Dr. Phibes Rises Again (1972)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Robert Fuest

Writers:

Robert Fuest (writer) &
Robert Blees (writer)

Release Date:

July 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Horror | Romance

Tagline:

Flesh crawls! Blood curdles! Phibes lives!

Plot:

The vengeful Doctor rises again, seeking the Scrolls of Life in an attempt to resurrect his deceased wife.

Plot Keywords:

Egypt | Tomb | Inspector | Moon | Doctor

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Vincent Price	...	Dr. Anton Phibes
Robert Quarry	...	Darius Biederbeck
Peter Jeffrey	...	Inspector Trout
Fiona Lewis	...	Diana Trobridge, Darius' Girl
Hugh Griffith	...	Harry Ambrose
John Cater	...	Sir Wayne Waverley
Gerald Sim	...	Hackett
Lewis Fiander	...	Baker
John Thaw	...	Shavers
Peter Cushing	...	Ship's Captain
Beryl Reid	...	Miss Ambrose, Harry's Cousin
Terry-Thomas	...	Lombardo, Shipping Agent
Keith Buckley	...	Stewart
Valli Kemp	...	Vulnavia
Milton Reid	...	Biederbeck's Manservant

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 (re-rating) | USA:PG | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Elstree Film and TV Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

American International Pictures (AIP)

Trivia:

The Bach Singers, a volunteer group, worked for free, agreeing only to a donation to charitable purposes.

Goofs:

Continuity: The spike that shoots out of the telephone is much longer than the receiver that supposedly concealed it.

Quotes:

Waverly: Come along, Trout, strike camp.
Trout: Yeah, we ought to get these tents down, too, sir, and be on our way. And, what about Baker? Should we dispose of his body?
Waverly: I don't know about his body, but I think we should give his head a decent burial.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Masters of Horror: John Carpenter's Cigarette Burns (#1.8)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Over the Rainbow

Dr Phibes' return isn't quite as good as it was first time round

Dr Phibes Rises Again is the sequel to the magnificent 'The Abominable Dr Phibes'. The original film achieved cult classic status through a magnificent performance from Vincent Price as the vengeful doctor of the title, and an over the top, absurd, camp styling that set it apart from most other films in it's field. Both of these ingredients are present for the sequel, but it doesn't succeed like the first one did because there's just something missing. The sequel sees Dr Phibes 'rise again' upon the moon aligning itself in a certain way (or something) and travelling to Egypt to find a river that will grant him and his neither living, nor completely dead beloved, immortality. However, things aren't so simple because the scrolls that lead the way to the river have been stolen and Phibes has a contender; someone that needs to find the river just as much as he does out there in Egypt with him.

What's basically missing from this film is assurance. The first film obviously knew what it wanted to do and so was able to do it and not let anything get in the way; this one is very muddled, and it never completely gives the impression that it knows where it wants to go. Just like the first film, this one delivers some very imaginative and very grisly methods of dispatch for it's lesser characters. However, these death scenes almost appear superfluous to the plot, and appear to only be there to continue what the original started, as Phibes probably could have gotten where he wanted to go without them…but I'm not one to complain about a film that sees a man trapped in a giant gold scorpion while being eaten to death by live ones, and another man killed via a sharp spike shooting out of the telephone, so whether they're needed or not; they're nice. The film also features, like the original did, a lovely camp feeling; but it's never on the same level as it was in 'The Abominable'. Perhaps it's the move to Egypt and the low quality of the set's (as opposed to the grand and lavish ones of the original) what's done it.

As mentioned, Vincent Price returns to take up one of the roles that have helped cement him in the minds of his fans - Dr Phibes himself. This role, frankly, was made for Vincent Price; and he excels at playing it. It can be said that he doesn't do quite as good a job here, but then again; he didn't have as much good stuff to work with. Also making an appearance is fellow horror legend - Peter Cushing. Cushing only actually appears for all of about two minutes, but it's nice to see him nonetheless. Robert Fuest returns to the director's chair, as you'd probably expect; but the most notable performance in the film (other than Price) comes from Peter Jeffrey, in the role of the inept Scotland Yard inspector - Inspector Trout. Jeffrey delivers his lines with impeccable comic timing and steals every scene he's in. I'd even go as far as to say that Jeffrey is just as important a part of these two movies as Vincent Price is.

Overall, this film isn't nearly as good as 'The Abominable Dr Phibes', but fans of the original will find lots to like and despite the fact that it's a lesser film and has many flaws; I love this kind of stuff so it gets a big thumbs up from me.