The Comedy of Terrors (1963)

Dishonest undertaker Waldo Trumbull and his sidekick Felix Gillie are creating their own customers when they cannot find willing ones.

Director:

Jacques Tourneur

Writer:

Richard Matheson (screenplay)

Stars:

Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, Boris Karloff

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Vincent Price	...	Waldo Trumbull
Peter Lorre	...	Felix Gillie
Boris Karloff	...	Amos Hinchley
Joyce Jameson	...	Amaryllis Trumbull
Joe E. Brown	...	Cemetery Keeper
Beverly Powers	...	Mrs. Phipps (as Beverly Hills)
Basil Rathbone	...	Mr. John F. Black
Alan DeWitt	...	Riggs
Buddy Mason	...	Mr. Phipps
Douglas Williams	...	Doctor
Linda Rogers	...	Phipps' Maid
Luree Holmes	...	Black's Servant
Orangey	...	Cleopatra (as Rhubarb)

Storyline

Waldo Trumbull, an undertaker who hasn't had any 'customers' in a long time is forced the pay one year's back-rent. To get money he starts to kill people in order to get new clients.

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Plot Keywords:

undertaker | animal in cast credits | unhappy marriage | sword | sword fight | 

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Taglines:

Every shroud has a silver lining!

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Genres:

Comedy | Horror

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 January 1964 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Graveside Story

Filming Locations:

Producers Studios - 5330 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alta Vista Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Pathécolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Boris Karloff was originally hired to play John F. Black but it soon became clear that his severe arthritis would not permit him to undertake such a strenuous role. Karloff was switched to the part of Mr. Hinchley, and Basil Rathbone was brought in to play Black.

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Goofs

After his murder of murder of Mr. Phipps, Trumbull waits inside the horse-drawn hearse. He is shown lying width-wise with his knees drawn up, with black or purple draperies completely covering the inside, while the top half of Gillie can be seen sitting in the driver's seat through a large square opening in the front of the hearse. However, in all other shots of the hearse, no draperies can be, seen through the frosted glass, the hearse itself is not wide enough to accommodate a person lying that way, and there is no window in the front behind the driver; the roof of the hearse reaches up only to the middle of the driver's back.

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Quotes

Waldo Trumbull: [gesturing toward the body of Mr. Phipps] I'm afraid, madam, he has made his final journey towards that stygian shore.
Mrs. Phipps: [blankly] What?
Waldo Trumbull: [pause, then sharply] He's dead.

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Connections

References Rhubarb (1951)

User Reviews

Great to see so many famous actors together

I have just seen the film - It's good to see again Price, Karloff, Big Mouth Joe E. Brown, Rathbone,Lorre. etc.. The plot may not be exceedingly good but a guy like me who saw them in my early youth cannot help but feel refreshed seeing them again. Just to see them is ample reward. Peter Lorre of all people made me remember the striking beauty of Joan Fontaine in the Constant Nymph which I saw back in 1951! And Casablanca -- ah! I am perhaps too romantic to spend time detecting evident errors in stunts as has my British predecessor in commenting. I just love cinema for the emotions a movie elicits, or the memories it brings back, no matter the technical aspects in it. Certainly, a cast as this had to be in a film that revolved around cemeteries, buried alive people (remember Price in the Fall of the House of Usher..?) I could just continue writing a lot...