Sometimes the films promise one thing and give birth to it. This can happen in any genre, but horror is particularly guilty – or, in the best cases, renowned – its ability to overthrow the expectations of an audience. Take, for example, Vincent Price-Dirige The comedy of terrorsA delicious experience that indicates to potential viewers everything they need to know in their title.
With a large release date on January 22, 1964, this film old several decades is always exciting. Under Jacques Four, the wacky adventure has a solid range of talents. More importantly, it welcomes one of the most entertaining cinema horror and comedy mixtures, two elements that often go hand in hand.
The comedy of terrors is a classic and eccentric pleasure
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Scriptwriting Richard Matheson wrote a proposed sequel, Lovers and horrorswhich included the same stars in various roles. Unfortunately, The comedy of terrors“The bad performance torpedoed the project.
Located in the fictitious city of Gilead, New England, in the 19th century, The comedy of terrors revolves around the morally doubtful alcoholic local, Waldo Trumbull (Vincent Price), and his funeral home. Unsurprisingly, if we consider his personality, Trumbull uses the company, a hand of former professional partner Amos Hinchley (Boris Karloff), as his personal piggy bank. And it is not the only rest of Hinchley; Trumbull is also married to the daughter of his former partner, Amaryllis (Joyce Jameson).
The help of Trumbull, Lockpick Felix Gillie (Peter Lorre), helps his employer fly and cheat. To increase business, they kill rich inhabitants. One, an expedition magnate, turns out to be more problematic than the others. After the ceremony, his wife moves fortune away, leaving Trumbull and Gillie to pay the extravagant bill.
Attached to money and in debt, clumsy businessmen design a plan to assassinate their owner, John F. Black (Basil Rathbone). And the film is only making rails from now on. Gillie and Trumbull are unaware of Black’s story of the summits of death. When he suffers from a heart attack, both assume that he died and the burial (apparently) without incident.
The following is a bit Scooby-doo-Sque comedy of errors. A naturally angry black try to take revenge and begins to attack Trumbull. At the same time, without the knowledge of the two belligerents, Amaryllis and Gillie kept each other. Registered by the difficult situation of her employer, Gillie uses the new opportunity to flee with her love.
The comedy of terrors is a hilarious masterpiece
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The film was designed as a follow -up of The crowwhich boasted of the same four megastars. However, at the start of the production, the Karloff in difficulty could not play in the role of John F. Black.
At the base, The comedy of terrors is exactly what he promises on the box. He is the man of wild and crazy tube. Its main story, that of the ignoble Trumbull, is uncomfortable enough to run certain stomachs. And thanks to the inimitable Vincent Price, the pseudo-protagonist of the film is a credible monster. Likewise, although the film does not earn many gore hardcore fans, its narratively necessary murders add an additional layer of morbid intrigue.
Maybe the most well described as “morbid Scooby-doo For adults, ” The comedy of terrors embodies the promise of horror comedy. He presents a juicy socket and uses his star at the head of the poster at its full potential. Not a Price screen moment is under-sale. He dominates every second where he appears, and everyone knows. More importantly, they kiss her.
Add to that the morbid final of the film from the film, and that’s the perfect recipe for a laugh. In some ways, it almost looks like a classic slasher film. Being the 1960s, there is not as much blood, but there is certainly the same dark comedy.
Perhaps more surprising, the film has remarkably well aged. Despite more than half a century of cultural changes, The comedy of terrors“Programming is always well received. He has this timeless humor, “everyone” that characterizes some of the best comedies of the time. Yes, there are jokes that will not take; There are even jokes that are downright worthy by modern standards. But a large major part of the film’s comedy is as funny today as in the 1960s.
Of course, all of this is largely thanks to the distribution. Karloff, Lorre, Price and Rathbone perfectly capture the essences of their characters. They give life to a range of original and questionable faces with remarkable credibility. And thanks to their acting skills, their many liners never fall flat.
The comedy of terrors
- Release date
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January 22, 1964
- Execution time
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84 minutes
- Director
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Jacques Tourneur