A Shakespearean actor takes poetic revenge on the critics who denied him recognition.A Shakespearean actor takes poetic revenge on the critics who denied him recognition.A Shakespearean actor takes poetic revenge on the critics who denied him recognition.
- Awards
- 1 win & 2 nominations
Renée Asherson
- Mrs. Maxwell
- (as Renee Asherson)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaConsidered by Vincent Price to be his personal favorite of all of his films, followed closely by The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971).
- GoofsHorace Sprout's decapitated head rolls over when the maid discovers him. In the next scene, it is impaled on a milk bottle at Devlin's front door. It has been said this is a goof because Lionheart could not have retrieved the head after the maid saw it the next morning. But the head left in the bed was a "dummy" waxwork head. Lionheart took the real head and put that on the milk bottle at Devlin's front door.
- Quotes
Peregrine Devlin: [after receiving Dickman's heart in a gift box] It's him, all right. Only Lionheart would have the temerity to rewrite Shakespeare!
- Alternate versionsDespite the film's comedic nature, the original UK theatrical version of it was cut by the BBFC and some of the close-up shots from the murders of Meredith Merridew and Miss Chloe Moon were slightly trimmed. All later home video and DVD releases were uncut.
- ConnectionsFeatured in V.I.P.-Schaukel: Episode #9.2 (1979)
Featured review
Very creative death scenes, gory and funny - and absolutely beautifully acted by Vincent Price
* Some mild spoilers ahead *
Vincent Price, the star of countless B-Movies from the fifties to the seventies, in his perhaps best role ever. This movie is wicked fun; a failed Shakespeare-actor brutally settles the score with all his critics - but they all meet their demise by having to "act" a part in the plays of the great bard. Very creative death scenes, gory and funny - and absolutely beautifully acted by Price and an ensemble of many greats of British cinema and theatre.
Funny enough, there are many parallels between Price's own career and his character's (maybe that's exactly why the director chose him for this part), for Price also failed to get the recognition he deserved until very late in his life and felt unfairly treated by critics. Although many of his films are now regarded as classics, for the most part of his life his films and his (indeed rather Shakespearian) approach to his roles was often ridiculed. Around the time of this film though, critics started to take Price seriously (probably out of fear, LOL).
But this film is also interesting for another reason: despite the obvious black comedy it looks almost like a blueprint for a certain category of horror films to come, and films like 'Seven' and 'Saw' owe perhaps a little debt to 'Theatre of Blood'. Highly recommended. 8 stars out of 10.
Favorite Films: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls054200841/
Lesser-known Masterpieces: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls070242495/
Favorite Low-Budget and B-movies: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls054808375/
Favorite TV-Shows reviewed: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls075552387/
Vincent Price, the star of countless B-Movies from the fifties to the seventies, in his perhaps best role ever. This movie is wicked fun; a failed Shakespeare-actor brutally settles the score with all his critics - but they all meet their demise by having to "act" a part in the plays of the great bard. Very creative death scenes, gory and funny - and absolutely beautifully acted by Price and an ensemble of many greats of British cinema and theatre.
Funny enough, there are many parallels between Price's own career and his character's (maybe that's exactly why the director chose him for this part), for Price also failed to get the recognition he deserved until very late in his life and felt unfairly treated by critics. Although many of his films are now regarded as classics, for the most part of his life his films and his (indeed rather Shakespearian) approach to his roles was often ridiculed. Around the time of this film though, critics started to take Price seriously (probably out of fear, LOL).
But this film is also interesting for another reason: despite the obvious black comedy it looks almost like a blueprint for a certain category of horror films to come, and films like 'Seven' and 'Saw' owe perhaps a little debt to 'Theatre of Blood'. Highly recommended. 8 stars out of 10.
Favorite Films: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls054200841/
Lesser-known Masterpieces: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls070242495/
Favorite Low-Budget and B-movies: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls054808375/
Favorite TV-Shows reviewed: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls075552387/
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- gogoschka-1
- Jul 17, 2014
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![Vincent Price and Diana Rigg in Theater of Blood (1973)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTQwODcwNTIyNl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwOTUyMTM4NA@@._V1_QL75_UX90_CR0,1,90,133_.jpg)