I suppose this is as much psychological thriller as horror by modern standards, given that there is no real horror - either physical or mental - to speak of. Price is the husband of Ligeia, the woman who loved life so much she refused to accept her own death when it became inevitable and swore she would always be his wife. Given baggage like this, the fact that he wanders around in shades that would be cool today but that are decidedly odd for Victorian England and lives in a cobwebby old abbey it's a bit of a surprise that Lady Rowena falls for him so quickly. Mind you, he does attempt to kill the cat that has clawed her with a cabbage, so he obviously has some good points (I know that sentence doesn't read correctly but it's late and I can't be bothered to re-write. Just take it as read that Tiddles didn't claw her with a cabbage, OK? Thanks).
Frivolity aside - and the more films I see the more inclined I am to be frivolous about them - Roger Corman's final Poe adaptation is quite handsomely mounted considering its modest budget. It's plot unfolds at a stately pace typical of the era in which it was filmed (which means the majority of people under 25 will find it too difficult to stick with). Price is about 15 years too old for his role but gives a pretty good account of himself, while Elisabeth Shepherd manages to keep the annoyance quotient of her character down to a manageable level.
One point I was curious about was what was going on in that opulently furnished hall behind the mirror. Ligeia lying on that bed in her black nightgown, her arms extended as if to greet a lover - or to beseech his return. Was Corman really suggesting necrophilia?
Frivolity aside - and the more films I see the more inclined I am to be frivolous about them - Roger Corman's final Poe adaptation is quite handsomely mounted considering its modest budget. It's plot unfolds at a stately pace typical of the era in which it was filmed (which means the majority of people under 25 will find it too difficult to stick with). Price is about 15 years too old for his role but gives a pretty good account of himself, while Elisabeth Shepherd manages to keep the annoyance quotient of her character down to a manageable level.
One point I was curious about was what was going on in that opulently furnished hall behind the mirror. Ligeia lying on that bed in her black nightgown, her arms extended as if to greet a lover - or to beseech his return. Was Corman really suggesting necrophilia?