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1970's film version of the Edgar Allan Poe story concerns a theater troupe that's putting on a Grand Guignol type production of the Poe tale. Things take a dark turn when members of the troupe are murdered in real life. Who is the murderer, whose attacks definitely seem to be personally motivated? And what are Madeleines' (Christine Kaufmann) strange nightmares all about?Featured on an MGM double feature DVD with another Poe adaptation, "Cry of the Banshee", this is slightly the better of the two. (Both were directed by Gordon Hessler.) Set in Paris (but filmed in Toledo, Spain), it proves to be colorful entertainment at times - in more ways than one. If nothing else, this film does provide some enticing visuals. A little livelier than "Banshee", it has its share of surreal moments as well. In fact, it's actually fairly creepy on occasion. It never fails to go for a sensationalistic quality, leaving little to the imagination. And as others here have said, it draws upon Gaston Lerouxs' "Phantom of the Opera" just as much as it does Poe.Some of the acting is good, some of it not so good. The great actors Jason Robards (Jr.) and Herbert Lom have given better performances in other films. Kaufmann has little to do other than be concerned / frightened. But at least Adolfo Celi (the villain in the James Bond adventure "Thunderball") as the police inspector and Michael Dunn as Loms' consort keep things fresh and interesting.Not a particularly good horror film but not that bad either, "Murders in the Rue Morgue" may satisfy some die-hard fans of the genre.7/10
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