RIP Gordon Hessler | Director of Cry of the Banshee, The Oblong Box and Scream and Scream Again

Tributes have been pouring in for Gordon Hessler, who has died at the age of 88. The director is best known for working on three AIP films with Vincent Price in the UK in 1969/1970: The Oblong Box (which he inherited after the untimely death of the film’s original director Michael Reeves), the cult sci-fi/horror/thriller Scream and Scream Again, and the underrated Cry of the Banshee. Hessler also helmed one of my childhood favourites, Ray Harryhausen’s The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1973) and the real guilty pleasure, Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park (1978).

For more about Hessler’s life and career, issue 98 of Tim Lucas’ Video Watchdog is a great starting point, and contains an intimate interview conducted by David Del Valle, who writes on his Facebook page that Hessler’s favourite film was his rarely seen 1988 supernatural thriller The Girl on a Swing. There’s also a super interview that George Reis conducted back in 2002 which you can read over on the DVD Drive In website.

RIP Gordon Hessler (1926-2014)

Vincent Price’s dramatic reading of The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe

DID YOU KNOW? The 1845 poem, The Raven, by Edgar Allan Poe, was first attributed to the struggling writer in print in the New York Evening Mirror on 29 January 1845, just four years before his mysterious death on 7 October 1849.

To celebrate Poe's 205th birthday (19 January 1805), here's Vincent's dramatic reading to savour.

Vincent Price: The Elegant Side of Evil | The new official website dedicated to the legendary actor

 

Now here’s something fantastic to start off 2014 – a new website Vincent Price: The Elegant Side of Evil has been launched by Victoria Price, the actor’s daughter, to preserve her father’s legacy online. 

The News and Events pages is where fans can keep up-to-date with Victoria’s projects, including the insightful talks about Vincent’s life and career as an actor, writer, gourmet and art collector that she presents at festivals across the US, as well keep up to date with the four books Victoria plans to publish over the next year, including a reprint of her intimate 1999 memoir Vincent Price: A Daughter’s Biography. The new site is also the place where you can purchase brand new VP-related merchandise, including t-shirts, exclusive lobby cards and prints, and classy phone cases. Bookmark and follow, now!

Vincent Price and friends wish you all a Happy New Year

Season's Greetings to one and all...

The Witchfinder General will hang, burn and mutilate you if you don't tune into BBC2 tonight!

UK viewers can catch a late night screening of Michael Reeves cult 1968 horror, Witchfinder General on BBC2 today at 12.35am, and in HD.

To celebrate, here's a selection of scenes, plus some lobby cards, the trailer and some drawings and paintings that I've found of some artists' renditions of Vincent Price as Matthew Hopkins. If you have any to share, then I'd love to post up here, so do get in touch.

 

Sir Christopher Lee's 2013 Christmas Message pays tribute to Vincent Price

In Sir Christopher Lee's annual Christmas message, he pays tribute to his dear friend, Vincent Price, who left him the Fez that he's wearing in the 15-minute video, which Vinnie used to wear on Christmas day. The 91-year-old legend also talks about The Wicker Man, Hobbits and much much more.

Vincent Price's letter to Theatre of Blood make-up artist George Blackler on display at the BFI Southbank

As part of the BFI's Gothic: The Dark Heart of Film season, there's an accompanying exhibition on display in the BFI Southbank mezzanine, which runs until Sunday 19 January 2014.

H for Horrific, charts how Britain exported horror to the world, from the early milestones set by James Whale and Boris Karloff to the runaway success of Hammer. Original scripts, contracts and designs are on display alongside iconic posters and costumes from the period, including Christopher Lee’s Dracula suit and cloak.

Case No 3 features items from 1973's Theatre of Blood. Among these are the poster and original pressbook; a letter from Vincent Price to veteran British makeup artist George Blackler thanking him for his work on the film; a receipt for haemoglobin (powdered blood) - a lot of which was used in the course of the gory comedy horror; colour charts for the make-up scheme, which range from 'Secret Pink' to 'Red Riding Hood'; and test shots of the colour charts, which were used to check for their vibrancy. 

Blackler (1912-1986) also worked with Price on Roger Corman's Tomb of Ligeia in 1964 (which Price mentions in his note) and would later create Vinnie's Dr Death makeup for Madhouse in 1974.

Imagine my excitement coming across these unique items, especially Price's warm, witty and very personal letter. You can find them upstairs above the BFI ticket counter until 19 January 2014.

A warlock's home is his castle...Forever! Enter The Haunted Palace on MGM HD

MGM HD in the UK screens 1963's The Haunted Palace tonight at 7.15pm.



For more clips from the career of Vincent Price, check out my dedicated YouTube channel, MrPrice07

Bloodbath at the House of Death on The Horror Channel tonight!

Ten years after a gruesome murder takes place at Headstone Manor, a scientific team investigates strange reports of radioactive readings at the grim location. Unknown to the scientists, the Sinister Man (Vincent Price) is conducting a secret ceremony, known as the Night of Blood, in a bid to resurrect The Master. What follows is truly awful.

Don't get me wrong, I love the late Kenny Everett's style humour, but try as I might, I just don't like Bloodbath at the House of Death. It's seems such a waste as it boasts some great talent, including Don Warrington, Gareth Hunt, the divine Cleo Rocos, and Pamela Stephenson (it was probably this film that made her give up acting and become a therapist).

And, as for Vincent swearing, well I still shudder ever time he does.

Showing on The Horror Channel (Sky 319, Virgin 149)
9pm on Monday 2 December 2013