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Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, Boris Karloff, Hazel Court, Olive Sturgess ... see more see more... , Jack Nicholson , Connie Wallace , William Baskin , Aaron Saxon , Jim McCullough Jr.

Although Roger Corman narrowly managed to avoid self-mockery in his pulpy, flamboyant adaptations of Edgar Allan Poe tales, it appears that the director chose this opportunity to let loose with outrig... read more read more...ht parody; the result is a wonderfully entertaining romp with tongue planted firmly in cheek. The first screen teaming of legendary horror stars Boris Karloff, Vincent Price, and Peter Lorre -- later billed as "The Triumvirate of Terror" -- this so-called "adaptation" uses Poe's most famous poem as a springboard for Grand Guignol comedy from scriptwriter Richard Matheson. Melancholy magician Erasmus Craven (Price), having recently relinquished his membership in the Brotherhood of Sorcerers after the apparent death of his wife Lenore (Hazel Court), is paid a visit by a foul-mouthed talking raven, claiming to be small-time wizard Adolphus Bedlo (Lorre). After some persuasion, Craven returns Bedlo to human form, reversing a spell placed by the evil Dr. Scarabus (Karloff), Craven's chief rival. After learning that a woman bearing a strong likeness to Lenore was seen in the Doctor's company, Craven accompanies Bedlo to Scarabus' castle, where the resulting battle of wills escalates into all-out magical warfare between the two embittered sorcerers. Corman and company relished the opportunity to poke fun at the staid Poe series, and the distinguished leads contribute to the spirit of fun by lampooning their own cinematic reputations. Fans of Jack Nicholson (who cut his acting teeth on this and other AIP productions) should enjoy his melodramatic performance here as Bedlo's straight-arrow son; Nicholson would later co-star with Karloff in Corman's The Terror, which was shot in two days using the same sets! ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi

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64% liked it

4,275 ratings

Critics

90% liked it

10 critics

G, 1 hr. 26 min.

Directed by: Roger Corman

Release Date: January 25, 1963

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Stats: 235 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (235)

  • fb100002384654145
    April 27, 2012
    fb100002384654145
    A movie that features Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, Boris Karloff, and a young Jack Nicholson. Need I say more?
  • ajv2688
    November 24, 2010
    ajv2688
    This movie is kind of silly, and the special effects are goofy looking, but it's nice to see these great horror actors goofing around in a movie. It's an enjoyable movie, and I like it.
  • pier007
    March 12, 2010
    pier007
    Price, Lorre and Karloff, what a wonderful triad. Although it has little or almost nothing about Poe's story, Matheson's screenplay is conspicuos and charming. Pure camp fun.
  • staindslaved
    January 8, 2012
    staindslaved
    Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, Boris Karloff and Jack Nicholson? Holy Shit! I need to bookmark this one for the next time I play Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon. Despite a weird cast of has-beens, future stars, and genre icons this Roger Corman film is essentially a self-parody of the... read more far more serious (and better) Edgar Allan Poe film adaptations he and Price had previously made. The film starts off with Price reading the opening lines of the famous poem (I think he was born just to narrate that darn thing) and we believe that we're in for a moody atmospheric adaptation. Instead this adaptation, and I use that term extremely loosely, switches to a complete fabrication of wizards in a struggle for control and influence over one another...no I'm dead serious. Watch it if you don't believe me! This film was ridiculous and Jack Nicholson looks downright hilarious in his Robin Hood-esc outfit. Again! I'm being totally serious! I wish they did a faithful adaptation of The Raven or simply just created an original work. As is the film is a classic bait-and-switch job and beyond the odd-ball casting not really worth your time.
  • Hellshocked
    January 14, 2010
    Hellshocked
    Price. Lorre. Karloff.

    Corman...
  • hawkledge
    April 15, 2009
    hawkledge
    Pulpy, flamboyant, outright parody, wonderfully entertaining, the culminating battle of wills escalates into an all-out magical war between the stars Boris Karloff and Vincent Price, with Peter Lorre and a young Jack Nicholson.
  • threefolddado
    March 4, 2008
    threefolddado
    Pretty amusing.
  • daphnaae
    May 28, 2011
    daphnaae
    The horror greats of all time...Bela Legosi, Peter Lorre, Vincent Price and a very young Jack Nicholson as you've never seen them before.
  • FalseHoper
    June 14, 2009
    FalseHoper
    BORIS KARLOFF -VS.- VINCENT PRICE!!!
    an all star cast including the great Peter Lorre,Jack Nicholson,Hazel Court,Boris Karloff,Vincent Price...directed by Corman.
    a very colorful take on Poe...with all the dark humor ever so present.a tale of trust and betrayal,forgiveness,and ... read morerevenge.
    its awesome to see all these horror legends in one hilarious film.
    magical! its on here for free,under "watch now"(horror)
  • bradwest
    February 1, 2009
    bradwest
    Cute adaptation of Poe's work with the then reigning masters of horror. Great to see a very young Jack Nicholson and the liberal use of stock footage.

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Critic Reviews

Tim Brayton
October 24, 2011
Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy

Indisputably the odd duck among the AIP Poe movies, although it is also one of the very best. Full Review

Mark Bourne
April 5, 2006
Mark Bourne, DVDJournal.com

The Raven takes Poe's most famous poem and doesn't so much adapt it as dress it up in a clown nose and silly hat.... it's hard to shake the cognitive dissonance of Jack Nicholson posing like Burt Ward... Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
February 23, 2006
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Anything to do with Poe other than hearing The Raven poem read aloud is non-existent. Full Review

Rob Vaux
August 29, 2005
Rob Vaux, Flipside Movie Emporium

Gimmicky drive-in fare, though nobody can deliver that poem like Price.

Ken Hanke
February 2, 2003
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Amusing horror parody notable mostly for its stars.

Bob Bloom
August 15, 2002
Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

A classic AIP horror-comedy; Lorre is priceless; Price has tongue firmly in cheek. And a young Jack Nicholson to boot!

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

J. Hoberman
August 19, 2005
J. Hoberman, Village Voice

Click to read the article Full Review

Emanuel Levy
August 9, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Mark R. Leeper
November 4, 2004
Mark R. Leeper, rec.arts.movies.reviews

No review available.

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