Theater of Blood (1973)
Wow. What a great movie! One of my favorites that I have to pull out every year!
The plot is ingenious- a terrible Shakespearean actor seeks revenge on the very critics who ruined his career. The twist is he murders them one by one based on the very Shakespeare play that they critiqued.
Vincent Price gives a tour de force performance as Edward Lionheart! He goes from hammy to camp to dramatic all in the same take. Diana rigg is very capable as his assistant and daughter. Ian Hendry is good as the lead critic, but he is the weakest link.
However, the supporting cast of victims steal the show. Dennis Price, Arthur Lowe, Harry Andrews, Robert Coote, Jack Hawkins, Coral Browne, Robert Morley, and Sir Michael Hordern. For most of the twentieth century they dominated the British stage and screen.
Milo O'Shea and comedy legend Eric Sykes are great as the bumbling detectives not so hot on Lionheart's tail.
I highly recommend giving this movie a watch. Even if horror is not your thing, you have a master class of British thespians, a great production design, and the luxury of watching Vincent Price perform Shakespeare.
| by Anonymous | reply 12 | October 29, 2021 8:56 PM
|
This film has been a cult classic for decades. Everyone who would be interested has seen it or knows it by reputation.
| by Anonymous | reply 3 | October 29, 2021 7:08 PM
|
Where you can stream Theatre of Blood:
| by Anonymous | reply 4 | October 29, 2021 7:10 PM
|
Sorry, I didn't mean to denigrate OP or the film but I'm afraid I might have. Anyway it really is a justly well known film and I'm glad you discovered it, OP.
| by Anonymous | reply 5 | October 29, 2021 7:15 PM
|
You can watch it on Dailymotion free.
| by Anonymous | reply 6 | October 29, 2021 7:18 PM
|
This film is my all-time guilty pleasure, VP served up enough 'ham' for several Easter dinners.
I do enjoy the various methods of death based on Shakespeare's plays so much that I have always wished there was a sequel, so the omitted plays could be used.
They were really dragging the cast in from the parking lot, I wonder who else was considered?
It was a treat and a hoot too see the actress, Coral Browne, not yet Mrs.Price(they married the year after the film was made)
Nice to see Diana Rigg, post "The Avengers." I wonder what she thought of her performance?
| by Anonymous | reply 7 | October 29, 2021 7:29 PM
|
Love this movie! It was a "Monster Chiller Horror Theater" staple when I was growing up. The "Titus Andronicus" scene with Robert Morely and his two poodle "babies" is worth the price of admission! Price is obviously having a great time.
It's public domain, so it's free pretty much everywhere.
| by Anonymous | reply 8 | October 29, 2021 7:31 PM
|
My favorite is King Lear himself Michael Hordern, as the first murder victim.
| by Anonymous | reply 9 | October 29, 2021 7:32 PM
|
How does a film wind up in the public domain?
| by Anonymous | reply 10 | October 29, 2021 7:35 PM
|
Rigg's daughter played her mother's role in the stage adaptation in 2005.
| by Anonymous | reply 11 | October 29, 2021 7:51 PM
|
[quote]How does a film wind up in the public domain?
All kinds of reasons but usually it's something as simple as someone forgetting to file the paperwork to ensure the copyright renewal.
| by Anonymous | reply 12 | October 29, 2021 8:56 PM
|
