Our yearly feast of Vincent Price goodness, in which he plays a part in three different dark stories, takes inspiration from the works of Edgar Allan Poe. 'Morella' sees a girl returning to her father’s crumbling mansion, where he blames her for the death of his wife during childbirth. As they start to re-connect, the spirit of her mother is not so forgiving… 'The Black Cat' sees Price teaming up with Peter Lorre for a more light-hearted take of the classic story. Lorre plays Montresor Herringbone, a hopeless drunk who violently loathes his wife’s cat. Price plays the suave charmer who falls in love with Herringbone’s wife, and as a result makes them both the target of a deadly revenge... 'The Facts in the Case of M Valdemar' sees Basil Rathbone playing a hypnotist who prolongs the existence of his terminally ill client (Price) long after his physical death.
Roger Corman brings us another gothic AIP classic, the fourth in his Edgar Allan Poe adaptations. Fans of House of Usher might recognise the same scenery being re-used for this film, as well as footage from the film itself! Showcasing the talents of some of the era’s best actors, Tales of Terror is a perfect example of the sparring chemistry between Vincent Price and Peter Lorre, who would have more great times together in The Raven and Comedy of Terrors.
