The Masque of the Red Death: Death and Debauchery reign in the castle of Prince Prospero (Vincent Price), and when it reigns… it pours! Prospero has only once excuse for his diabolical deeds–the devil made him do it! But when a mysterious, uninvited guest crashes his pad during a masquerade ball, there’ll be hell to pay as the party atmosphere turns into a danse macabre!
The Premature Burial: Talk about a tortured artist! Oscar winner Ray Milland is Guy, a medical student and painter whose obsessive fear of being buried alive compels him to build himself a tomb with a view, equipped with everything he can think of to escape death. But it’s when his long-suffering wife convinces him to destroy the tomb that he finds himself in the gravest danger!The Masque of the Red Death (1964) is Roger Corman’s, and most people’s, choice as the best of the Edgar Allan Poe pictures. Masque offers the expected creepy atmosphere and violence against peasants, plus metaphysical ponderings and pointed satanic cruelty. (Corman was operating as much under the influence of Ingmar Bergman as of Edgar Allan Poe.) Nicolas Roeg’s color cinematography and Daniel Haller’s elaborate production design would be stellar in any Hollywood A-movie; the mono-colored rooms of the prince’s castle are a startling effect. Vincent Price is in fine fettle as Prince Prospero, the devil-worshipping sadist who throws lavish parties while the countryside is ravaged by the plague.
The Premature Burial (1962) substitutes Ray Milland in the usual Price role. He’s a snarky landowner (with a sideline in art–dig those mod paintings) haunted by the fear of being buried alive. This single-minded focus limits the film, but it also adds to the smothering sense of anxiety that prevails throughout its unhealthy scenario. Luscious Hazel Court is Milland’s new missus, and old-school cameraman Floyd Crosby proves his facility for photographing women in a classical style. Lots of cobwebs-on-candelabra in the customary Corman-Poe manner, with special emphasis on Milland’s crypt, with its supposedly foolproof exit schemes. –Robert Horton
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March 14, 2010
#1
While the other DVD was fine. THis DVD was probably defective as it cracked as I removed it from it’s case.
March 14, 2010
#2
First off, Masque of the Red Death isn’t as good as The Premature Burial like some reviewers here would lead you to believe. Secondly, Masque just doesn’t make any sense. Sure, it is one of Roger Corman’s most elaborate productions, but the story outright stinks. Vincent Price, as he does in all of the Corman adaptations of Edgar Allen Poe stories he stars in, shines, this time as the evil Prince Prospero. However, the plot line is convoluted and really doesn’t make sense. Prospero, a devil worshipper and murderer, hides from the Red Death in his castle with other members of the dark ages’ privileged upper crust while the poor villagers succumb to the disease. Cosmetically, the picture is superb, but like I said, the storyline is contrived.The Premature Burial with Ray Milland in the lead at least has an interesting plot that makes sense. Although this movie isn’t as aesthitically pleasing to the eye as Masque, it is certainly more respectable.The DVD rendiions of these two films are great and MGM deserves credit for that. However, if you want to see a good Roger Corman movie, get a copy of The Pit and the Pendulum. It’s a masterpiece of the macabre.
March 14, 2010
#3
The editorial review goes on about how lavish a production this movie was. It really wasn’t. Simply having a few cheap props, mono coloured rooms and a cast of extras dancing about doesn’t mean much. Pit and the Pendulum was the most lavish production. Pit also had superior music. Masque suffers from a bland plot. The only thing that saves the movie was Price.
It should also be noted this dvd is not a quality dvd. It may not play in all players. I think this is the last “midnight movie” double features I buy. This is my second. The other plays in my computer’s dvd player, both sides. This dvd only plays one movie on my computer’s dvd player. No doubt these dvds are being ran off in someone’s garage.
March 14, 2010
#4
Masques of the Red Death does not follow the storyline of Poe’s story enough for me to use in the classroom. However, the tension and suspense is great.
March 14, 2010
#5
Vincent Price is in great form as the evil Prince Prospero holding sway in his castle while the Red Death ravages the countryside in this 1964 classic. He has his pick of who joins him there and who perishes in the plague. Joining him in his depraved revelries and satanic practices is his Lady—Juliana (the luscious Hazel Court) who may be wearing out her tenure. Prospero has forced an innocent village girl (Jane Asher) to join him in hopes of converting her to satanism and instructs a resentful Juliana to groom her. He has also imprisoned the girl’s lover and father in his torture dungeon. Prospero is planning a huge masked ball to celebrate his “triumph” over the Red Death and has assembled his most faithful gluttonous followers in the castle. But Death is not so easily tricked. Probably the most famous of AIP’s Price/Corman/Poe adaptations is notable for the great Nicolas Roeg photography and the brilliant use of color throughout as well as a couple of nods to Ingmar Bergman. Outstanding script by Charles Beaumont and R.Wright Campbell make this one of the most literate horror films from the Poe cycle as well. A MUST see for any horror buff. Also included is 1962′s “The Premature Burial” which is sorely lacking Price (in the role played by Ray Milland) as a man obsessed with being buried alive. He has built a specially equipped crypt designed to prevent this from happening. Lavishly mounted, with Hazel Court as his duplicitous fiancee, “Burial” looks good and benefits from foggy sets and the haunting tune “Waltzing Matilda” sung by gravediggers but I found myself wishing Price had the lead instead of Milland. But whatever, I enjoyed it anyway. Great looking DVD package of two AIP/Arkoff/Nicholson treats and a must for fans of the great 60′s Poe cycle.