11/14/2006

Been working on an upcoming show for December- an old Universal film starring both Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff Called “The Raven.” Bela is a guy obsessed with all things Edgar Allan Poe- and that got me thinking about the old Roger Corman “Poe” movies-that featured one of my favorite horror legends- Vincent Price! Price always seemed to lend a sort of “Shakespearean” edge to characters he played, with his perfect diction and amazing voice (okay, there WERE times when he seemed like he had a slight lisp…) We’ve had Vincent in ‘the Bat” and “Theater of Blood” (speaking of Shakespeare- that’s the one where he bumps off theater critics in the manner of Shakespearean plays!) I only wish we could get his “Dr. Phibes” films- I always loved those movies! Vincent did a whole string of those Corman Poe movies that I mentioned- ‘the Pit and the Pendulum”-“House of Usher”- “Tomb of Ligeia”- and , amazingly- one called –“the Raven!” it was a comedy, with Vincent, Peter Lorre, and Boris Karloff as warring sorcerers- some of the film was improvised by Lorre and a then-young Jack Nicholson- and, according to Corman, Karloff really didn’t enjoy the ad-lib comedy! Peter Lorre is very funny in the film, including being partially turned into a raven. Of course, I’d be a total egghead not to mention Price’s appearances as “Egghead” in the ‘60s Batman tv show.Did anybody ever say “EGG-cellent” as well- until the arrival of the Simpsons’ Mr. Burns? EGG-squisite! Price made “the Tingler”- the movie I’ve mentioned before where certain seats in the theater were rigged to provide a shock- and wound up his career in Tim Burton’s “Edward Scissorhands.” No, I haven’t forgotten about his narration of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”- or, his later years as a shill for Sears “Fine Art” collection- available next to the power tools and waste disposals. I can see Vincent putting a Sears executive into one of those with glee. What a great –and lengthy-career! Will modern horror stars like the paper mache- faced guy from “Saw” last that long? I’m lucky I’VE made it this long! Come back again for more Sven blog, won’t you? EGG-cellent… # # #