Classic Horror Films: Day 30 (THE RAVEN - 1963)

This, my friends, will be the last of my short classic horror film posts for Monty’s Horror Film Fest. So for that post I chose one of my favourite films ever – with two of my all-time favourite actors: Vincent Price and Peter Lorre – and the film that I want to tell you about today also contains one of my favourite animals – actually it’s called after that animal – and also is reminiscenting the famous poem of one of my favourite authors - Edgar Allan Poe:

The Raven (1963)

Magician Dr. Craven (Vincent Price) is mourning about the loss of his wife Lenore (Hazel Court) when not so very talented but poisoned-tongued magician Dr. Bedlo (Peter Lorre) appears, who was changed into a raven.

With Dr. Bedlo’s not so bright son Rexford (Jack Nicholson) and Dr. Craven's daughter Estelle (Olive Sturgess) they go on a trip to mean magician Dr. Scarabus (Boris Karloff) who had done that magical change – and who apparently is in the company of not-as-dead-as-thought Lenore.. Soon there is a magic duel going on between Dr. Scarabus and Dr. Craven..

Vincent Price, Peter Lorre and Boris Karloff were - as you hopefully might know - not only geniuses when it came to horror films but also when it comes to comedy. This film just is fun to watch and I imagine the actors had a great time performing.

For lovers of beautiful women we have the gorgeous Hazel Court and Olive Sturgess.

I love the little horror film gimmicks like a tarantula and other “creepy” animals appearing.. And Jack Nicholson's change from easy minded to possessed and back again is really worth a look.

This film was one of my favourites when I was a child - and I still adore it.

Well.. thank you all for reading my posts and commenting on them in this festival.

I hope you all have a wonderful spooky Halloween!

Yours

Irene

“This it is – and nothing more..

… ...

Quoth, the Raven ‘Nevermore..' ”