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IMDbPro

The Abominable Dr. Phibes

  • 19711971
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
16K
YOUR RATING
Vincent Price and Virginia North in The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)
ComedyHorror
Doctor, scientist, organist, and biblical scholar Anton Phibes seeks revenge on the nine doctors he considers responsible for the death of his wife.Doctor, scientist, organist, and biblical scholar Anton Phibes seeks revenge on the nine doctors he considers responsible for the death of his wife.Doctor, scientist, organist, and biblical scholar Anton Phibes seeks revenge on the nine doctors he considers responsible for the death of his wife.
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
16K
YOUR RATING
    • Robert Fuest
    • James Whiton
    • William Goldstein
  • Stars
    • Vincent Price
    • Joseph Cotten
    • Hugh Griffith
    • Robert Fuest
    • James Whiton
    • William Goldstein
  • Stars
    • Vincent Price
    • Joseph Cotten
    • Hugh Griffith
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 163User reviews
    • 134Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos1

    The Abominable Dr. Phibes
    Trailer 2:33
    Watch The Abominable Dr. Phibes

    Photos140

    Joseph Cotten and Vincent Price in The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)
    Vincent Price in The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)
    Edward Burnham in The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)
    Joseph Cotten and Peter Jeffrey in The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)
    Vincent Price and Terry-Thomas in The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)
    Vincent Price in The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)
    Vincent Price in The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)
    Vincent Price and Virginia North in The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)
    Vincent Price and Alex Scott in The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)
    Vincent Price in The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)
    Virginia North in The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)
    "Abominable Dr. Phibes, The" Vincent Price 1971 / AIP

    Top cast

    Edit
    Vincent Price
    Vincent Price
    • Dr. Anton Phibes
    Joseph Cotten
    Joseph Cotten
    • Dr. Vesalius
    Hugh Griffith
    Hugh Griffith
    • Rabbi
    Terry-Thomas
    Terry-Thomas
    • Dr. Longstreet
    Virginia North
    Virginia North
    • Vulnavia
    Peter Jeffrey
    Peter Jeffrey
    • Detective Inspector Trout
    Derek Godfrey
    • Crow
    Norman Jones
    Norman Jones
    • Sgt. Tom Schenley
    John Cater
    John Cater
    • Superintendent Waverley
    Aubrey Woods
    • Goldsmith
    John Laurie
    John Laurie
    • Darrow
    Maurice Kaufmann
    Maurice Kaufmann
    • Dr. Whitcombe
    Barbara Keogh
    • Mrs. Frawley
    Sean Bury
    Sean Bury
    • Lem Vesalius
    Charles Farrell
    Charles Farrell
    • Chauffeur
    Susan Travers
    Susan Travers
    • Nurse Allen
    David Hutcheson
    • Dr. Hedgepath
    Edward Burnham
    Edward Burnham
    • Dr. Dunwoody
      • Robert Fuest
      • James Whiton
      • William Goldstein
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Joseph Cotten would grumble on the set that he had to remember and deliver lines, while Vincent Price's were all to be post-dubbed. Price responded, "Yes, but I still know them, Joe." In fact, Price was well-known in Hollywood for his ability to memorize all of the characters' lines in a given production, not just his own.
    • Goofs
      The amount of bats that kill Dr Dunwoody could never have come from the small cage that was lowered into his bedroom.
    • Quotes

      Waverley: A brass unicorn has been catapulted across a London street and impaled an eminent surgeon. Words fail me, gentlemen.

    • Crazy credits
      The cast list is divided into five sections: 'The Protagonists', 'The Girl', 'The Victims', 'The Law' and 'Interested Parties'.
    • Alternate versions
      The Spanish language version features an almost completely different music soundtrack. The French version also features some subtle differences.
    • Connections
      Edited into Dr. Phibes Rises Again (1972)
    • Soundtracks
      What Can I Say Dear After I Say I'm Sorry
      Music by Walter Donaldson (uncredited)

      Courtesy of The Big Three Music Co.

      [Played by the clockwork musicians after Dr. Dunwoody death]

    User reviews163

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    An ingenious horror classic
    The Abominable Dr Phibes has achieved quite a cult status among horror fans, and for good reason; as this is one of the finest pieces of camp horror ever produced. The villain at the centre of the film - Dr Phibes - is one of horror cinema's true villainous masterpieces. Unlike many of the not very well thought out villains that we see all too much of today, Dr Phibes is well-rounded concoction of evil. He has his reasons for killing - revenge, his killings certainly aren't boring by any stretch of the imagination and even the man himself IS horror, as he's a horrifically scarred madman that can only talk through use of a microphone connected to his throat. He surrounds himself with horrid looking camp items and has no care whatsoever for his fellow man. However, despite all these bad points that the man has - we are still able to care for his plight somewhat. Phibes isn't someone that just kills for the fun of it; he's distraught over the loss of his beloved, which puts the audience in a strange situation as we have decide whether or not there is a human being beyond this malicious facade. This madman is played by Vincent Price - who else? Price was born for this role and he makes it his own. Price embeds himself on your mind with this performance and it's impossible to imagine anyone else playing Dr Phibes; and that is a sign of a great actor. Price has played many roles in the style of this character, but this is his best and I'd even go as far as to say that this is the quintessential Price performance.

    The plot of The Abominable Dr Phibes follows the man of the title as he gets revenge on the doctors that he believes killed his wife after she was fatally injured in a tragic car accident (the same accident that got Phibes his own injuries). However, Phibes doesn't want to get his revenge by any normal means. Guns, knives, axes etc are alien to this man, as he decides to take his revenge in the style of the ten deadly plagues of Egypt. The deaths scenes are ingenious to say the least, with the death in the style of the seventh plague being a particular highlight, which is sure to delight everyone that sees it. The film isn't entirely serious, and is keen to make fun of it's delicious plot. Peter Jeffrey, who plays the bumbling Inspector Trout who is assigned to the case is the source of most of the comedy and steals every scene he's in. The comedy in the film is hilarious and provides a nice breather from macabre horror.

    The Abominable Dr Phibes is most notable for it's extreme camp style and has been touted as the campest film ever made by some critics. There is a very good reason for this assessment, as anyone that views it will be able to clearly see; but The Abominable Dr Phibes is more than just a camp horror film. Beyond it's horrors, it's a heart-warming tale of how a man deals with losing a loved one and is actually quite touching because of this. Well, maybe not touching; but the theme of loss is definitely there!
    helpful•26
    10
    • The_Void
    • Dec 22, 2004

    Details

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    • Release date
      • May 18, 1971 (United States)
      • United Kingdom
      • English
      • Hebrew
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Highgate Cemetery, Swain's Lane, Highgate, London, England, UK
    • Production company
      • Amicus Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 34 minutes
      • Color
      • Mono

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