IMDb > The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)
The Abominable Dr. Phibes
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The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971) More at IMDbPro »

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The Abominable Dr. Phibes -- A doctor, scientist, organist, and biblical scholar, Dr. Anton Phibes, seeks revenge on the nine doctors he considers responsible for his wife's death.

Overview

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Director:
Robert Fuest
Writers:
James Whiton (written by) &
William Goldstein (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Abominable Dr. Phibes on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
18 May 1971 (USA) See more »
Genre:
Horror | Thriller See more »
Tagline:
HE CAME BACK FROM THE DEAD FOR REVENGE with Nine Diabolical Curses ... BEES ... BATS ... BEASTS ... BLOOD ... FROGS ... HAIL ... LOCUSTS ... DARKNESS ... DEATH! THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES ... the most terrifying film you will ever see! See more »
Plot:
A doctor, scientist, organist, and biblical scholar, Dr. Anton Phibes, seeks revenge on the nine doctors he considers responsible for his wife's death. Full summary » | Add synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
Awards:
1 win See more »
NewsDesk:
(50 articles)
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User Reviews:
An Old-Fashioned Love Story See more (103 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Vincent Price ... Dr. Anton Phibes

Joseph Cotten ... Dr. Vesalius

Hugh Griffith ... Rabbi
Terry-Thomas ... Dr. Longstreet
Virginia North ... Vulnavia
Peter Jeffrey ... Inspector Trout
Derek Godfrey ... Crow
Norman Jones ... Sgt. Tom Schenley
John Cater ... Superintendent Waverley
Aubrey Woods ... Goldsmith
John Laurie ... Darrow
Maurice Kaufmann ... Dr. Whitcombe
Barbara Keogh ... Mrs. Frawley
Sean Bury ... Lem Vesalius
Susan Travers ... Nurse Allen
David Hutcheson ... Dr. Hedgepath
Edward Burnham ... Dr. Dunwoody
Alex Scott ... Dr. Hargreaves
Peter Gilmore ... Dr. Kitaj
Alan Zipson ... 1st Police Official
Dallas Adams ... 2nd Police Official
James Grout ... Sergeant
Alister Williamson ... 1st Policeman
Thomas Heathcote ... 2nd Policeman
Ian Marter ... 3rd Policeman
Charles Farrell ... Chauffeur
Julian Grant ... 4th Policeman
John Franklyn ... Graveyard Attendant
Walter Horsbrugh ... Butler - Ross
rest of cast listed alphabetically:

Joanna Lumley ... Laboratory assistant (scenes deleted)
Paul Frees ... Singer of 'The Darktown Strutters' Ball' (voice) (uncredited)

Caroline Munro ... Victoria Regina Phibes (uncredited)
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Directed by
Robert Fuest 
 
Writing credits
James Whiton (written by) &
William Goldstein (written by)

Produced by
Samuel Z. Arkoff .... executive producer
Ronald Dunas .... producer (as Ronald S. Dunas)
Louis M. Heyward .... producer
James H. Nicholson .... executive producer
 
Original Music by
Basil Kirchin 
 
Cinematography by
Norman Warwick (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
Tristam Cones 
 
Casting by
Sally Nicholl 
 
Art Direction by
Bernard Reeves 
 
Makeup Department
Trevor Crole-Rees .... makeup artist
Bernadette Ibbetson .... hairdresser
 
Production Management
Richard F. Dalton .... production manager (as Richard Dalton)
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Frank Ernst .... assistant director
 
Art Department
Chris Burke .... assistant art director (as Christopher Burke)
Brian Eatwell .... set designer
George Gunning .... construction manager
Rex Hobbs .... property master
Michael Finlay .... painter (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Peter Lennard .... dubbing editor
A.W. Lumkin .... recording director
Ken Nightingall .... sound assistant
Dennis Whitlock .... sound recordist
 
Special Effects by
George Blackwell .... special effects
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Steve Birtles .... supervisory electrician
Steve Clayton .... assistant camera
Godfrey A. Godar .... camera operator (as Godfrey Godar)
John Jay .... still photographer
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Elsa Fennell .... wardrobe
 
Music Department
Basil Kirchin .... music arranger
Jack Nathan .... music arranger
Jack Nathan .... music associate
 
Other crew
Samuel Z. Arkoff .... presenter
Gladys Goldsmith .... continuity
James H. Nicholson .... presenter
 
Crew believed to be complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
"Dr. Phibes" - USA (promotional title)
See more »
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for some horror violence/gore (re-release)
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
94 min
Country:
UK | USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
UK:X (original rating) | Portugal:M/12 | Australia:M (DVD rating) | Finland:K-18 | Norway:16 (1972) | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:GP (original rating) (Approved No. 22889) | USA:PG-13 (re-release) | West Germany:16
Filming Locations:
Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UKSee more »
Company:
American International Pictures (AIP)See more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
Robert Fuest rewrote most of the original screenplay. Trout consulting the rabbi was one of the few sequences left from the original script.See more »
Goofs:
Factual errors: The bats seen in the first murder are fruit bats. They would never eat flesh, they eat fruits or lick nectar from flowers.See more »
Quotes:
[first lines]
Butler - Ross:Good morning Sir.
See more »
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Employee of the Month (2004)See more »
Soundtrack:
Close Your EyesSee more »

FAQ

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User Reviews

   (Review this title)
32 out of 34 people found the following review useful.
An Old-Fashioned Love Story, 22 July 2001
Author: BaronBl00d (baronbl00d@aol.com) from NC

Vincent Price plays a "dead" man avenging the surgical team that lost his wife on the operating table. Nine doctors in all(one of them a nurse) are treated to nine of the most innovative, creative, outlandish deaths imaginable. The deaths loosely follow the Ten Plagues of the Old Testament, but each with a new twist. The film is an exercise in witty, stylish black comedy seldom seen today. Much of the credit MUST go to director Robert Fuest for his vision of something truly unique: a world in the 1920's with clockwork musicians, 20's music, and beautiful sets and costumes. Price gives one of his best performances in a role that barely utilizes his greatest attribute, his voice. Price relies heavily on movement and facial expressions, and does so wonderfully. The cast is superb with British stalwarts adorning the film all over. Terry-Thomas has a nice cameo as a Doctor Longstreet experiencing a blood donor's worst nightmare. Peter Jeffrey, a woefully under-appreciated actor, gives a fine comic performance as a policeman always on the spot a moment too late. Joseph Cotton does a credible job as the surgical leading physician. Aubrey Woods(wonderful..simply wonderful), Hugh Griffith, and John Cater also lend their talents to the supporting cast. Caroline Munro plays Price's dead wife as well. This film rejuvenated Price's career in the 70's. It is unique, poetic, haunting, and, for me the most important, very amusing. If you lack a sense of humour with regards to the world of the macabre, you might want to stay away from Phibes. It is a very dark, black comedy, yet one that is at its heart nothing more than a tragic love story of sorts.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
''VULNAVIA'S SECRET' phibesfilms
Victoria's reaction to Dr Phibes's behaviour g-of-warks2-1
SAW and DR PHIBES brycedavidzon
This Mistake Is Not A Mistake lebowski-2
Who *was* Vulnavia? fiftyfootqueenie
Blu-Ray? Professor_Abronsius
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