This Spanish/British/German co-production was on AIP's back-burner for quite a while. Eventually, Vincent Price did the film as part of his contractual obligations to the company. Producer/Director Harry Allan Towers specialized in sleazy European thrillers and this one is no exception. When a vacationing couple (George Nader and Anne Smyrner) in Tangiers run into an old friend there, they discover that he is searching for his missing girlfriend (Maria Rohm, Tower's real-life wife) who has been kidnapped by an international gang of white slavers. Nader investigates but before he can come up with anything, his friend is murdered. Meanwhile, nightclub magician Price and his mentalist partner (Martha Hyer), continue their nefarious activities--they hypnotize and kidnap young women for the 'White Slavers', and spirit them to the "House of 1000 Dolls." Yep, that's the plot outline folks, at least in the American cut of the film. Price and Ms. Hyer (who had just married producer Hal Wallis) shared a great interest in art, and in their spare time, they visited local museums together. Years later, when asked about this film, Price had this to say: "What she (Ms. Hyer) and I didn't know was, at the same time, they were making a 'dirty' version of the film. Every day we had off, they'd make a 'dirty version'. We went visiting on the set one day, and there was everyone naked! and they weren't even the same girls!" This explains why the American print of the film runs 78 minutes and the one seen in Europe is various lengths, from 90 to 98 minutes. Thanks to some atmospheric photography,an attractive musical score by Charles Camilleri and good performances from Price, Hyer and Nader, the film is watchable, and the girls are beautiful. This movie played most places with another Towers/Nader potboiler, "The Million Eyes Of Su- Muru" which isn't even as entertaining as this one.
18 Reviews
HOUSE OF A THOUSAND DOLLS (Jeremy Summers, 1967) **1/2
Bunuel197615 May 2011
To begin with, this was yet another "Movies 4 Men" screening hampered by the usual garbled sound problems! It is also an example of a maligned Vincent Price film (Leonard Maltin says he "walks through it in a daze"!) which is actually not too bad. That said, the actor was not well served by "Euro-Cult" (this is a Spanish-German production, despite the British involvement of the writer-producer and director), as can also be gleaned from his sole Mario Bava collaboration DR. GOLDFOOT AND THE GIRL BOMBS (1966)!
Price and co-star Martha Hyer are a couple engaged in a magic act (called Manderville, so that he is later mockingly dubbed "Mandrake"!) who are involved in the trafficking of women for the purposes of prostitution (they purposefully choose lonely girls to make them disappear both on stage and in real life but, of course, they are bound to slip sometime...because otherwise there would be no film!). Considering the subject matter and Towers' resume', this is remarkably chaste; in any case, the very first victim we see here (being transported in a coffin!) is none other than Maria Rohm aka Mrs. Towers. Her boyfriend sets on her trail, which leads him to Tangier, where he seeks the help of criminal pathologist George Nader (the hero inevitably played by an ageing Hollywood presence). Hindering their progress is local photographer Herbert Fux, while the proper Police investigation is carried out by Wolfgang Kieling (who had just been a villain, served with a memorable death scene, in Alfred Hitchcock's TORN CURTAIN {1966}).
Typically, the identity of the organization's head is a mystery to all; hence, the ultimate revelation proves quite a surprise...and, though it then transpires that Price was not as villainous as had been inferred, he still gets a melodramatic demise. By the way, I was surprised to notice the Maltese name of Charles Camilleri as the film's composer; actually, I had already heard his (only other film) work on Jess Franco's THE CASTLE OF FU MANCHU (1968) and, interestingly enough, he died a couple of years back right in my home-town!
Price and co-star Martha Hyer are a couple engaged in a magic act (called Manderville, so that he is later mockingly dubbed "Mandrake"!) who are involved in the trafficking of women for the purposes of prostitution (they purposefully choose lonely girls to make them disappear both on stage and in real life but, of course, they are bound to slip sometime...because otherwise there would be no film!). Considering the subject matter and Towers' resume', this is remarkably chaste; in any case, the very first victim we see here (being transported in a coffin!) is none other than Maria Rohm aka Mrs. Towers. Her boyfriend sets on her trail, which leads him to Tangier, where he seeks the help of criminal pathologist George Nader (the hero inevitably played by an ageing Hollywood presence). Hindering their progress is local photographer Herbert Fux, while the proper Police investigation is carried out by Wolfgang Kieling (who had just been a villain, served with a memorable death scene, in Alfred Hitchcock's TORN CURTAIN {1966}).
Typically, the identity of the organization's head is a mystery to all; hence, the ultimate revelation proves quite a surprise...and, though it then transpires that Price was not as villainous as had been inferred, he still gets a melodramatic demise. By the way, I was surprised to notice the Maltese name of Charles Camilleri as the film's composer; actually, I had already heard his (only other film) work on Jess Franco's THE CASTLE OF FU MANCHU (1968) and, interestingly enough, he died a couple of years back right in my home-town!
Very odd film
Jerry-938 September 2000
White slavery is not a topic that gets much play nowadays, but it gets a full writeup in this film. And I don't know if that's necessarily a good thing.
The film has a very strange setup. Garcia plays a man looking for his wife, who has been abducted in Tangiers. He finds that she has been forced to work in a brothel, The House of Dolls. He's discovered and killed. His friend Nader then takes it upon himself to figure out what happened to Garcia. What he uncovers is a white slavery ring run by magician Price, who uses the female volunteers from his magic act to stock The House.
The odd thing about this movie is that everything is presented rather matter-of-factly. There's no surprise to anything. We find out in the first five minutes what Price is doing. We already know what happened to Garcia and his wife. It's a suspense movie with no suspense. They throw in a twist at the end, but who cares? It has so little to do with the movie that it's completely irrelevant. There's other problems. Price is billed first, but has only about 20 mins of screen time (in the second half mostly), and he doesn't appear to be having any fun. All of the actors in the movie appear to be speaking English, yet it sounds as though the whole soundtrack (which is in English) has been looped. It's never boring, but there's no action, no excitement, no nothing. Price fans may not even enjoy this one.
The film has a very strange setup. Garcia plays a man looking for his wife, who has been abducted in Tangiers. He finds that she has been forced to work in a brothel, The House of Dolls. He's discovered and killed. His friend Nader then takes it upon himself to figure out what happened to Garcia. What he uncovers is a white slavery ring run by magician Price, who uses the female volunteers from his magic act to stock The House.
The odd thing about this movie is that everything is presented rather matter-of-factly. There's no surprise to anything. We find out in the first five minutes what Price is doing. We already know what happened to Garcia and his wife. It's a suspense movie with no suspense. They throw in a twist at the end, but who cares? It has so little to do with the movie that it's completely irrelevant. There's other problems. Price is billed first, but has only about 20 mins of screen time (in the second half mostly), and he doesn't appear to be having any fun. All of the actors in the movie appear to be speaking English, yet it sounds as though the whole soundtrack (which is in English) has been looped. It's never boring, but there's no action, no excitement, no nothing. Price fans may not even enjoy this one.
Let this my verdict be, baby...
SanFernandoCurt19 June 2005
For bargain-basement Bond and a not-unpleasant 90 minutes, you could do a lot worse than "Dolls." It was made right on the cusp between naughty and not-so-naughty exploitation. Nobody drops a bra, but, junior, you can tell the industry is just a step away from barin' the babes and bustin' loose those free-love vibes.
Plot is pretty standard: We've got a married couple getting ensnared by a white-slavery racket in Tangiers (location filming, by the way). It's got old pros Vincent Price and Martha Hyer in on the intrigue, and George Nader shaking off Rock Hudson long enough to fly over the pond and put this one away.
Mostly, it's all about beautiful babes swingin' their way through the swingin' '60s - and some of the most sluggish, haphazard and least- exciting fistfights you'll see in a long time. Maybe this is the key: It's a Spanish-German co-production. So... in Europe, the women are gorgeous but the stuntmen move like they're encased in slowly hardening lucite. Lotta hollering, too.
It's one of those odd movies that may leave you thinking: They need a dab more violence here. And less hollering.
And that closing song: EEEeeeee-Yowwww!!!
Plot is pretty standard: We've got a married couple getting ensnared by a white-slavery racket in Tangiers (location filming, by the way). It's got old pros Vincent Price and Martha Hyer in on the intrigue, and George Nader shaking off Rock Hudson long enough to fly over the pond and put this one away.
Mostly, it's all about beautiful babes swingin' their way through the swingin' '60s - and some of the most sluggish, haphazard and least- exciting fistfights you'll see in a long time. Maybe this is the key: It's a Spanish-German co-production. So... in Europe, the women are gorgeous but the stuntmen move like they're encased in slowly hardening lucite. Lotta hollering, too.
It's one of those odd movies that may leave you thinking: They need a dab more violence here. And less hollering.
And that closing song: EEEeeeee-Yowwww!!!
House of 1000 Yawns
JohnSeal11 November 2005
Warning: Spoilers
This drab thriller would be far worse without star Vincent Price, who admittedly still seems to have phoned in his performance as Manderville the Magician. (He also seems to have brushed off the top hat and cape he wore in 1954's The Mad Magician.) Shot on location in Tangiers, the film accomplishes the near impossible and makes this exotic location seem about as exciting as Bakersfield. Blame ultra cheap producer Harry Alan Towers, who wrote the screenplay using his Peter Welbeck nom de plume, and director Jeremy Summers, whose previous suspenser--the shot in Hong Kong Five Golden Dragons--is even worse. Perhaps the film would improve if seen in widescreen, but the only way you can see this baby is via an out of print HBO tape, which at least letterboxes the opening credits. Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers provide the groovy song that briefly plays out over the closing credits. A year later, their career in tatters, the Rebel Rousers split up.
An odd one
TheLittleSongbird12 November 2012
I'm actually not sure what to make of House of a Thousand Dolls. I didn't hate it, but I wasn't crazy about it either. The best thing about it is easily Vincent Price, he is not in the film much but when he is on screen he completely commands it with a durable elegance and a touch of menace. Martha Hyer and George Nader do give reasonable performances as well, but not on Price's level. There is a good score and opening credits song and some of the photography does give some effective atmosphere. On the other hand, there are a number of failings, such as the sluggish fist-fights, mind-numbing dialogue and the fact that the characters just seem to be there but with nothing to make them particularly interesting. The story never really engaged me either, the basic thrust of the story, the more mystery/thriller-like stuff, is very dull, while the deaths and floggings are bloody and nasty but with little subtlety and taste. They like the characters seem to be there but again other than for shock value little is interesting about them. The twist is irrelevant and adds nothing to the film, so overall while I have seen far worse House of A Thousand Dolls for me was a very odd film. 5/10 Bethany Cox
A movie that will leave you constantly waiting for things to finally start off.
Boba_Fett113823 November 2007
What an incredible lackluster movie!
You're constantly waiting for the movie to finally start off. When is the suspense and mystery going to kick in? The movie feels like one big constant introduction to events that just never occur.
This movie would had had absolutely no watch-ability value if Vincent Price wasn't in this. He played in lots of movies like this and he often didn't even played the lead role. In some cases he was on the screen for no more than 10 minutes but still was always being presented as THE evil main villain of the movie. This movie is one of those examples. But as always his presence uplifts the movie and gives it more class and sense of professionalism. It's always amazing to see how he absolutely has no difficulties delivering the most awful lines in an almost Shakespearean way. But still, a movie like this makes you wonder what Vincent Price is doing in it. The only reason I could think of was that this movie was based on an Edgar Allen Poe story but this wasn't even the case.
I wish I could call the movie sleazy. In that case the movie would still had some camp value but the movie just never goes in that direction.
The story is very silly and simple. At times it seems it's heading in the horror direction, at times it seems it's heading in the thriller direction, but it's just never fully heading anywhere in any direction in the end. I also wouldn't know under which genre to qualify this movie.
There is a good reason this movie gets very rarely shown anywhere.
3/10
http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/
You're constantly waiting for the movie to finally start off. When is the suspense and mystery going to kick in? The movie feels like one big constant introduction to events that just never occur.
This movie would had had absolutely no watch-ability value if Vincent Price wasn't in this. He played in lots of movies like this and he often didn't even played the lead role. In some cases he was on the screen for no more than 10 minutes but still was always being presented as THE evil main villain of the movie. This movie is one of those examples. But as always his presence uplifts the movie and gives it more class and sense of professionalism. It's always amazing to see how he absolutely has no difficulties delivering the most awful lines in an almost Shakespearean way. But still, a movie like this makes you wonder what Vincent Price is doing in it. The only reason I could think of was that this movie was based on an Edgar Allen Poe story but this wasn't even the case.
I wish I could call the movie sleazy. In that case the movie would still had some camp value but the movie just never goes in that direction.
The story is very silly and simple. At times it seems it's heading in the horror direction, at times it seems it's heading in the thriller direction, but it's just never fully heading anywhere in any direction in the end. I also wouldn't know under which genre to qualify this movie.
There is a good reason this movie gets very rarely shown anywhere.
3/10
http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/
I really liked this film, it is so campy!
dogismygod5 May 2005
If you like Price, this is an offbeat roll for him as this is not straight classic horror, but a mystery thriller with some sexed up 60's kittens and a brothel.. The film takes place in Tangiers and it is basically a clever and tame way to present a plot involving the white slavery trade. The films promo makes one think this is a very prevalent and serious issue, and perhaps it ws then? who knows? Price is a magician of sorts who gets beautiful women to get into his live stage act and then they disappear to the house of 1000 dolls. No one close to them ever sees them again, until a couple gets curious about this phenomena. The ending is a twist that you would not expect.. Perhaps the most memorable thing about this film is the theme song which gets cut off in the VHS version but exemplifies 60's groove with some cheesy pop rifts.. I mean when my ex husband an I saw this in like 1990, we laughed and sang this song for years! Then we recently turned on a few friends to it who were equally amused! don't take it so seriously, get a Pizza on a rainy weekend night and cuddle up for some excitement and intrigue with House Of 1000 DollS!
Fan letter to Vincent Price
Coventry9 July 2019
Dear Mr. Price,
Vincent,
You are my favorite actor of all times. I was only 8 years old when I spotted you for the first time in "Edward Scissorhands". Back then, I didn't yet know that writer/director Tim Burton created the role of The Inventor especially for you as a tribute and to honor your entire life in the field of horror movies. By the time I was old enough to realize what a magnificent career you had throughout five full decades, you already passed away, but I spent the next 20 years seeking out and discovering your film classics one by one. Thank you for all the horror greatness! So many titles on your repertoire rank among my personal favorite films, like "The Witchfinder General", "House of Wax", "Laura", "The Abominable Dr. Phibes", "The Fly", "Tower of London", "The Mad Magician", "Last Man on Earth", "The House of Seven Gables" and every single installment in the Edgar Allan Poe cycle that you made with director Roger Corman. Some films were less amazing, like "The Monster Club" or "Madhouse", but I had never really encountered a terrible Vincent Price film... until now!
"House of a 1.000 Dolls" was truly an ordeal to struggle through! I sincerely cannot fathom how the producers managed to pull you aboard for this one. The basic premise, with you as a low-keyed magician in Tangiers operating a vicious network that kidnaps young women and trades them as white slaves, is potentially fascinating enough, but you must have noticed immediately - with all your intellect and experience - that the screenplay was horribly boring and inept? The pacing never properly picks up, and for each remotely interesting sequence (like when the random stranger menaces you outside of the theater) there is seemingly endless footage of people randomly talking. The mystery plot surrounding the "King of Hearts" is lame and predictable, none of your other colleagues gives a likable performance and there's zilch atmosphere or tension. I had to battle sleep during "House of 1.000 Dolls", which is something I never thought would happen during a Vincent Price movie. The finale is pitiable too, by the way. Evil geniuses aren't supposed to be defeated as stupidly as in this film. Still, even though you obviously perform on automatic pilot, you still are the best asset of this poor film, by far.
It was most interesting to find out that even geniuses like yourself occasionally made wrong starring choices, possibly driven by contractual obligations or attractive paychecks. I only still have a handful of your films to see, and it's quite comforting to know that none of them will be as dire and lifeless as this one. May you forever rest in peace!
You are my favorite actor of all times. I was only 8 years old when I spotted you for the first time in "Edward Scissorhands". Back then, I didn't yet know that writer/director Tim Burton created the role of The Inventor especially for you as a tribute and to honor your entire life in the field of horror movies. By the time I was old enough to realize what a magnificent career you had throughout five full decades, you already passed away, but I spent the next 20 years seeking out and discovering your film classics one by one. Thank you for all the horror greatness! So many titles on your repertoire rank among my personal favorite films, like "The Witchfinder General", "House of Wax", "Laura", "The Abominable Dr. Phibes", "The Fly", "Tower of London", "The Mad Magician", "Last Man on Earth", "The House of Seven Gables" and every single installment in the Edgar Allan Poe cycle that you made with director Roger Corman. Some films were less amazing, like "The Monster Club" or "Madhouse", but I had never really encountered a terrible Vincent Price film... until now!
"House of a 1.000 Dolls" was truly an ordeal to struggle through! I sincerely cannot fathom how the producers managed to pull you aboard for this one. The basic premise, with you as a low-keyed magician in Tangiers operating a vicious network that kidnaps young women and trades them as white slaves, is potentially fascinating enough, but you must have noticed immediately - with all your intellect and experience - that the screenplay was horribly boring and inept? The pacing never properly picks up, and for each remotely interesting sequence (like when the random stranger menaces you outside of the theater) there is seemingly endless footage of people randomly talking. The mystery plot surrounding the "King of Hearts" is lame and predictable, none of your other colleagues gives a likable performance and there's zilch atmosphere or tension. I had to battle sleep during "House of 1.000 Dolls", which is something I never thought would happen during a Vincent Price movie. The finale is pitiable too, by the way. Evil geniuses aren't supposed to be defeated as stupidly as in this film. Still, even though you obviously perform on automatic pilot, you still are the best asset of this poor film, by far.
It was most interesting to find out that even geniuses like yourself occasionally made wrong starring choices, possibly driven by contractual obligations or attractive paychecks. I only still have a handful of your films to see, and it's quite comforting to know that none of them will be as dire and lifeless as this one. May you forever rest in peace!
Entertaining nonsense.
Hey_Sweden9 July 2016
Warning: Spoilers
A married couple, Stephen (George Nader of "Robot Monster"), and Maria (Ann Smyrner, "Reptilicus") run into their old friend Fernando (Sancho Gracia, "800 Bullets") in Tangiers. He's searching for his vanished girlfriend, and has tracked her there. Her disappearance has everything to do with a novelty act, consisting of a man who calls himself an illusionist, Felix Manderville (Vincent Price), and his supposedly psychic wife, Rebecca (Martha Hyer, "Pyro"). It's up to Stephen to save the day, and although he has little to no use for police, the local Inspector (Wolfgang Kieling, "Torn Curtain") always manages to make his presence known.
"House of 1000 Dolls" has an agreeably ridiculous plot revolving around white slavery, credited (on the American release version) to producer Harry Alan Towers' pseudonym "Peter Welbeck". A great film it's not, but it's a striking, visually appealing diversion just the same, shot in Technicolor and Techniscope. You just have to put your brain in neutral. The laughs are there, and it's not overtly violent. A substantial portion of the attraction lies in the exotic setting and the assortment of international young beauties.
Prices' role and performance aren't among his best, or most interesting, but it's still fun to watch him in action. Nader is a stiff hero, but Maria Rohm ("Count Dracula" '70) is enticing as Diane, the love of Fernandos' life. Yelena Samarina ("The Werewolf vs. Vampire Woman") is a hilarious standout with her portrayal of Madame Viera. Herbert Fux ("Mark of the Devil") quickly wears out his welcome as the character Abdu.
Enjoyable enough to watch for people who love European trash.
Six out of 10.
"House of 1000 Dolls" has an agreeably ridiculous plot revolving around white slavery, credited (on the American release version) to producer Harry Alan Towers' pseudonym "Peter Welbeck". A great film it's not, but it's a striking, visually appealing diversion just the same, shot in Technicolor and Techniscope. You just have to put your brain in neutral. The laughs are there, and it's not overtly violent. A substantial portion of the attraction lies in the exotic setting and the assortment of international young beauties.
Prices' role and performance aren't among his best, or most interesting, but it's still fun to watch him in action. Nader is a stiff hero, but Maria Rohm ("Count Dracula" '70) is enticing as Diane, the love of Fernandos' life. Yelena Samarina ("The Werewolf vs. Vampire Woman") is a hilarious standout with her portrayal of Madame Viera. Herbert Fux ("Mark of the Devil") quickly wears out his welcome as the character Abdu.
Enjoyable enough to watch for people who love European trash.
Six out of 10.
Alas, poor Vincent, I knew him, George; a man of infinite jest.
fredleted-12 January 2013
Warning: Spoilers
If Tangiers was meant to be an exotic and mysterious location, heaven help the rest of the world. Based on the write up on the DVD sleeve, I found no evidence that Vincent was a hypnotist, but a one trick illusionist. His knowledge of Tangiers nightlife comprises of tame femme mud wrasslin', hokey belly dancing dives, and upper class brothel placement (about 100 feet from a car wreck yard). (I won't mention the dilapidated train carriages and the rusted engine hulk, the site for a running fight) Vincent's world famous and money spinning act is 2 minutes of his assistant reading minds culminating with a disappearing act, which must cost all night-clubbers a total of some $23 a head.
In the mean-time, George Nader goes around brow beating the local police, repeatedly beating up on the same 2 thugs, shrugging off an annoying photographer (what's with his bed friend?), and ...
...and what's with the night turning into day turning into night scenes? And the cane that fires 3 rounds of gunfire, when I thought it was a sword? And the 'slave' girls out numbering the house madame? And who was the judo girl? The story? Just read the 10 line summary on the DVD cover. Campy. Worth a second look, just to pick on the loopyness.
In the mean-time, George Nader goes around brow beating the local police, repeatedly beating up on the same 2 thugs, shrugging off an annoying photographer (what's with his bed friend?), and ...
...and what's with the night turning into day turning into night scenes? And the cane that fires 3 rounds of gunfire, when I thought it was a sword? And the 'slave' girls out numbering the house madame? And who was the judo girl? The story? Just read the 10 line summary on the DVD cover. Campy. Worth a second look, just to pick on the loopyness.
House of 1000 Dolls does NOT live up to what I would expect from a Vincent Price movie.
ccunning-7358720 October 2019
House of 1000 Dolls does NOT live up to what I would expect from a Vincent Price movie. It is NOT particularly scary and NOT a horror movie. It is more like a slow moving detective/police movie. I don't know what the budget was but it appears to be a low budget film. Synopsis: This movie is about 'White Slavery'. Though made in the '60's white slavery is still very much alive and real today so this is definitely a based on reality movie. In this movie Vincent and his beautiful accomplice travel around the world as magicians and use this as a front to kidnap beautiful young white women. A four way cat and mouse game ensues between the boyfriend of one of the kidnapped women, a doctor & his wife who know the boyfriend, the police, and Price and his accomplice. Some action and intrigue but slow... You may want to view this flick in order to check this off of the list of Price movies but I don't believe that it is worth watching twice...
I hope that Vincent Price got a trip to Tanger out of this!
mark.waltz17 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I really couldn't tell if he's on the location shoots there because most of his films are either in carts that could have been filmed anywhere or in theaters or other indoor sets. but for those lucky enough to have actually gone to Tangier, I hope they enjoyed the beauty of the location. It certainly beats the plot surrounding those sites.
This is a story of white slavery, girls kidnapped and forced into prostitution, and the efforts of visitor George Nader to help find a missing friend. He is chased around Tanger by two men in black (humorously borrowing a blasting water hose from someone washing their boat), then finds out that his wife has been kidnapped and well I'm here being prepared for a life in the House of a thousand dolls.
This never gets any more risky than showing a few women in their undies, often in comical way. give this film some credit for interesting photography, some angles that clearly were inspired by Hitchcock. A fight on a long staircase is particularly memorable. but the film itself has a ridiculously bad screenplay, having incidents occur that have had nothing seem to lead up to them, and even Price's participation as one of the top men behind the house never rings to be completely true.
Price does a brief magic act with his wife, basically an insipid style of magic you seen a thousand times, one for each doll. the film is boring and often stagnant, and some of the characters who pop in and out of the action are extremely obnoxious, particularly the harsh looking woman in charge of the kidnapped women and the persistent photographer who keeps harassing Nader in an early scene. If it wasn't for Price, Nader and the location photography, I would have ranked this as a complete bomb.
This is a story of white slavery, girls kidnapped and forced into prostitution, and the efforts of visitor George Nader to help find a missing friend. He is chased around Tanger by two men in black (humorously borrowing a blasting water hose from someone washing their boat), then finds out that his wife has been kidnapped and well I'm here being prepared for a life in the House of a thousand dolls.
This never gets any more risky than showing a few women in their undies, often in comical way. give this film some credit for interesting photography, some angles that clearly were inspired by Hitchcock. A fight on a long staircase is particularly memorable. but the film itself has a ridiculously bad screenplay, having incidents occur that have had nothing seem to lead up to them, and even Price's participation as one of the top men behind the house never rings to be completely true.
Price does a brief magic act with his wife, basically an insipid style of magic you seen a thousand times, one for each doll. the film is boring and often stagnant, and some of the characters who pop in and out of the action are extremely obnoxious, particularly the harsh looking woman in charge of the kidnapped women and the persistent photographer who keeps harassing Nader in an early scene. If it wasn't for Price, Nader and the location photography, I would have ranked this as a complete bomb.
Potboiler
mikelang4224 July 2011
Here in UK among the swelling amount of potty TV stations , there is one labeled Horror. It is very good at showing missing films from the 60s that are not as yet on DVD. This is not a horror film, waste of great title, just an action crime mystery.18 cert is odd too. A very bored looking Vincent Price along with equally bored all purpose actress Martha Hyer plays a famous magician who calls up pretty girls from the audience on stage to have them disappear completely, as they end up in the White Slave trade in Morocco run by a mystery mastermind.
The best thing by far in this, is lead George Nader, gay beefcake pin up of the 50s. Looking very smart in good suits as the investigator,this actor had moved to West Germany in the 60s.Here he found stardom again in a series of thrillers as Jerry Cotton. He would return to USA,to find he had been left a large money legacy from old friend Rock Hudson.He turned to being a successful author, dying at 80. No I didn't guess the mastermind, but it was so improbable like the rest of this movie. Low brow fun.
The best thing by far in this, is lead George Nader, gay beefcake pin up of the 50s. Looking very smart in good suits as the investigator,this actor had moved to West Germany in the 60s.Here he found stardom again in a series of thrillers as Jerry Cotton. He would return to USA,to find he had been left a large money legacy from old friend Rock Hudson.He turned to being a successful author, dying at 80. No I didn't guess the mastermind, but it was so improbable like the rest of this movie. Low brow fun.
White slavery? Aren't there other kinds?
lee_eisenberg23 August 2006
At the beginning of "La casa de las mil munecas" (called "The House of 1,000 Dolls" in English), we get told that this is a tale of white slavery. I must ask: aren't people concerned when non-whites get enslaved? It just seems to me that they should have concentrated on black slavery, or shown white people and other races getting enslaved. And although I really like Vincent Price, it's sort of distracting to have him as the man running the brothel; you keep expecting to quote Edgar Allan Poe or something.
So, this movie isn't awful, it just takes a weird approach to everything. There are much better movies out there, and if they wanted to show a bunch of hot young women, they could have done it differently.
So, this movie isn't awful, it just takes a weird approach to everything. There are much better movies out there, and if they wanted to show a bunch of hot young women, they could have done it differently.
Fairly underwhelming Spanish/West German potboiler
Red-Barracuda31 March 2014
In Morocco, a magician couple make young women disappear in their stage act, where they are drugged and passed onto criminals who operate in the sex trade.
Despite the title and the fact that this one stars Vincent Price, it comes as a bit of a surprise to discover that The House of 1000 Dolls is not actually a horror movie. There are some good things about it but overall it's a bit sluggish and unexciting. One good aspect is the house of the title. It's filled with a harem of beautiful women and the dolls themselves are an interesting detail, while the North African setting does lend proceedings some welcome exotic detail. But nice as these aspects are, overall it's a bit of a lethargic production. Price himself provides some class but even he can't do very much in what is not an especially great role for him. In fairness, it's a reasonable enough time-waster and it is a bit of an obscurity, so for Eurocult fans it is worth at least catching. But you'd be advised to not expect too much from it though.
Despite the title and the fact that this one stars Vincent Price, it comes as a bit of a surprise to discover that The House of 1000 Dolls is not actually a horror movie. There are some good things about it but overall it's a bit sluggish and unexciting. One good aspect is the house of the title. It's filled with a harem of beautiful women and the dolls themselves are an interesting detail, while the North African setting does lend proceedings some welcome exotic detail. But nice as these aspects are, overall it's a bit of a lethargic production. Price himself provides some class but even he can't do very much in what is not an especially great role for him. In fairness, it's a reasonable enough time-waster and it is a bit of an obscurity, so for Eurocult fans it is worth at least catching. But you'd be advised to not expect too much from it though.
i'm a huge price fan, but this one was awful
reasonbran2346 November 2001
i think vincent price was one of the greatest actors to ever live, but i have to admit that i don't understand why he degraded himself by starring in this boring, dull, and ultimately pointless bore. the only reason i can think of that they made it at all is that the idea of a whorehouse or female slaves must have been hot stuff on the screen in 1967. was it supposed to be scandalous or something? because otherwise this one is about as exciting and involving as reading a periodical on the cause of varicose veins. it doesn't even work as a goofy camp movie, because it's too solemn and dull. as always price gives an above average performance, but it does nothing for this clunker because the movie as a whole is so fundamentally bad and uninteresting. even if you're a price completist like myself, don't bother watching it, just buy it to fill the whole in your collection.
Entertaining For What It Is
Michael_Elliott3 December 2017
House of a Thousand Dolls (1967)
** 1/2 (out of 4)
Stephen Armstrong (George Nader) and his wife are on vacation in Tangiers when he runs into a friend who is searching for his wife who went missing. Before long the friend is dead and Stephen is caught up in what happened to him, which leads to a magician (Vincent Price) and his wife (Martha Hyer) as well as a house with a bunch of beautiful ladies.
HOUSE OF A THOUSAND DOLLS (its on screen title) is a film that I pretty much avoided for a couple decades because I had heard so many bad things about it. I guess if you go into it expecting some sort of horror movie then you'll be disappointed because it's certainly not that. The film is basically a mystery with some James Bond like action thrown in as the Stephen Armstrong character must outwit several bad guys that he encounters as he tries to solve the mystery.
For the most part the story itself is a rather interesting one and it's certainly entertaining enough to keep you entertained throughout the running time. The locations were a major plus and I thought the film had some nice cinematography. The film benefits from some nice direction that at least keeps the moving going at a nice pace. The weakest aspect of the film is the fact that you can tell it was rather cheaply made and there are times where I think a bit more sexuality would have helped things. There are girls running around in skimpy clothes at times but I think a tad bit more would have improved the film.
Price gets top-billing but he actually just plays a supporting player here. I thought he was fine in the part as he plays it pretty much straight and doesn't try to add any humor or camp. Nader is the real star and for the most part he is strong enough and has no problem carrying the picture. Hyer and Ann Smyrner are both good as well and you've got a nice comic performance by Herbert Fux. Maria Rohm as well as some other familiar Euro faces appear throughout.
HOUSE OF A THOUSAND DOLLS certainly isn't a masterpiece or even a good film. It doesn't even really work as a Price film since he just plays a supporting part. With that said, I thought it was entertaining enough even with its flaws.
** 1/2 (out of 4)
Stephen Armstrong (George Nader) and his wife are on vacation in Tangiers when he runs into a friend who is searching for his wife who went missing. Before long the friend is dead and Stephen is caught up in what happened to him, which leads to a magician (Vincent Price) and his wife (Martha Hyer) as well as a house with a bunch of beautiful ladies.
HOUSE OF A THOUSAND DOLLS (its on screen title) is a film that I pretty much avoided for a couple decades because I had heard so many bad things about it. I guess if you go into it expecting some sort of horror movie then you'll be disappointed because it's certainly not that. The film is basically a mystery with some James Bond like action thrown in as the Stephen Armstrong character must outwit several bad guys that he encounters as he tries to solve the mystery.
For the most part the story itself is a rather interesting one and it's certainly entertaining enough to keep you entertained throughout the running time. The locations were a major plus and I thought the film had some nice cinematography. The film benefits from some nice direction that at least keeps the moving going at a nice pace. The weakest aspect of the film is the fact that you can tell it was rather cheaply made and there are times where I think a bit more sexuality would have helped things. There are girls running around in skimpy clothes at times but I think a tad bit more would have improved the film.
Price gets top-billing but he actually just plays a supporting player here. I thought he was fine in the part as he plays it pretty much straight and doesn't try to add any humor or camp. Nader is the real star and for the most part he is strong enough and has no problem carrying the picture. Hyer and Ann Smyrner are both good as well and you've got a nice comic performance by Herbert Fux. Maria Rohm as well as some other familiar Euro faces appear throughout.
HOUSE OF A THOUSAND DOLLS certainly isn't a masterpiece or even a good film. It doesn't even really work as a Price film since he just plays a supporting part. With that said, I thought it was entertaining enough even with its flaws.
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