The Comedy of Terrors (1963)

Director:

Jacques Tourneur

Writer:

Richard Matheson (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

22 January 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Horror

Tagline:

Your favorite creeps...together again!

Plot:

An undertaker who hasn't had any 'customers' in a long time is forced the pay one year's back-rent....

Plot Keywords:

Undertaker | Presumed Dead | Organ | Funeral | Sword Fight

Cast

Vincent Price	...	Waldo Trumbull
Peter Lorre	...	Felix Gillie
Boris Karloff	...	Amos Hinchley
Joyce Jameson	...	Amaryllis Trumbull
Joe E. Brown	...	Cemetery Keeper
Beverly Powers	...	Mrs. Phipps (as Beverly Hills)
Basil Rathbone	...	Mr. John F. Black
Alan DeWitt	...	Riggs
Buddy Mason	...	Mr. Phipps
Douglas Williams	...	Doctor
Linda Rogers	...	Phipps' Maid
Luree Holmes	...	Black's Servant
Orangey	...	Cleopatra (as Rhubarb)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Paul Barselou	...	Riggs (uncredited)
Harvey Parry	...	Man knocked down on street (uncredited)

Directed by
Jacques Tourneur

Writing credits
Richard Matheson		(screenplay)
Richard Matheson		(novel) uncredited &
Elsie Lee		(novel) uncredited

Produced by
Samuel Z. Arkoff	....	producer
Anthony Carras	....	co-producer
Richard Matheson	....	associate producer
James H. Nicholson	....	producer

Original Music by
Les Baxter

Cinematography by
Floyd Crosby

Film Editing by
Anthony Carras

Production Design by
Daniel Haller

Art Direction by
Daniel Haller

Set Decoration by
Harry Reif

Costume Design by
Marjorie Corso

Makeup Department
Betty Pedretti	....	hair stylist
Carlie Taylor	....	makeup artist
Verne Langdon	....	special prosthetics creator (uncredited)

Production Management
Joe Wonder	....	production manager (as Joseph Wonder)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Robert Agnew	....	assistant director

Art Department
Karl Brainard	....	property master

Sound Department
James Nelson	....	sound editor
Kay Rose	....	sound editor (as Kathleen Rose)
Don Rush	....	sound

Special Effects by
Pat Dinga	....	special effects

Stunts
Jesse Wayne	....	stunts
Harvey Parry	....	stunt double: Peter Lorre (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Harry Sundby	....	lighting coordinator

Editorial Department
Harold Hazen	....	assistant to editor

Music Department
Milton Lustig	....	music editor
Eve Newman	....	music editor
Al Simms	....	music coordinator

Other crew
Samuel Z. Arkoff	....	presenter
Jack W. Cash	....	production assistant (as Jack Cash)
James H. Nicholson	....	presenter

Production Companies

• American International Pictures (AIP)

Distributors

• American International Pictures (AIP) (1964) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1972) (USA) (TV) (network premiere) (pan/scan)
• Globo Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (199?) (USA) (VHS) (pan/scan)
• Image Entertainment (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (VHS) (widescreen)
• Orion Home Video (199?) (USA) (VHS) (pan/scan)

Special Effects

• Butler-Glouner (special photographic effects)

Other Companies

• Ryder Sound Services  sound facilities

Also Known As:

Runtime:

84 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Pathécolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | UK:12 (new rating) | Australia:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:15 | USA:Unrated | UK:15 | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Producers Studios - 5330 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

American International Pictures (AIP)

Trivia:

Completed September 1963.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Peter Lorre's stunt double is quite obvious - he's clearly a younger man (with longer, darker hair), wearing a Lorre mask.

Quotes:

John F. Black, Esq.:[as he's dying again] "Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more..."
Waldo Trumbull:I'll believe that when I see it.

Movie Connections:

References The Court Jester (1956)

Mr. Gillie and his employer.

This film is the comic version of "The Bodysnatcher" or "Mania". It's Burke and Hare with a sense of humor.

Vincent Price actually made quite a number of film comedies, such as "Champagne for Caesar". He is actually quite good in using his normal menace and meanness for comic affect. He is Mr. Trumbull, the junior partner (but actually the active partner) of a decaying firm of undertakers. Trumbull has no single redeemable characteristic - he's bossy to his father-in-law partner (Karloff), he's bossy to his wife, he mistreats and bullies Lorre (his employee), and he kills his subjects. Still some of his problems are sympathetic ones - his wife Amarylis sings at the funerals (listen to her warble "He is but sleeping" at Rathbone's funeral service - Price looks beatific as she sings, and when asked why he explains he hopes her vocal chords will snap). The number of good one liners in this film (spread among the leads) is nice. Karloff being unable to deliver a coherent funeral address, because he can't recall who is being buried. Rathbone dying, again and again, reciting Macbeth. Joe E. Brown wishing the corpses in his cemetery a pleasant night's sleep. And Lorre constantly making comments regarding his unpleasant boss. One of the best is when, at Rathbone's funeral, Price is enjoying the sight of the large amount of money he's being paid for the funeral of Rathbone (whom he hated as a tightwad and landlord). Lorre, noting the arrival of most of the mourners, goes inside to tell Price, who basically tells him they can just wait. Lorre turns around and leaves, stating quite audibly, "Ungrateful employer." The line is delivered like it comes from some left wing play of the turn of the 20th Century.

It is a funny little movie, and well worth watching.