Directed by:
Roger CormanScreenplay:
Richard MathesonCinematography:
Floyd CrosbyComposer:
Les BaxterCast:
Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, Boris Karloff, Hazel Court, Olive Sturgess, Jack Nicholson, Dick Johnstone, John Dierkes, William Baskin, Leo Gordon, Aaron SaxonVOD (2)
Plots(1)
Vincent Price, Peter Lorre and Boris Karloff play rival magicians whose paths cross when Dr Craven (Price) hears Dr Bedlo tap-tap-tapping on his windowpane. For Bedlo has been turned into a raven by Dr Scarabus (Karloff), and when transformed back into his old self he naturally vows revenge. But the scripted rivalry is as nothing compared to three great horror masters relentlessly upstaging each other - even a young Jack Nicholson, as Bedlo's son, barely gets a look-in. (Arrow Films)
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Reviews (3)
Vincent Price was in incredibly likable guy who could sell even the dumbest line with his charisma and 26 year old ear Jack Nicholson was .... well still a rookie, although he does show his proverbial devilish sparkle in one scene. Corman vehemently rapes Poe's short story, treating it more like a grotesque (the duel of the wizards at the end is hugely entertaining and by far the best thing about the whole film) and fleshing it out into laughable drivel, all within the B-movie confines he was never able to leave.
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... or: what happened next. The whole snag with this nonsense is that it’s nothing more than forgettable claptrap, although it’s entertaining and not boring. It all stands on Boris Karloff and especially Vincent Price. Corman should kiss their feet. Without them it would have gone under straight away. But they are here and so even this version of the Raven that must have made Poe turn in his grave has its place under the sun.
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A symphony of classic horror actors – the legendary Vincent Price, the annoying Peter Lorre, the great villain Boris Karloff and a young Jack Nicholson. Where The Raven excels the most, though, is in its atmosphere – a gorgeous gothic mood made of music and stunning interiors. Roger Corman is perhaps a B-director, but a master of his art for sure, and this comedy never stops entertaining me!
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