Wednesday 29 June 2011

The Tingler screams into Birmingham's Shock & Gore Film Festival this weekend


The Electric Cinema in Birmingham (the UK's oldest working cinema) is renowned for its monthly cult film nights. Now the Electric is hosting its very first Shock & Gore fantastic film festival (Friday 1 July to Sunday 3 July) featuring classic horror, cult favourites, brand new chillers and blood-drenched schlock.

For Vincent Price fans based in the Midlands who want their very own Vincentennial fix (the master of the macabre's 100th birthday is being celebrated this year), Shock & Gore will be screening William Castle's classic 1959 shocker, The Tingler, in a brand new digital print. But this will be no ordinary screening, as audience members will be treated to a totally interactive experience that will bring the Tingler to dramatic life in the cinema screen itself! Welcome back, Percepto!

And if you really want to scream your lungs out, then there's also a chance to catch Price in one of his best-ever horror roles, as the real life 17th-century rogue Matthew Hopkins in Witchfinder General, one of the finest British horrors ever made. Directed by the late, great Michael Reeves, this historical drama sees Ian Ogilvy playing a young soldier seeking revenge against the sadistic Hopkins after his lovely wife-to-be (Hilary Dwyer) suffers under his will. Not to be missed.

The Tingler screams again on Sunday (3 July) at 6pm; while Witchfinder General is showing on Saturday (2 July) at 3.30pm and Sunday (3 July) at 1.30pm. Prices (£6.80, £4.70 concs, £12 sofa).

Visit The Electric Cinema website for the full Shock & Gore programme.

Friday 17 June 2011

Witchfinder General gets its UK Blu-ray release, with never before seen extras


Michael Reeves' horror classic Witchfinder General gets a digitally remastered Blu-ray release in the UK, available from 13 June 2011.

Set during the English civil war as the Royalists battle Oliver Cromwell's Roundheads for control, Witchfinder General stars Vinnie in his most perfectly malevolent role as Matthew Hopkins, who tours the land offering his services as a persecutor of witches, aided by his sadistic accomplice John Stearne (Robert Russell). But he meets his match in a young cornet (Ian Ogilvy) when he violates the man's wife to be (Hilary Dwyer).

The extras is this new release include:
• Audio Commentary with Michael Reeves biographer Benjamin Halligan and Director Michael Armstrong.
• Documentary: The Blood Beast: The Films of Michael Reeves (24mins)
• Documentary: Bloody Crimes: Witchcraft and Matthew Hopkins (24mins)
• Vincent Price on Aspel & Company (10mins)
• Intrusion: Michael Reeves Short Film with optional commentary. (Never before commercially released)
• Alternate Scenes from the Export Version.
• Theatrical Trailer and Stills Gallery.
• Alternate US opening and closing credits.

Coming soon! My review on this release.

In meantime, if you are a UK resident, you can watch the film for free using the BBC's iPlayer service until 19 June.

Thursday 16 June 2011

Les Baxter's Tales of Terror score gets a CD release

Presenting the world premiere release of selections from acclaimed composer Les Baxter's (THE DUNWICH HORROR, PANIC IN YEAR ZERO, HELL'S BELLES, BEACH BLANKET BINGO) original scores to Roger Corman's 1963 classic shocker "X" THE MAN WITH THE X-RAY EYES and the "MORELLA" chapter of Corman's 1962 Edgar Allan Poe-themed anthology feature TALES OF TERROR. After an exhaustive search, only the final two-thirds of X-RAY's score was recovered, but contained within those quarter inch elements was the partial score to the Vincent Price-starring "Morella" segment of TALES OF TERROR. Both are presented here and feature the immortal Baxter at his jazzed-infused gothic best. Produced by Ford A. Thaxton and painstakingly mastered by James Nelson from MGM vault elements, this release features in-depth liner notes from film music writer Randall D. Larson. A must-have for film music enthusiasts, especially those Baxter and Corman fans! This is a limited edition of 1200 units and its available through Screen Archives.

Wednesday 15 June 2011

The Tingler takes centre stage at Birmingham's Shock & Gore Festival in July


The Electric Cinema in Birmingham (the UK's oldest working cinema) is renowned for holding its monthly cult film nights. Now its hosting its very first Shock & Gore fantastic film festival (Friday 1 July to Sunday 3 July) featuring classic horror, cult favourites, brand new chillers and blood-drenched schlock.

For Vincent Price fans based in the Midlands and beyond who want a Vincentennial fix, Shock & Gore will be screening William Castle's 1959 shocker, The Tingler, in a brand new digital print.But this will be no ordinary screening, as audience members will be treated to a totally interactive experience that will bring The Tingler to dramatic life in the cinema screen itself! Welcome back, Percepto!

And if you really want to scream your lungs out, then there's also a chance to catch Price in one of his best-ever horror roles, as the real life 17th-century rogue Matthew Hopkins in Witchfinder General, one of the finest British horrors ever made. Not to be missed.

The Tingler screams again on Sunday (3 July) at 6pm; while Witchfinder General is showing on Saturday (2 July) at 3.30pm and Sunday (3 July) at 1.30pm. Prices (£6.80, £4.70 concs, £12 sofa).

BOOK TICKETS

Visit The Electric Cinema website for the full Shock & Gore programme.

Tuesday 7 June 2011

Collecting Vincent Price: Robert Taylor's Vincentennial Presentation


From April 22 to August 6, the Sheldon Art Galleries in St Louis, Missouri is hosting the The Legacy of Vincent Price Exhibit, featuring a collection of Price artefacts, heirlooms and memorabilia, as part of the Vincentennial celebrations.

Robert Taylor and his cousin Sara Waugh, who have collected some 300 pieces from Price's estate, provided some of those most interesting pieces to the exhibit. During the 100th birthday celebrations, Robert gave attendees, including Price's daughter Victoria, a very interesting talk about collecting Price ephemera. He also brought along some very special items not included in the exhibit, which got us fans very excited.

Here's a short clip of Robert revealing those two special pieces and the history behind them.

Monday 6 June 2011

The House Of Wax Jeff Yagher Tribute Model Kit


A while back I was lucky to get my hands on ones of these Jeff Yagher model kits, which have now become very collectable as only 50 were made. Inspired by the 1953 classic starring Vincent Price, it features a 1/9 scale figure of Price as Henry Jarrod. Once assembled, the whole kit is quite large, so finding a display home is proving problematic, but the detail is incredible.

Here's a very short video of the kit being constructed, featuring some of Price's best lines from the movie. What do you think?

Saturday 4 June 2011

Tomb of Ligeia's Elizabeth Shepherd honors Vincent Price's memory

During the recent Vincentennial held in St Louis Missouri, a special video tribute was made by Elizabeth Shepherd, best known for playing Vincent's love interest, the Lady Rowena, in Tomb of Ligeia, the last of the Corman/Poe cycle of AIP films that was made on location in the UK in 1965.

Shepherd, who is performing in Pygmalian on stage in Houston, couldn't make it to St Louis for the celebrations, but instead offered up this touching video tribute, as well as an interview with Vincentennial organiser Tom Stockman for his We Are Movie Geeks website.

Wednesday 1 June 2011

Vincentennial: Your Guide to the Vincent Price Landmarks of St Louis

Well Vincentennial maybe over, but I still have some interesting posts to share with you all. The day before Victoria Price's Reflections From A Daughter presentation, I got the chance to explore Vincent's hometown of St Louis by bike. Along the way I discovered his childhood home, where he went to school, his father's candy factory and the theatre he performed in years after he had become an established actor. So here's my guide to those places. Check them out when you next find yourself in this gem of a city.


The National Candy Company Building (4230 Gravois Avenue)
This building was built in 1928 by Vincent's dad Vincent Leonard Price who was the president of the National Candy Company, the largest candy company in the world at the time which specialised in jawbreakers and jelly beans. There's a vibrantly colourful logo featuring candy imagery hanging over the front entrance. Currently the building is up for sale for 3.5million dollars. If only I had the cash, this would an ideal place for a permament VP museum.

Vincent Price's Boyhood Home (6320 Forsyth Boulevard)
When Vincent was born May 27 1911, his family lived on Washington Avenue but had this home built in 1923. Inside are many bedrooms, a grand staircase in the entrance way, a Chinese modern sunroom and assorted studies and 'private' rooms. The Washington University School of Architecture is across the street from the Price family home and built not long after the Price's moved in. Vincent's mother, Marguerite considered the building an eyesore and she complained constantly to the University about its design. Vincent left St Louis to attend Yale in 1929, while his parents spent the remainder of their lives in this hime. During the Vincentennial, many of the film screenings were held at Brown Hall auditorium on the Washinton University campus across the street from Price's boyhood home. Prior to a screening of Witchfinder General, I got the chance to perform Poe's poem The Conqueror Worm before a packed audience. What a thrill that was.

Vincent Price's High School (101 N Warson Road)
Vincent attended St Louis Country Day School from 1923 until he graduated in 1928. At the time, the school was located where the Lambert Field Airport currently sits. His first acting role was as part of the school's theatre group, the Troubadors and the first play he was in was Pickles, as part of the chorus. In 1958 Country Day moved to its current location, which Vincent visited in 1984 to accept the school's Distinguished Alumnus Award, and was merged with the all-girl's school next door in 1991 to become MICDS (Mary Institute Country Day School). The black box style theatre in the upper school at MICDS was built in 1989 and named in honor of its famous alumnus in October 1992. During the Vincentennial, Price's daughter Victoria had a personal tour of the shcool, and got a chance to see some of the archive materials kept there about her dad. She was chuffed to learn that her Dad's grades weren't that good.


The Fabulous Fox Theatre (527 North Grand Boulevard)
This wonderfully ornate theatre is a great homage to old Hollywood grandeur, and looks just as it did when Vincent's first film, Service De Luxe premiered here in 1938.

The Muny Opera (1 Theatre Drive)
The Muny is the largest outdoor theatre in the US. Located in Forest Park, and within walking distance of Vincent's boyhood home. It is also where Price peformed as Martin Gunther in the St Louis premiere of The American Way in June, 1940, which featured some 250 in the cast, and a large number of American troops marching through the Arc de Triumphe. Price returned to star here as Applegate in Damn Yankees in 1978 and as Fagin in Oliver! in 1976.

The Way Out Club (2525 S Jefferson Ave)
This popular music/bar venue is where Tom Stockman, organiser of Vincenntenial, holds his weekly Super-8 shows, many of which feature Vincent's old movies. I had a great time during the 100th birthday celebrations catching trailers from the old Poe movies, a 3D version of The Mad Magician, and a great 16mm print of Dr Goldfoot & the Girl Bombs. Check out their Facebook or MySpace pages for the latest listings.

Vincent Price's Star on the St Louis Walk of Fame (6509 Delmar)
Embedded in the sidewalk along Delmar Boulevward in the Loop area of University City is Vincent's star, one of many commemorating the life and achievements of famous St Louisan. Joe Edwards, proprietor of the rock 'n' roll restaurant/music venue Blueberry Hill, conceived the idea and its great way to remember names like Phyllis Diller, Tennesee Williams and Chuck Berry, who still performs in the city. Vincent was inducted in June 25, 1989, the first year the Walk of Fame was established.

Coming soon! I'm currently editing a audio video tour of St Louis, which features shots from the Vincentennial and Vincent Price landmarks. I'll let you all know as soon as I post it on YouTube.