11 December 2024
Theatre of Blood (1973)
104 min.
Directed by Douglas Hickox.
With Vincent Price, Diana Rigg, Ian Hendry, Robert Morley, Coral Browne, Harry Andrews, Jack Hawkins, Milo O'Shea, Diana Dors, Michael Hordern, Dennis Price, Madeline Smith.
One of Price's best latter day showcases, this is a surprisingly gory little number.

Shakespearean actor Edward Lionheart (Price) exacts revenge on the pompous theatre critics who skewered him throughout his stage career.

Mimicking a variety of the Bard's 'best of' death sequences, Lionheart burns, stabs, and impales his vicious detractors.

For real.

Theatre of Blood is a delicious banquet all the way round, and it's hard to say which scene pleases more.

Is it the group stabbing a la Julius Caesar?

Is it the nasty beheading courtesy Cymbeline?

Is it the terrible "dragging" scene recreated from Troilus & Cressida?

Certainly Price as an effete hairdresser who eletrocutes Browne - via a miswired hair setter - has got to rate near the top.

Diana Rigg is a delight on hand as Lionheart's daughter...and crazed assistant.

The whole thing's a must see.

Also known as Much Ado About Murder (a great alternate title!).

© copyright 1998-present | The Terror Trap; www.terrortrap.com | all rights reserved