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Theater of Blood

Original title: Theatre of Blood
  • 1973
  • R
  • 1h 44m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
13K
YOUR RATING
Vincent Price and Diana Rigg in Theater of Blood (1973)
A Shakespearean actor takes poetic revenge on the critics who denied him recognition.
Play trailer1:14
1 Video
99+ Photos
Dark ComedySlasher HorrorComedyDramaHorror

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

  • Director
    • Douglas Hickox
  • Writers
    • Anthony Greville-Bell
    • Stanley Mann
    • John Kohn
  • Stars
    • Vincent Price
    • Diana Rigg
    • Ian Hendry
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    13K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Douglas Hickox
    • Writers
      • Anthony Greville-Bell
      • Stanley Mann
      • John Kohn
    • Stars
      • Vincent Price
      • Diana Rigg
      • Ian Hendry
    • 176User reviews
    • 103Critic reviews
    • 81Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations total

    Videos1

    Blu-ray Trailer
    Trailer 1:14
    Blu-ray Trailer

    Photos147

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    Top cast44

    Edit
    Vincent Price
    Vincent Price
    • Edward Lionheart
    Diana Rigg
    Diana Rigg
    • Edwina Lionheart
    Ian Hendry
    Ian Hendry
    • Peregrine Devlin
    Harry Andrews
    Harry Andrews
    • Trevor Dickman
    Coral Browne
    Coral Browne
    • Chloe Moon
    Robert Coote
    Robert Coote
    • Oliver Larding
    Jack Hawkins
    Jack Hawkins
    • Solomon Psaltery
    Michael Hordern
    Michael Hordern
    • George Maxwell
    Arthur Lowe
    Arthur Lowe
    • Horace Sprout
    Robert Morley
    Robert Morley
    • Meredith Merridew
    Dennis Price
    Dennis Price
    • Hector Snipe
    Milo O'Shea
    Milo O'Shea
    • Inspector Boot
    Eric Sykes
    Eric Sykes
    • Sergeant Dogge
    Madeline Smith
    Madeline Smith
    • Rosemary
    Diana Dors
    Diana Dors
    • Maisie Psaltery
    Joan Hickson
    Joan Hickson
    • Mrs. Sprout
    Renée Asherson
    Renée Asherson
    • Mrs. Maxwell
    • (as Renee Asherson)
    Bunny Reed
    • Policeman
    • Director
      • Douglas Hickox
    • Writers
      • Anthony Greville-Bell
      • Stanley Mann
      • John Kohn
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Considered by Vincent Price to be his personal favorite of all of his films, followed closely by The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971).
    • Goofs
      Horace Sprout's decapitated head rolls over when the maid discovers him. In the next scene, it is impaled on a milk bottle at Devlin's front door. It has been said this is a goof because Lionheart could not have retrieved the head after the maid saw it the next morning. But the head left in the bed was a "dummy" waxwork head. Lionheart took the real head and put that on the milk bottle at Devlin's front door.
    • Quotes

      Peregrine Devlin: [after receiving Dickman's heart in a gift box] It's him, all right. Only Lionheart would have the temerity to rewrite Shakespeare!

    • Alternate versions
      Despite the film's comedic nature, the original UK theatrical version of it was cut by the BBFC and some of the close-up shots from the murders of Meredith Merridew and Miss Chloe Moon were slightly trimmed. All later home video and DVD releases were uncut.
    • Connections
      Featured in V.I.P.-Schaukel: Episode #9.2 (1979)

    User reviews176

    Featured review

    One of Price's best

    There's a lot of commentary on this film here; however, I want to draw attention to the use of dream structure in this movie. People that appeared normal to the victims at first are suddenly balding, idiotic savages. A man looks to a policeman for aid and the audience suddenly notices that his face is not entirely real. The experiences of the victim of Lionheart (Price's character in this movie) each resemble a dream suddenly turned nightmare. It was a very effective device for a horror movie.
    • masercot
    • Jan 31, 2003
    • Permalink

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    FAQ18

    • How long is Theater of Blood?Powered by Alexa
    • How did Florence King describe this film (a favorite of hers)?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 5, 1973 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Theatre of Blood
    • Filming locations
      • Kensal Green Cemetery, Harrow Road, Kensal Green, London, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Harbour Productions Limited
      • Cineman Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 44 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1(original & negative ratio / European theatrical ratio)

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