The Abominable Dr. Phibes [VHS]
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VHS Movie Reviews of The Abominable Dr. Phibes [VHS]
Movie Review: Abominable is Great
Summary: 4 Stars
Terrific movie. Vincent Price is his classic self. See it !Movie Review: Art Deco Diabolus
Summary: 4 Stars
World famous 1920s organist Dr. Anton Phibes died in a fiery car crash, racing to the bedside of his ailing wife, Regina, who perished after only six minutes on the operating table. Now, a few years later, the nine-person surgical team who lost Regina Phibes are losing their own lives. Some diabolical madman is employing the G'tach - the Biblical plagues of Egypt - to dispatch them, in hideously creative ways: one doctor is butchered by bats; another's neck is crushed in a constricting frog mask at a costume ball; a third is completely exsanguinated, his entire body's supply of blood neatly lined-up in pint bottles on the dresser. Who but Phibes would have a motive to kill them? But how could a dead man so materially reach beyond the grave?If the story sounds mundane, rest assured the production is not. Director Robert Fuest was an alumnus of The Avengers T.V. series, and Dr. Phibes follows that famous show's formula for extreme British eccentricity. The entire first ten minutes of the movie is performed without a word of dialogue, beginning with a dark-robed, faceless figure, rising from a subterranean pit into a sumptuous art deco palace, playing the organ; he cranks-up a robot quartet of jazz musicians, and embraces a raving beauty for a waltz; the pair silently glide in a bizarre and luxurious limousine to a sleeping man's residence, and deposit a cageful of bats in his room; and then they retire, to a light tune, as the poor victim is shredded by their pets' tiny teeth.
The rest of the movie follows suit, piecing together the macabre mystery that is Anton Phibes even as he pieces his own disfigured face in place with theatrical makeup before embarking to commit each of his exceptionally colorful crimes. Phibes is one of the most memorable characters in horror cinema, a skull-faced, croaking-voiced virtual automaton. He is a proto-Hannibal Lecter, a psychotically creative killer of exquisite manners and taste - which is, in fact (along with the absolutely unique production design), what makes this fabulous film work: Phibes is generally more sympathetic than the callous medical men he dispatches.
The cast is terrific, featuring such notable character actors as Hugh Griffith and Terry Thomas, and Joseph Cotten as Phibes' sole survivor. The stunning Virginia North is Phibes' silent but deadly cohort in crime, Vulnavia, and Caroline Munro has a notable cameo-in-absentia role as Phibes' dearly departed bride, Regina. And it goes without saying that Vincent Price perfectly personifies the anti-heroic mad doctor title character.
Some of the makeup and gore effects are on the campy side, but the period production is absolutely beautiful. This film can be enjoyed on many levels, whether as a straight horror film or a brilliant parody. It's marvellously entertaining, no matter how you look at it.
Movie Review: Vincent Price has a field day!
Summary: 4 Stars
How can one describe this movie? It's something between a strange mixture of a Hammer film and Stanley Kubrick, unashamedly low-budget yet imaginative and memorable. Who is Anton Phibes? Another strange mix...perhaps a cross between the Phantom of the Opera and Hannibal Lecter.World reknowned organist Anton Phibes loses his beautiful young wife Victoria in an accident, and she dies on the operating table. Himself "horribly" disfigured in a fiery car crash, comes back from the dead to kill off the medical team with the 10 plagues of ancient Egypt. The effects are cheesy, the make-up terrible, but what a good time we have wondering how the unflappable Dr. Phibes will take out his next victim!
The script is quite well written with tongue firmly in cheek, the humor subtle and "taste"-ful.
Vincent Price is PRICELESS as Phibes. Being increasingly disgusted with the excessive gore and violence which were overtaking the horror genre, Price gives an almost tour-de-force performance as the demented organist incapable of vocal inflection or facial expression. He is obviously having the time of his life, bringing so much of his own life onto the screen only through his eyes and body language. We see Price the art connosieur, the gourmet cook, the lover of fine wines humor and music all at once. Just watch him as he depreciates Terry-Thomas' taste in art or alcohol...it's a gem!
The supporting cast is terrific, including Joseph Cotten and the great Hugh Griffith. Peter Jeffrey is great as Inspector Trout. Among the victims, Terry Thomas is the best as the poor lusty doctor having his pornography interrupted by a nosy house-keeper and a bit of ensanguination.
Movie Review: 5 stars for dark humor. RevengeRules
Summary: 5 Stars
Price is priceless (sorry, I couldn't resist)in this role as a vengeful spouse killing those responsible for his wife's death. It is dark comedy with some music thrown in. The Price is right on target for this flick. Get it.
Movie Review: One of Price's best baddies!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I remember "discovering" this movie as a teenager; I came across it one night on Channel 7 in NYC, at around 3 in the morning.It was love at first sight.
Vincent Price plays Dr. Anton Phibes, an organ-playing Super-Genius, who seeks revenge on the 9 people he holds responsible for the death of his Wife: The 8 Doctors and the Nurse who failed to save her after an accident. Phibes and his lovely assistant, Vulnavia, operate out of a secret lair, complete with a ballroom and clockwork orchestra of Phibes' own creation, and as the film begins, their plan is already well underway: they will kill the "responsible" parties using the 10 Biblical plagues of The Pharoes- Boils, Bats, Blood, Frogs, Beasts, The Death of the First-Born, Locusts, Rats, Hail, and Darkness.....Let the fun begin....
What is so great about this movie is that, in my opinion, there ARE no other movies like this one. It's a surreal period-piece (The film takes place in the 1920's), that deals with grusome murders, has a wicked sense of humor, and a villain straight out of a comic-book (Comic readers will find Phibes to be a cross between Doctor Doom and The Joker). The sets and locations are great, and Vincent Price is superb, as usual. You can tell he had a great time playing the good Doctor. The ending is weirdly satisfying, and again, is one-of-a-kind. The cast is superb, and Joseph Cotten is a great foil for Price. Their scene in the operating theater is phenomenal.
The DVD is short on extras, just a Theatrical trailer, which is a hoot. And anyone who has had to suffer through awful-looking Television airings will love the crisp look of the film in Widescreen.
Anyone who is a fan of either Horror movies or Vincent Price MUST add this film to their collection. As the Policeman says early in the film, "There are a lot of strange people practicing medicine these days!"