Steve D
None of the tales are especially effective.
Rated 2/5 Stars •
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
07/20/23
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Elvis D
Una fascinante antología de la literatura de Edgar Allan Poe, pero que no deja de ser uno de los peculiares filmes de Roger Corman. A diferencia de las películas anteriores de Corman, este tiene una cierta elegancia que sirvió de conducto para que Corman pudiera traer a la pantalla otras adaptaciones de Poe que tienen un buen encanto. Sin duda lo mejor que esta película tiene es Vicent Price que cumple su rol como icono del terror de la época. Bueno, el maquillaje de Price en el último segmento es demasiado obvio, al igual que los demás efectos que se usaron en la película, pero bueno, no existía mejores efectos en aquel momento. Por más que la película está bien y es decente, la forma en los relatos fueron adaptados hacen que difieran un poco de los textos originales, especialmente el de El Gato Negro, ya que tiene una historia muy diferente a la del texto y es más una comedia de humor negro que una historia de suspenso. La película no cumple muy exactamente su rol como película de terror por como se ejecutó, pero el film disfrutable para los que aman las películas viejas o para aquellos que son fans de Roger Corman o Vincent Price. Una película que vale la pena ver en ese aspecto y por eso la califico con un 8/10.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
03/13/23
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deke p
Another classic of the Poe, Vincent Price, Roger Corman variety. It's actual 3 separate Poe stories: Based on "The Black Cat," "The Cask of Amontillado," "Morella" and "The Case of M. Valdemar."
It was on the tv set 7.2.22.
Some other big names in cast: Debra Paget, Peter Lorre, , Basil Rathbone.
note to self: next time watch more carefully the parts A-Z
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
03/30/23
Full Review
Audience Member
The fourth of Roger Corman's Poe films — which includes House of Usher, The Pit and the Pendulum, The Premature Burial, The Raven, The Haunted Palace, The Masque of the Red Death and The Tomb of Ligeia — Tales of Terror was released on a double bill with Panic in the Year Zero!
Each of the three stories is narrated by Vincent Price, who also appears in all three parts of this anthology.
In "Morella," Poe's story forms the basics of the story but this take on the story is near-apocalyptic. Lenora Locke has come to visit her father (Price), who refuses her company as he believes that she killed her mother Morella in childbirth. That's when the daughter discovers that her mother is rotten in her father's ancient home, father learns that the daughter is dying and the mother comes back for everyone.
"The Black Cat" has Montresor Herringbone (Peter Lorre) discovering that his wife Annebelle is cuckolding him with the world's foremost wine taster, Fortunato Luchresi (Vincent Price). So he does what any of us would: entomb them inside a wall along with his wife's black cat. Obviously, this story also has elements of another Poe story, The Cask of Amontillado. If you enjoyed this story, it was also filmed by Lucio Fulci as The Black Cat and Dario Argento within the Poe double feature Two Evil Eyes.
In the last story, "The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar," finds hypnotist Mr. Carmichael (Basil Rathbone) helping to stop the suffering of the dying M. Valdemar (Vincent Price). However, Carmichael places him in a trance between life and death, taking control of his entire life and even trying to take his wife. This story features Price's face literally melting away, which is really horrifying for a 1962 movie.
Roger Corman and Richard Matheson were really working together quite well here. I'm a sucker for a good anthology and these stories move quick and pack a punch.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
02/06/23
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dave s
Of Roger Corman's numerous Edgar Allen Poe adaptions, Tales of Terror is, by a wide margin, the weakest of the franchise. Consisting of three short stories culled from the Poe catalogue, the first tale, Morella, establishes a great atmosphere with plenty of cobwebs, withered trees, creaking doors and winding staircases. Unfortunately, the segment is ruined by an absurdly nonsensical climax. The Black Cat, one of Poe's most horrifying tales, is ruined by ridiculous comedic overtones. The final segment, The Case of M Valdemar, is superior to its predecessors, but is marred by another silly ending. For those interested in the Corman/Poe library, do not start with this film.
Rated 1.5/5 Stars •
Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars
03/30/23
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Audience Member
Very schlocky but Vincent Price is undeniably entertaining. The drinking competition between Price and Peter Lorre is worth the price of admission.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
02/15/23
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