Witch Hunt: A Century of Murder | Channel 5's grisly documentary is a must-see

On Channel 5 in the UK tonight at 9pm, Witch Hunt: A Century of Murder finds Suzannah Lipscomb investigating the original of the obsession for mass witch gunts and trials that swept the British Isles during the 17th century.

The two-part documentary ends next week with a profile of Matthew Hopkins, the opportunistic puritan witch-hunter who transformed paranoia about Satanism into a lucrative business as he hanged hundreds of people for crimes they could not possibly have committed.

Making use of contemporary reports, Suzannah paints a portrait of a man who believed he could cross any boundary and break any law to achieve his goals. Naming himself 'Witchfinder General', Hopkins toured the country charging fees for his services, but Suzannah's research reveals that ultimately, the public's distaste for witches was not as strong as its hatred of being conned by charlatans.

Hopkins would eventually die of tuberculosis in relative obscurity, but his malign legacy lived on across the Atlantic, as witch-hunts began in Salem, Massachusetts.

The real story of Hopkins and the English witch trials will also feature in a special talk being conducted during the Vincent Price London Legacy Tour on Sunday 8 November when I shall be taking a group on tour to Lavenham in Suffolk, the real-life setting for the 1968 horror classic Witchfinder General, starring Vincent Price as Hopkins.

Tickets for this tour are almost sold out, so if you want to join me then click here or on the photo below to book your tickets now!

50 Years Ago Today! | Vincent Price appeared on The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

On October 8, 1965, Vincent Price guest starred in one of the best episodes of the 1960's US spy series, The Man from U.N.C.L.E, the second season case called The Foxes and Hounds Affair, in which UNCLE and THRUSH compete for a mind-reading machine. 

In this episode, llya tries to obtain a thought-reading device from a magician but THRUSH agents Victor Marton (Vincent Price) and Lucia Belmont (Patricia Medina) are also after it. Mimi Doolittle (Julie Sommars), the magician's assistant, is drawn into the chase, and Solo is sent on a wild goose chase to distract Marton, complete with an exploding handkerchief and an untimely sneeze.

'Have our little plans gone askew, Miss Belmont?' 
Reportedly, the story was originally written to have Victor Gervais (Cesar Romero's character in The Never-Never Affair) as the lead villain. But a new Thrush chieftain is used instead, in the person of Price's Victor Marton. Price is excellent, particularly in his scenes with his rival THRUSH operative (Patricia Medina, who appeared in 1948's The Three Musketeers, which also featured Price, and was the second wife of Price's The Abominable Dr Phibes co-star, Joseph Cotton).

The episode also boasts an excellent Robert Drasnin music score. Especially good is his theme during the pre-credits sequence and at the start of Act I. This piece of music would be re-used constantly during season two. The script by Peter Allan Fields, from a plot by Eric Bercovici, is extremely witty with some great one liners, including a scene where Waverly motions to Marton that it's time to be locked up. Marton protests Waverly is too good to do such a thing. 'Victor', says Waverly, 'No one is all good.'

Prod. #7461
Airdate: October 8, 1965
Filmed: July 6-9, 12-13, 1965
Former Title: "The Elba Affair"
Producer: David Victor
Writers: Peter Allan Fields, Eric Bercovicci
Director: Alf Kjellin
Assistant Director: Tom McCrory
Production Assistant: Mort Abrahams
Editor: Bill Gulick
Music: Robert Drasnin
Set Decorator: Charles Thompson
Rerun Date: April 29, 1966


The Man From U.N.C.L.E. - The Fox and Hounds... by jj3000

Scream and Scream Again gets a US Blu-ray release from Twilight Time Movies on 13 October

Very excited about the forthcoming US Blu-ray release of Scream and Scream Again from Twilight Time Movies, which will be region free (yeah!) and will include an Isolated Score Track of the fab soundtrack; audio commentary with film historians David Del Valle and Tim Sullivan; the featurette Gentleman Gothic: Gordon Hessler at AIP; plus an interview with Uta Levka; still gallery, radio spot and original theatrical trailer.

And the best news? This new digital Blu-ray print that will also be screened as part of the Vincent Price London Legacy Tour on Friday 6 November, which will follow Victoria Price's special presentation on her father's career at Barts Pathology Museum in the dead heart of old London town. Tickets have almost sold out for the event, so if you are planning on coming along, click on the photo below or HERE now to book your tickets.

From a Whisper to a Scream | The Original Soundtrack gets a US release

From Terror Vision Records & Video in the US comes their second release, From a Whisper to a Scream by Jim Manzie.

Here are the release specs:

Vinyl ::
- 208 copies - 180 Gram Black (mail-order only variant)
- 628 copies - 180 gram Transparent Purple + Transparent Blue Aside/Bside with Opaque Pink and Black Splatter (Retail & mail-order)
- 170 copies - 180 gram Opaque Yellow inside Transparent Blue inside Transparent Purple Color-in-Color-in-Color Vinyl (subscriber color)

Comes packaged in Old Style 'Tip-On' Gatefold Jacket w/ full color inner sleeve featuring liner notes by the director and composer.

VHS ::
- Limited to 100 copies, includes bonus still gallery

Cassette ::
- Limited to 250 copies, transparent purple shell

These will hit well-curated shops on Oct 16th but you can pick them up now from here.

Vincent Price London Legacy Tour Update | Tickets Selling Out Fast!

In just a few weeks time, the Vincent Price London Legacy Tour will kick off on 4 November celebrating Vinnie’s passion for the UK, where he filmed some of his most iconic films like Theatre of Blood, as well his passion for food, with the UK launch of the 50^th anniversary edition of his and Mary’s celebrated cookbook, A Treasury of Great Recipes

Tickets are selling like hotcakes for all of the events, so if you planning on attending any of them, now is the time to get booking.

 VISIT THE ORIGINAL FILM LOCATIONS

Throughout his 50 years movie-making career, Vincent travelled the globe to make in excess of 100 features, with 13 of them filmed in the UK. Over the five days, the festival will visit the locations used in three of them: Witchfinder General (1968), with a trip to the historic medieval town of Lavenham in Suffolk; Cry of the Banshee (1970), with a lunch tour of Grim’s Dyke Hotel, the former home of dramatist WS Gilbert in north London, and Theatre of Blood (1973), with a walking tour of Kensal Green Cemetery. Please note that due to the popularity of these events, only a handful of tickets remain for the Kensal Green walk and the Grim’s Dyke lunch, so book now by clicking on the links.

• Theatre of Blood at Kensal Green Cemetery | Film Location Tour
• Cry of the Banshee at Grim’s Dyke | Lunch & Tour
• Witchfinder General | Film Location Tour

MASTER OF MENACE, LOVER OF LIFE

While we all know Vincent Price as the Master of Menace, his daughter Victoria knows him as the Lover of Life. In this London exclusive, staged at Barts Pathology Museum, one of London’s hidden gems, Victoria will present a special multi-media presentation dedicated to her dad and his lifelong passion for the arts and his love for the UK. Also included will be a screening of the sci-fi cult, Scream and Scream Again, (which is being shown also to honor the late Christopher Lee and the legendary Peter Cushing). For more information and how to book, click on the links.

• Vincent Price: Master of Menace, Lover of Life | Talk & Film Screening

VINCENT THE GHOULISH GOURMAND

Vincent and Mary’s celebrated cookbook A Treasury of Great Recipes, celebrates its 50^th anniversary this year with a brand-new reprint and Victoria be hosting a special breakfast at Harrods, followed by a tour of the famed Food Halls before the crowds are let in. Plus, there’s a scrumptious Treasury Taster evening celebrating Vincent’s passion for food. Please note that the Harrods event has been extremely popular and only a handful of tickets remain.

• A Treasury of Great Recipes at Harrods | UK Book Launch, Tour & Breakfast

THE ORIGINAL LAST MAN ON EARTH
The 5th of November in the UK is Guy Fawkes Night, which is celebrated with bonfires and fireworks all over the country. So what better way to get into the spirit that with an explosive musical performance set from Sheffield electronica duo Animat, who put a blazing new spin on the cult sci-fi classic The Last Man on Earth with an ambient and atmospheric live soundtrack.

• The Last Man on Earth with Animat | Performance & Film

For the full schedule check out the website: http://vincentpricelegacy.uk/

Catch Vincent Price, Jane Russell and Victor Mature in 1952's The Las Vegas Story today on Movies 4 Men

THE LAS VEGAS STORY (1952) screens today at 9.50am on Movies 4 Men (Sky 325, Freeview 48, Freesat 304)

A minor RKO gem starring Jane Russell as a singer returning to Vegas with her gambler husband (Vincent Price), and picking up with her former lover (Victor Mature). But when a man is murdered, the film changes from romantic melodrama to action adventure, complete with a helicopter swooping through deserted hangars and Mature getting all athletic to save his Jane.

Vinnie is in suitably slimy form - and its suits him well...

 

 

 

Cry of the Banshee | The Vincent Price London Legacy Tour of Grim's Dyke Hotel almost sold out!

London: Actor Vincent Price needs all the puff he can muster as he attempts to blow out the one hundred candles on this immense cake, presented to the actor during a recent champagne party held at Grim’s Dyke House in Harrow, England. The party began on a Saturday night and continued until the early hours of Sunday morning. The party was held to celebrate Price’s 100th film ‘Cry of the Banshee.’ Much of the filming was done at Grim’s Dyke House.

Only 6 tickets left for the 5th November lunch and tour of Grim's Dyke Hotel, the spiritual home of the kings of horror Vincent Price, Boris Karloff, Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing, part of the VINCENT PRICE LONDON LEGACY TOUR.

Book now before its too late! (click here for tickets)

The shock of this vintage poster will make you… Scream and Scream Again!

 

This poster was one of many included in the original American International Pictures campaign pressbook that was given out to film distributors to help sell the hip 1970 sci-fi horror film, Scream and Scream Again, starring Vincent Price.

On Friday 6 November 2015, the Vincent Price London Legacy Tour will screen the cult chiller as part of the Master of Menace, Lover of Life evening at Barts Pathology Museum, where Victoria Price will present a London exclusive multi-media presentation on her father's life and legacy. Won't you join us?

Book Now (just click here)

Taboos of the World (1965) | It’s the picture that OUT-MONDO'S them all!!

Narrated by Vincent Price (English version) and Stefano Sibaldi (Italian version), this 86-minute travelogue, edited in the same shockumentary style of 1962’s Mondo Cane, was directed by Romolo Marcellini and produced by Royal Film and Guido Giambartolomei. It was released in Italy on 5 December 1963 as I tabù, in West Germany on 22 May 1964 as Die Tabus der Welt, and in the US in April 1965 as Taboos of the World. The taglines were pure exploitation gold:

‘It’s the film that starts where the other MONDO pictures chickened out!’ 

‘It’s the picture that OUT-MONDO'S them all!!’

The original Italian version ended up on VHS in the 1980s with an uncredited British actor dubbing Vincent's narration. To date no copies of the English version have resurfaced since, however clips from that 1980s redub have turned up online to buy privately.

The director, Romolo Marcellini (born 1910-1999), was by all accounts a fascinating filmmaker.  After writing 1934's Stadium, the journalist and former air force officer made his directoral debut with 1937's Sentinels of Bronze, which triumphed at the Venice Film Festival. He then went on to make a series of war documentaries on the intervention of the fascist regime in the Spanish Civil War, based on the same format as American newsreels, to show the heroics of Italian volunteers fighting for Franco. His other documentaries included War on War (1946), The Treasure of Rommel (1955), and The Great Olympiad (1960), which was nominated for an Oscar for best documentary in 1962, The East (1960), and Russia Under Investigation (1963).

Below are a selection of lobby cards and the US press campaign booklet for Taboos of the World.

You're invited to join me on a free Theatre of Blood London Walking Tour on Saturday 8 August

Next Saturday (8 August), I will be taking all London-based Theatre of Blood fans on a walking tour through the city visiting many of the locations used in the black comedy horror.

It's FREE, but you will need some stamina. As this will be an all-day tour, lots of Tube and bus journeys will be required, so you will need a valid travelcard or Oyster card and lots of patience getting around.

I have arranged the itinerary that will cover many of the locations used in the film – from Michael Horden's flat at Digby Mansions Hammersmith right through to the film's climax which were shot at the Putney Hippodrome (now demolished). 

While some of the sights are out of the way and only of significance to uber-fans (like our first, The Causeway in Wandsworth) others will take in some popular London sights, including Harrods on the Brompton Road, the Serpentine Pavillon, Cheyne Walk and the King's Road in Chelsea (where other horror film locations will be visited), Tate Britain and Bond Street.

If you want to familiarise yourself with the London locations, check out my post (here) that I did for The Spooky Isles website.

To keep up to date with what's happening, check out the official Facebook event page.

DATE: Saturday 8 November

TIME: 10:15am

MEETING POINT: Outside East Putney underground station