The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)

A doctor, scientist, organist, and biblical scholar, Anton Phibes, seeks revenge on the nine doctors he considers responsible for his wife's death.

Director:

Robert Fuest

Writers:

James Whiton, William Goldstein

Stars:

Vincent Price, Joseph Cotten, Virginia North

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Vincent Price	...	Dr. Anton Phibes
Joseph Cotten	...	Dr. Vesalius
Virginia North	...	Vulnavia
Terry-Thomas	...	Dr. Longstreet
Sean Bury	...	Lem Vesalius
Susan Travers	...	Nurse Allen
David Hutcheson	...	Dr. Hedgepath
Edward Burnham	...	Dr. Dunwoody
Alex Scott	...	Dr. Hargreaves
Peter Gilmore	...	Dr. Kitaj
Maurice Kaufmann	...	Dr. Whitcombe
Peter Jeffrey	...	Inspector Trout
Derek Godfrey	...	Crow
Norman Jones	...	Sgt. Tom Schenley
John Cater	...	Superintendent Waverley

Storyline

Doctors are being murdered in bizarre manners - bats, bees, a killer frog mask, etc. - which represent the nine Biblical plagues of Egypt. The crimes are orchestrated by an organ-playing, demented madman (from his home base, replete with a clockwork orchestra and help from a beautiful, mute assistant). Detectives are stumped until they find that all the slain doctors once assisted a Dr. Vesalius on an unsuccessful operation involving the wife of organist Dr. Phibes, killed in a car crash upon learning of his wife's death. He couldn't be the culprit, could he?

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Plot Keywords:

revenge | cult film | art deco | tragic villain | anti hero | 

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Taglines:

HE CAME BACK FROM THE DEAD FOR REVENGE with Nine Diabolical Curses ... BEES ... BATS ... BEASTS ... BLOOD ... FROGS ... HAIL ... LOCUSTS ... DARKNESS ... DEATH! THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES ... the most terrifying film you will ever see!

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Genres:

Comedy | Horror

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some horror violence/gore

Details

Official Sites:

MGM Studios [United States] Official Twitter

Country:

UK

Language:

English Hebrew

Release Date:

18 May 1971 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dr. Phibes

Filming Locations:

Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

GBP300,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

MGM-EMI

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Originally advertised in the US with the tag line, "Love Means Never Having to Say You're Ugly," a parody of a famous line from Love Story (1970), which had been released the previous year; however, that was replaced after the first week, as opening box office was disappointing and it turned out audiences had no idea what sort of film this was supposed to be. A new advertising campaign made it clear it was a horror film, and afterwards it became a box-office hit.

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Goofs

When Vulnavia is wreaking Phibes' lair, she knocks the bass drum off the bandstand on to the dance floor. Later, when Trout, Crow and Vesalius approach the organ, the drum is nowhere to be seen.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Butler - Ross: Good morning, sir.

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Crazy Credits

Phibes is heard laughing after the song and the credits end.

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Alternate Versions

The Vestron video release and the version shown on cable up until the mid-'90's also featured substituted music soundtracks.

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Connections

Edited into The Unauthorized Hagiography of Vincent Price (2014)

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Soundtracks

Close Your Eyes
Written by Bernice Petkere
Courtesy of The Big Three Music Co.
(played on solo violin during Dr. Longstreet's murder scene)

User Reviews

Campy cult classic with perfect performance...

1st watched 12/11/2004 - 7 out of 10(DIr-Robert Fuest): Campy cult classic with perfect performance and role by Vincent Price who does most of the job through his facial expressions and presence. The story revolves around a dead-like "Dr. Phibes" playing his organ, directing music, dancing and ceremoniously killing off the surgeons who failed to fix his wife after a car accident. He uses the Pharoah's curses as the basis for each killing and he inventively makes each one unique and grins and even applauds himself after one demise. Some subtle British humor is also thrown in for extra but all that's needed with this one is Price and this role to make it classic horror-camp.