The Raven (1963)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Roger Corman

Writers:

Richard Matheson (writer)
Edgar Allan Poe (poem)

Release Date:

25 January 1963 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy | Horror

Tagline:

The supreme adventure in terror!

Plot:

A magician who has been turned into a raven turns to a former sorcerer for help in this film loosely based on the Edgar Allen Poe poem.

Plot Keywords:

Magician | Raven | Sorcerer | Haunted By Past | Magic

Cast

Vincent Price	...	Dr. Erasmus Craven
Peter Lorre	...	Dr. Adolphus Bedlo
Boris Karloff	...	Dr. Scarabus
Hazel Court	...	Lenore Craven
Olive Sturgess	...	Estelle Craven
Jack Nicholson	...	Rexford Bedlo
Connie Wallace	...	Maid
William Baskin	...	Grimes (Craven's servant)
Aaron Saxon	...	Gort

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Pathécolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | UK:PG (video rating) (2003) | UK:X (original rating) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:G (1980)

Company:

Alta Vista Productions

Trivia:

Jack Nicholson always gave high praise to everyone he worked with on the set, except one --the Raven. He said the Raven pooped on everyone, but especially liked to poop on him; he later said: "I would look down when the Raven flew off my shoulder, and it would be covered in poop....I hated that bird."

Goofs:

Continuity: When Dr. Scarabus shakes hands with Dr. Craven, Dr. Bedlo stands behind the latter, but seen from behind he appears a little way on the left side of Dr. Craven.

Quotes:

[Craven and Bedloe enter the family crypt. It is full of dust and spider webs]
Dr. Bedloe: Hard place to keep clean, huh?
Dr. Craven: Yes, I very seldom get down here.
[Craven begins to unseal the coffin of his father as Bedloe brushes dust from the coffin lid]
Dr. Craven: Thank you.
[Craven opens the coffin lid, he loses his grip and it falls, smashing Bedloe's wing]
Dr. Bedloe: Ouuuu!
Dr. Craven: I'm sorry.
[Craven opens the coffin lid and looks at his father's corpse]
Dr. Craven: . Forgive me papa.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Edited into Creepy Classics (1987) (V)

A good laugh

When I first saw this movies I was shocked by the humor. I was in the mood for a horror flick, and with actors such as Peter Lorre, Vincent Price, and the incomparable Boris Karlof I was sure that I had hit horror gold. However, after the first minute of the movie I quickly realized that this was not a horror film at all, but a wonderful satire of the horror genre.

What makes this movie work so well is that nobody takes themselves too seriously. In fact, you can tell from the outset that everyone in the cast is in on the joke. I would caution those who are expecting a great performance from Jack Nickleson to be prepared to be disappointed. However, it is plainly evident that he is an excellent actor just waiting to happen.

Is this movie perfect, hardly, but it is definitely worth seeing. If for no other reason than to see the climatic head to head dual of magic between Price and Karlof.