Theater of Blood (1973)

Director:

Douglas Hickox

Writers:

Anthony Greville-Bell (screenplay) and
Stanley Mann (idea) ...

Release Date:

5 April 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Mystery | Horror

Tagline:

At your own risk

Plot:

A Shakespearean actor takes poetic revenge on the critics who denied him recognition.

Plot Keywords:

Critic | Actor | Revenge | Police | Theater

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Vincent Price	...	Edward Lionheart
Diana Rigg	...	Edwina Lionheart
Ian Hendry	...	Peregrine Devlin
Harry Andrews	...	Trevor Dickman
Coral Browne	...	Miss Chloe Moon
Robert Coote	...	Oliver Larding
Jack Hawkins	...	Solomon Psaltery
Michael Hordern	...	George Maxwell
Arthur Lowe	...	Horace Sprout
Robert Morley	...	Meredith Merridew
Dennis Price	...	Hector Snipe
Milo O'Shea	...	Inspector Boot
Eric Sykes	...	Sergeant Dogge
Madeline Smith	...	Rosemary
Diana Dors	...	Maisie Psaltry

Also Known As:

Much Ado About Murder
Theatre of Blood (UK) (alternative spelling)

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | USA:R (certificate #23502) | Ireland:18 | Australia:M (DVD rating) | Australia:PG (original rating) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (video re-rating) (2002) | UK:18 (video rating) (1987) | UK:X (original rating) (cut) | West Germany:16 | Norway:(Banned) (1973-2003) (cinema release)

Filming Locations:

Kensal Green Cemetery, Harrow Road, Kensal Green, London, England, UK

Company:

Cineman Productions

Trivia:

The final theatrical film of Robert Coote.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Peregrine Devlin arrives at the fencing school you see him attach a cable to the back of his fencing kit (which would signal a hit with a buzzer), yet when the other fencer reveals himself to be Edward Lionheart and they start fencing the cable is no longer attached to Devlin's back.

Quotes:

Edward Lionheart: [as Butch] Oh, I wish you'd let me do something camp with the colour, darling. Like flame with ash highlights.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 100 Greatest Scary Moments (2003) (TV)

Very fun, one of Vincent Price's best roles

THEATER OF BLOOD (1973)

starring: Vincent Price, Diana Rigg, Ian Hendry, Harry Andrews, Coral Browne, Robert Coote, Jack Hawkins, Michael Hordern, Arthur Lowe, Robert Morley, Dennis Price.

plot: Hammy Broadway actor Edward Lionheart (Vincent Price) has suffered horrible reviews for years and finally snaps. He fakes his death by plunging into the ocean and returns to kill the critics one by one in ways inspired by plays written by William Shakespeare.

my thoughts: I had bought this DVD to add to my Vincent Price collection and I really loved the premise. When I sat through the opening credits with the perfect score and the black and white Shakespeare plays going on, I knew I was going to be in for a great movie. And I was.

This film mixes comedy, horror and drama perfectly and no one could play Lionheart like Vincent Price. The rest of the cast also does great, most notably Diana Rigg was Lionheart's daughter.

The death scenes were very creative, my favorite being the opening death inspired by JULIS CEASAR. Douglas Hickox made the film very stylish as well, showing us where Anthony Hickox got his style from.

For Vincent Price and gore fans, this film is perfect to check out!