, whether it's Classic, Streaming or a Special.
Vincent Price was brilliant. One of the true horror icons of all time.
Nobody will ever have as much fun as Vincent Price, and that's something we all have to love with.
Was talking about horror movies once with younger people and I told them, you can have your Freddie, Jason and Michael, I'll take Dr. Anton Phibes over them anytime.
As usual an excellent presentation. I was amazed at the picture quality of these old masterpieces. I think I shall watch one tonight. Thanks, Robin and crew.
Edward Lionheart is the role Price was absolutely born to play. Theatre of Blood is utterly glorious from start to finish.
i was hoping you'd have comedy of terrors in your list (@10:57). i have many favorite price movies, but this probably leads the pack. 'what ... place is this?' (if I'm remembering that line correctly)
Suave sinister cultured creepy - one of my favorite horror actors.
When I was in middle school honors English, our teacher would assign books or stories that included Poe and Shakespeare. The sometimes arduous task of reading the antiquated language of several of the works was rewarded by allowing the class to watch a film adaptation. This is the first time I saw Vincent Price and I was instantly a fan of his.
I may have forgotten most of what I learned in that class, however I never lost the love of reading that it gifted me, but I still remember Vincent Price in Roger Corman's Poe films. To this day they're still among my favorites. RIP Vincent Price, you were a gentleman and a scholar.
He was not simply a great actor but he seemed to be a genuinely wonderful human. I am such a fan of his that I named my first Son Vincent.
Edward Scissorhands was Vincent Price's last feature film. Price was Tim Burton's childhood hero and he was able to fulfill his lifelong wish of making a movie with him. It was a fairly small role but it was the film that introduced me to his work and I'd guess that's true for many others as well.
Excellent! During an interview about art, the man gave our studio a soundbite I relish every Halloween. I grew up with his films. He is true royalty.
Thank you so much, for posting about this great great actor and character.....🎉 reminds me all movies, 40 years ago, i was watching, here in Greece....❤
I do agree with your top three picks, but I would reverse the order. And I really appreciate the respect & in-depth research that you've employed in all your recent Vincent Price retrospectives. While I've always enjoyed Price's work, the background & analysis you bring to your video essays never fails to cast new light on classic (and sometimes not classic!) movies. Always looking forward to your next project!
" I sometimes feel that I'm impersonating the dark unconscious of the whole human race. I know this sounds sick, but I love it. " Vincent Price
Just watched Last Man on Earth the other day, Price has been on my mind all week. Perfect timing 👍
Despite Matheson's issues with how his script was treated, Last Man On Earth remains the most faithful adaptation of I Am Legend to this day. I once heard someone on RUclips say the novel was a metaphor for getting older, which make Price's involvement make even more sense when you account for Robin's notion of Price being a kid's idea of an adult.
I don’t think there’s any praise i can add that other commenters haven’t voiced already, so i’ll just say that the inclusion of the Shrunken Head Apple Sculpture promo shot ( 13:26 ) was an inspired choice 😆 The adverts for that bit of macabre merchandise graced the back cover of many comic books that i read as a kid, and i haven’t thought about it in ages 😊 Thanks for that bit of nostalgia, Robin & Graham.
Can only find a $2 "Thank You", so have to do more than one to properly show my appreciation.
He even brought dignity to the Batman TV. series as egghead One of the few villains that narrowed down who Batman really was, I enjoyed his work on Mystery and was gratified to see that after his passing Dame Diana Riggs from Theater of Blood took over the seat.
That's a great tribute. I think his best talent is exemplified in the tv movie An Evening of Edgar Allan Poe where he does Poe at his most faithful i.e. narrated at the first person.
A true showcase for his stage chops if you look at it, that one. He also gives extremely different performances for each segment. Best of all, you can find it here on RUclips.
@@johnathonhaney8291 So true. It's great that Scream Factory included it on The VP collection vol 3 blu ray.
Well documented, you bring back memories, for an old guy...as for Vincent Price, loved him then....
Love him more now...thank you so much 🙏
"Witchfinder General" is my all-time favourite film starring Vincent Price. Many thanks, Robin.
When Mr Price passed, I felt like I had lost an old friend. ❤
I grew up watching Vincent Price. Sadly, he passed away when I was a little kid so I never got the chance to meet him. However, my uncle, in his last years, lived with a quiet elderly woman who was actually a cousin to Price. And I was able to meet his daughter, Victoria, at a convention in 2017. She had a collection of personal family photos of him just being a totally awesome dad and she had a wonderful conversation with my wife and myself.
Thanks for including that Muppet Show clip! That was arguably my favorite episode as a kid, especially because of the incredibly spooky rendition of "You've Got A Friend" with all his monster pals. Ironically, I wouldn't hear the original version of that song until years later, and I would be deeply disappointed by the lack of organ.
Somebody needs to put Vincent Price and Uncle Deadly singing "You've Got A Friend" on a Halloween playlist.
Masque of the Red Death and House of Wax have generally been my two favorites, but in terms of achievement and uncompromising artistry I think Witchfinder General is easily his greatest film. You are correct about this. I have Phibes and Theater of Blood as a virtual tie; they're almost the same movie for me; I might lean by a hair to Phibes, but it's all a parlor game. An interesting American gothic movie that is often overlooked is the 1940 film, House of Seven Gables, with Price. Worth a look at any rate. 1946's Dragonwyck is also very good, a kind of retread of Rebecca and Gaslight with tons of atmosphere. The greatest movie he was ever in is probably Laura (1944) but that is not horror or strictly a Price vehicle, and that's what we're talking about here.
As far as his work in TV is concerned, I was during my early childhood introduced to Price via his voiceovers to characters he played in Rankin-Bass holiday specials and 13 Ghosts of Scooby Doo (as, appropriately, Vincent VanGhoul). And he has had memorable supporting roles in non-horror films of the 50's alongside other legends, such as The Las Vegas Story (opposite Victor Mature and Jane Russell), The Three Musketeers (opposite Gene Kelly and Angela Lansbury) and The Ten Commandments (opposite Charlton Heston and Yul Brynner). It really is a testament to his versatility.
"Edwina, you will present me the award."
"Yes, Father".
"It will be the last thing that Mister Devlin will ever see!"
This is an EXCEPTIONAL introduction to Price’s work! Bravo to all who worked on it. I look forward to to sharing this far & wide.
One of my favorite actors of the 20th century. This list actually had a few films mentioned that I haven't seen and may have to track down. Thank you. Always good to hear that sonorous voice of his again.
Quick story. I met Vincent Price and unintentionally scared him. It was 2 am in a parking garage in LAX. I was waiting for my ride when I spotted Price walking through the garage. He had two heavy bags so I said, “Good evening, Mr. Price, can I help you with your bags?” He glanced at me with a look of fear and quickly trotted away from me. Must have thought I was going to mug him. 😂
Thats called ‘method acting’. 😂 you probably helped him with a character!
@@lauracontino269 It still was a thrill seeing him in person and it’s kind of fun to think I scared Vincent Price.
Oh, my, that is hilarious! Well done! 😅
I still remember watching Dr Phibes as a child. It gave me nightmares for years, but for as much as it scared me, it fascinated me. I will always cherish these movies
Another extraordinary video, and a fantastic tribute. Thank you.
I loved this, and yes, I do agree with your top three.
I first saw Vincent Price in 'The Long Night' a Noir Thriller about love rivals, and then in 'Dragonwyck', and 'Laura', but I liked his performances in horror films the best, particularly the Roger Corman 'Poe' films.
If you haven't seen it yet, I'd also recommend 1946's Shock, which casts him as a psychiatrist using escalating methods on his traumatized patient to cover up his murder of his wife.
@@johnathonhaney8291 I have seen it once many years ago about 45 to 50, but I need to see it again as I don't remember it well. Thank you for the suggestion, it's appreciated.
My most treasured item I have is the cookbook that Vincent Price and his wife wrote. Looking so forward to trying the recipes
Price with THAT ginger afro is one of the greatest sights in cinema, horror or otherwise.
Awesome video as always!
When I saw WItchfinder General recently, I was shocked at how brutal it was! It's great for sure, but like you point out here, it lacks the levity and charm that many of his other films had, he was so serious as Hopkins, and the movie's setting so dismal and cynical, it was a side of Price I've never seen before.
My top 3 would be: House on Haunted Hill, Fall of the House of Usher, and Witchfinder General, but he makes every movie he's in better. He's my favorite horror actor of all time, and he has stiff competition with so many of the other stars you mention here!
Price was so associated with Horror, that when "Phantom Manor" opened in Disneyland Paris, he did the English Narration. Even though that was only briefly, his laugh could still be heard as the Phantom. Fortunately, during a recent renovation to the attraction, his narration was restored. He said he enjoyed voicing "Irontail" in Rankin Bass's "Here Comes Peter Cottontail", because at the time it was made, it was the only performance he was doing at the time, which was age appropriate to his young daughter Victoria.
I had the opportunity to meet Mr Price when he was performing his one man play. He was one of the nicest people I have met.
I've always just loved that voice, The Simpsons parody of Price was always hilarious and certainly still respectful. My favourite role of his has to be Matthew Hopkins.
Thanks to "Theatre of Blood", I can't go for a haircut without thinking, "Hello. I'm Butch... Dishy, dishy hair." I also can't believe "This Is Your Dish" hasn't been made into a real TV show. Minus the dog murdering, of course.
Sort of like Yogi Berra's voice over in "Paradise by the dashboard lights" we have VP's voice over in "Thriller". Ice cream on top of MJ's apple pie...making great even greater
When I was 7 years old (in 1967) my first exposure to Vincent Price was on The Hollywood Squares. And during the 70s, Dr Phibes didn't get a lot of play, but I had heard of it. I finally saw it on a late show in 1983, and I've been a fan ever since (both of Price and the film). I'm glad you gave Comedy of Horrors a mention too!
Great video! Price also had a long career in horror radio plays and spoken word albums, Aliens of the mind with Cushing is wonderful, it's complete here on RUclips
I remember seeing “the Tingler” first run in the theater. Looking back on it, it was hilarious 😂
I love “The Tingler”! I can’t imagine how fun it would have been to see it in the theater.
The first time I saw The Tingler on TV, the station actually had a parental advisory, which was repeated before the segment where the mute wife was terrorized.
@@VonWenk when I saw it at the movies (about 1960 - we were 11 or 12), we went on our own. Got scared and had a great time 😊
Those special effects are AMAZING!!! I love old movies!!! They amaze me!! The creativity and imagination is astounding!! Incredible!! ❤
Wonderful special!!
You are so kind
Sir, I enjoyed this but I would be left empty if I (or someone else) would not point out that his radio performance - especially as the Saint (which you can find for free on most if not all old radio drama websites). His portrayal of the sleuth added his charm and wit. There I am fulfilled. Thank you again for your channel.
Oh, that's right.
You left out what was in my opinion his single best role of all, "The Pit and the Pendulum," where he goes from grieving husband to sadistic psychopath. I believe that some of this best work was in the Corman films and I can't believe you would leave out the best of the lot. I loved The Abominable Dr. Phibes, Theater of Blood was the ultimate in camp, and his classic "House on Haunted Hill" will remain a black-and-white classic.
We did a long special on the Corman films ruclips.net/video/v2nRH2VQ5M8/видео.html&pp=iAQB
I'll never forget Vincent Price's performance in "House on Haunted Hill", a movie which they showed weekly on Million Dollar Movie when I was a kid. My two sisters and I would watch it in the dark, on top of a quilt. Whenever something scary happened on screen, we would hide beneath the quilt till the screaming stopped. Hail to thee, Vincent Price! King of Horror, along with Christopher Lee, my favorite Dracula. As long as your films survive, you will live forever.
The only thespian able to play the so unfairly mallaigned but greatest of them all, Edward Kendall Sherridan Lionheart!
A Superb summation of a great actor's life! Thank you SO much!
I love so many of his films, but Comedy of Terrors is probably my favorite. And Witchfinder General/Conqueror Worm is a terrific double-feature with Cromwell (1970).