Dr. Phibes Rises Again (1972)

The vengeful doctor rises again, seeking the Scrolls of Life in an attempt to resurrect his deceased wife.

Director:

Robert Fuest

Writers:

Robert Fuest, Robert Blees

Stars:

Vincent Price, Robert Quarry, Valli Kemp

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Vincent Price	...	Dr. Anton Phibes
Robert Quarry	...	Darrus Biederbeck
Valli Kemp	...	Vulnavia
Hugh Griffith	...	Harry Ambrose
John Thaw	...	Shavers
Keith Buckley	...	Stewart
Lewis Fiander	...	Baker
Gerald Sim	...	Hackett
Milton Reid	...	Manservant - Cheng
Peter Jeffrey	...	Inspecter Trout
John Cater	...	Superintendent Waverley
Peter Cushing	...	Captain
Beryl Reid	...	Miss Ambrose
Terry-Thomas	...	Lombardo
Fiona Lewis	...	Diana Trowbridge

Storyline

The moon rises at a predestined angle and awakens the sleeping Dr. Phibes three years later. To his dismay, he finds his house has been demolished and his papyrus scrolls stolen, the scrolls he needs to find the Pharoah's Tomb in Egypt, where the River of Life flows. After identifying the source of the papyrus theft, he packs and leaves for Egypt with his assistant Vulnavia, still intent upon awakening his dead wife Victoria. The parties responsible for the theft of Phibes' scrolls suffer an attrition problem as Inspector Trout chases him across the world.

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Plot Keywords:

egypt | tomb | telephone rigged to kill | mad scientist | sarcophagus | 

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Taglines:

They Haven't Built The COFFIN That Can Hold HIM!

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Genres:

Comedy | Horror

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Official Sites:

MGM Studios [United States]

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

July 1972 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die Rückkehr des Dr. Phibes

Filming Locations:

Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

American International Pictures (AIP)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

To publicize the movie, AIP had Vincent Price appear on the televised The Dating Game (1965) to choose a date for Miss X (Janit Baldwin).

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Goofs

Dr. Phibes speaks without being hooked up to his vocal apparatus in several scenes, suggesting that dialogue was added later. It's especially noticeable when he addresses his late wife while moving her coffin into the tomb in Egypt.

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Quotes

Trout: We could search the mountain...
Waverly: Trout, one needs a warrant to search. You should know that by now.
Trout: I am aware, sir, but...
Waverly: We can't just storm into someone else's mountain. This isn't Hyde Park, you know.

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Crazy Credits

Once more the cast credits are split into several sections: the protagonists, the girl, the law, the victims and interested parties.

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Alternate Versions

In later prints and in the video version a scene featuring Vincent Price singing "Over the rainbow" is removed, supposedly for copyright reasons. The DVD release of 2001 restores the Vincent Price-sung "Over The Rainbow".

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Connections

Referenced in The Mummy Returns (2001)

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Soundtracks

Moonlight Sonata
(uncredited)
Music by Ludwig van Beethoven
Arranged by John Gale

User Reviews

Bandleaders and Jazz trumpeters!!!

Not as good as the first Phibes movie (The Abominable Dr...) but jolly good fun, so long as you're not expecting a horror movie! This is a comedy! The double act of Peter Jeffrey and John Cater as the bumbling police officers Trout and Waverley are a joy. Vincent Price, himself, often portrayed his characters with tongue firmly in cheek, (witness the AIP Corman series of E A Poe titles) and this is no exception. What I would like to know is what is the obsession with dance band leaders and jazz cornet/trumpeters all about? OK, its set in the 20s, (allegedly!) and the mechanical band look like an old dance band of the time, or is it just another in-joke probably lost on most viewers? I'll explain: Beiderbeck (Bix Beiderbecke - legendary cornettist, who died of drink at 28); Hackett (Bobby Hackett - cornettist often compared to Bix for his lyrical style); Baker (Harold "Shorty" Baker - one-time trumpeter for Duke Ellington. Or even Kenny Baker, English trumpeter of considerable ability); Shavers (Charlie Shavers - highly accomplished trumpeter from the 'swing era'); Stewart (Rex Stewart - cornettist with Duke Ellington during 30s/40s). Get the picture? Then we have two band leaders: Ambrose (English dance band leader from the 30s) and Lombardo (Guy Lombardo, Canadian dance band leader from the 20s and 30s). Obsessive or what? Never mind, I just thought I'd point it out!!!! Its still an enjoyable load of old nonsense all the same. 10 out of 10 for cheekiness, but overall a 7.