26/01/2011

Edgar Allen (sic) Poe's The Haunted Palace - 1963 USA d: Roger Corman



Well, as you may know, this entry in Roger Corman's "Poe Cycle" is not actually based upon Edgar Allan Poe at all, but is a simplified version of H P Lovecraft's The Case Of Charles Dexter Ward dressed up in Poe-like trappings. It's actually a pretty faithful depiction of the core of the Lovecraft story and has been expertly adapted by the great screenwriter Charles Beaumont, who was behind many highly regarded Twilight Zone episodes.

The film looks magnificent and seems to have been visually influenced by  The City Of The Dead which had been released in the US in a shortened version a couple of years earlier (Horror Hotel).  In turn, one must wonder if The Haunted Palace was an influence on Mario Bava's Operazione Paura/Kill Baby Kill - there is certainly a strong resemblance!  There are lots of long shadows and swirling dry ice mists filling the shabby, deserted streets of Arkham. This is Gothic with a capital G!  All of this is captured in Panavision, the width of the frame often helping to emphasize the isolation and desertion of the strange little town and the titular palace.

Vincent Price does a splendid job here. He plays two rôles and does them well.  Often criticised for being hammy and having a limited range, the two personalities he portrays here are clearly distinguishable, sometimes the change from one to the other (possession by evil ancestor in case you were wondering!) is obvious before his dialogue comes in. This is a great performance by Price, one (two?) of his best.  He is supported by the always stunning Debra Paget (here perfecting her serious, confused and scared faces!) and a cast of favourite faces such as Lon Chaney, Elisha Cook and Leo Gordon.

I thought this was a tremendously fun film and couldn't help but wonder why this atmospheric chiller is almost forgotten in comparison to other Corman Gothics.  The Optimum disk is an absolute stunner - rich colours, perfect contrast between light and dark, excellent audio - the occasional tiny print jump aside, faultless.  Sadly, it seems to be only available as part of the Corman Collection box-set. I feel it deserves a release out on its own.

If this kind of thing is your bag, you are a Lovecraft completist or if you are a fan of Vincent Price this is a must!  I really loved it and must recommend it highly.

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