Tales of Terror

Infobox Film
name = Tales of Terror

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caption = Original poster of film
director = Roger Corman
producer = Samuel Z. Arkoff
Roger Corman
James H. Nicholson
writer = Richard Matheson
starring = Vincent Price
Peter Lorre
Basil Rathbone
music = Les Baxter
cinematography = Floyd Crosby
editing = Anthony Carras
distributor = American International Pictures
released = 4 July 1962
runtime = 89 min.
country = United States
language = English
budget =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
amg_id = 1:48529
imdb_id = 0056552

: "For the band, see Tales of Terror (band)"

"Tales of Terror" (1962) is an American International Pictures horror film starring Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, and Basil Rathbone in three separate adaptations based on the works of American author Edgar Allan Poe. The film was directed by Roger Corman from a screenplay by Richard Matheson and is one in Corman's series of eight film adaptations based on Poe's works. The film has been televised and released to DVD.

Plot

The three short sequences are based on the following Poe tales: "Morella", "The Black Cat" which is combined with another Poe tale, The Cask of Amontillado , and "The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar". Each sequence is introduced by Vincent Price who also appears in all three narratives.

Morella

When Lenora Locke (Maggie Pierce) travels from Boston to be reunited with her father (Vincent Price) in his distant mansion, she finds him drunk, disordered, and depressed. He refuses her company, insisting that she killed her mother Morella (Leona Gage) in childbirth. Lenora then discovers her mother's body decomposing on a bed in the house. Lenora cannot return to Boston and remains in the house to care for her father. His feelings soften towards her when he learns she has a terminal illness. One night Morella's spirit rises, and kills Lenora in revenge for her childbed death. Morella's body is then resurrected, becoming as whole and as beautiful as she was in life. She strangles her horrified husband as a fire breaks out and consumes the house. Cast includes Edmund Cobb as a coach driver.

The Black Cat

Montresor Herringbone (Peter Lorre) hates his wife Annabelle (Joyce Jameson) and her black cat. One night on a ramble about town, he haps upon a wine-tasting event and challenges the world's foremost wine taster, Fortunato Luchresi (Vincent Price), to a contest. Herringbone becomes drunk. Luchresi escorts him home and meets his wife. Time passes, and Annabelle and Luchresi become intimate. The cuckholded Herringbone then inters them alive in an alcove in the basement. The authorities become suspicious and two policemen (John Hackett and Lennie Weinrib) visit the house to investigate. Hearing a screeching behind a basement wall, they knock the wall down to discover the dead lovers -- and Annabelle's black cat which Herringbone had accidentally walled up with the lovers. Cast includes Wally Campo as bartender Wilkins and Alan DeWitt as the Wine-Tasting Chairman.

The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar

Dying from a painful disease, M. Valdemar employs a hypnotist, Mr. Carmichael (Basil Rathbone), to alleviate his suffering by putting him under various trances. He then remains between the world of the living and the dead. In a trance, Valdemar begs Carmichael to release his soul so he can die but Carmichael cruelly refuses. Months pass and Valdemar's putrifying body remains in his bed under the complete control of Carmichael. The hypnotist tries to force Valdemar's wife Helene (Debra Paget) to marry him. When she refuses, he attacks her. Valdemar's putrid body rises from the bed and Carmichael dies of fright. Helene is rescued by Valdemar's physician (David Frankham) and carried from the scene of horror.

Production notes

A mixture of glue, glycerin, corn starch and make-up paint was heated and then poured over Vincent Price's head to give the impression of his face melting away. The substance was so hot, that Price could only stand it for a few seconds.

Reception

Awards and nominations

Merchandise

Dell Comics published a comic book adaptation of the film.

External links

* " [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1020837-tales_of_terror/ Tales of Terror] " at Rotten Tomatoes