There are many legends born from the horror community. Names we will never forget, such as John Carpenter, Sam Raimi, Dario Argento, Clive Barker, and Bella Lugosi. I could go on forever, but one name stands out from the rest for this ghoul. But what is so special about this villain of the silver screen? That my fellow ghouls, is the question we will ponder together. Take my claw, and hold on tight, as we delve into the life and success of the one and only... Vincent Price.
On the 27th of May, 1911 in St Louis a star was born. No one could have predicted the legacy Price would leave behind, at least not in the way he did. Price would later go on to describe his family as "well-to-do" meaning to him that they were comfortable but not rich. Both Price's Grandfather and Father left their own mark in the way of business. Whilst many of us would like to imagine Price growing up in the dark halls of a brooding Manor in the mist, this was simply not the case. Price's Father was a rather successful player in the candy business, actually building the 'National Candy Company' in St. Louis. His Grandfather made waves with his invention of baking powder, an invention that changed the baking industry to this day. So, possibly there was an expectation of success for Vincent Price, but more so in the building and innovation of business. Price, on the other hand, had an appetite for something different.
At the young age of 12, Price acquired his first piece of art with his own money. Paying just $5 a month to the vendor for an etching by Rembrandt which depicted two nude models, the piece being entitled ' Two Nude Models, One Standing'. This would mark the beginning of an ongoing fascination with art. He became a passionate collector up until his passing, even teaching in the subject before delving into acting. However, it was this journey into the history of art that led Price to London to continue his education into the creativity of humanity, leading him to fall in love with theatre. This would lead to a big success for Vincent Price at the early age of just 23, when he landed the role of Prince Albert in a production of 'Victoria Regina'. The show took off and was later picked up by Broadway, thus taking Vincent Price with it. As we investigate his works on the big screen, it is evident the love for theatre Price possessed and it is this love of art and theatre, I believe, we have to thank for many of Price's iconic roles.
As we begin to examine the career of Vincent Price, I encourage you to remember this... The ability to see art is powerful, it allows us to open a window to a specific time in history and examine the joys and fears of people we can never truly know. More than this, it implores us to reflect on our own times and draw conclusions about what fuels us.
"The photograph was invented which freed the artist from the necessity of dealing with reality. And the airplane gave him a look of the world abstractly. The astronaut certainly gave us pictures that will influence art enormously... Just by standing back and looking back at something made me feel quite puny, I must say" - Vincent Price on the teaching of seeing, interviewed by James Day ( April 25th, 1974)
House On Haunted Hill (1959)
'House On Haunted Hill' (1959), directed by William Castle was my first introduction to Vincent Price, and what an introduction it was. The film begins with an enticing offer to the audience, inviting us to spend the night in a haunted house in the hopes of receiving $10,000... If we survive that is, but don't worry too much! We are assured that in the event of our untimely passing that the money will be given to our next of kin, so take comfort in that at least. This invitation is given to us by Fredrick Loren (Vincent Price), as he stares into our eyes appearing to be sizing us up to the task. We are introduced to the other unfortunate souls who have accepted the invitation, and thus the wait to midnight begins...
So many delights await you with this film, from charming skeleton props to an acid bath of death, you are sure to have a scream of a time. The varied cast of characters play off each other beautifully, creating tension and drama we so often associate with these early Horror films. It is most definitely a classic that invites you in with the promise of ghosts and has you staying for the charm.
Vincent Price, as always, gives us a masterclass in villainy whilst portraying the cunning and quick-witted Fredrick Loren. Suave is one word that comes to mind when thinking of Fredrick Loren, as the millionaire soothes his paranoid guests during the midst of chaos. The most interesting relationship on screen being that between Loren and his wife Annabelle. If you thought sitcom marriages left a sour taste in your mouth, wait until you see this relationship behind closed doors. Vincent Price takes every opportunity to capture the eccentricity of Loren, and I eat it up every time. A theme we will begin to see is Price playing the most detestable characters, but still managing to make us root for his villain despite all our instincts screaming otherwise.
Cry Of The Banshee (1970)
Who doesn't love a good yarn about a religious cult seeking revenge on the wealthy? After all, I am a vengeful spirit so there is some relatability. We are thrown into a town that has been abused by its noblemen (no surprise there). Surprisingly though, the town has an even bigger problem... Witchcraft. Thankfully, the 'so called' respectable upper class are committed to purifying the problem. Well... Not really. They pick the latest woman accused of witchcraft and parade her around town boobs akimbo. Rinsing and repeating, whilst the peasants play their own version of spin the bottle. Except instead of a bottle, it's their finger pointing to fellow villager and, instead of a kiss it's a loaded accusation that results in torture and a fiery death. As if things couldn't get any worse, a wild devil dog is lurking within the surroundings forests, adding to the villager’s turmoil. But it is not the villagers who need to be locking their doors and sleeping with one eye open.
Lord Edward Whitman (Vincent Price) is a man possessed with authority. The power he holds over his family and the town is like a drug he cannot give up. A true villain if there ever was one. We see him order the brutal torture of suspected witches (poke them until a boob inevitably falls out) and the blatant obedience he expects from those who surround him. In-between torturing the townspeople and ignoring his wife, he unwinds with lavish parties and ridiculous displays of wealth. Of all the villains Vincent Price has played, this is my one exception to the charm rule. I really hate Lord Edward Whitman and his arrogance. However, this demonstrates how Vincent Price could portray his character so deeply. Which makes the ending even more satisfying to watch. An honourable mention to Price's facial expressions during the final scenes.
A word of caution to those who wish to watch this film. Sexual assault, whilst not graphic, is depicted and referred to throughout the film. Female nudity is also prevalent with my own calculations revealing a boob sighting count of 7. If this is not your cup of tea, there are many other Vincent Price films to sink your teeth into.
The Masque Of The Red Death (1964)
Adapting Edgar Allan Poe's famous tale 'The Masque of the Red Death', Roger Corman created a visually stunning film to behold. A town is plagued by the awful red death, a disease that shows no mercy and brings suffering to anyone that is unfortunate enough to contract it. Naturally, the local peasants are not having the best time as they live in unfavourable conditions for preventing diseases. The same cannot be said for Prince Prospero (Vincent Price) and his friends, who all stay tucked away in his castle. After refusing to help the peasants, Prince Prospero naturally kidnaps a peasant girl who takes his fancy whilst simultaneously planning to torture her beloved. Through staying at the castle as the prince’s "guest", Francesca (Jane Asher) discovers that the prince has a dark obsession that fuels his lifestyle of cruelty and extravagance.
Price gives a delicious performance displaying the corruption of Prince Prospero. Driven by his devotion to evil forces, the prince indulges in every pleasure a man of his stature has access to, without even needing to think of the consequences. Prospero glows with delight as he orders his "friends" to crawl about the floor as animals for his amusement and orders the court to laugh along with him. Vincent Price shows Prince Prospero's desensitisation to these ridiculous events perfectly, as he walks the ball room enveloped in an air of arrogance. We see the journey of an egotistical Prince as he is awakened to his own mortality as death stalks him within his castle walls. Tension rising to breaking point as we see a beautiful and tormenting depiction of death. We feel Prince Prospero's struggle with the macabre truth he once bolstered up in admiration, as it destroys him within the safety of his own home. A truly enchanting performance from Price, one that has stayed with me as vivid pictures in my mind.
If you have a special interest in films that look breathtakingly beautiful, then this is the Vincent Price film for you. It is a true treat to the senses and the imagery is guaranteed to embed itself in your brain and never let go.
Also, the fashion is iconic, you just don't get a chunky crucifix paired with a medieval gown anymore.
An Evening of Edgar Allan Poe- Starring Vincent Price(1970)
I believe this final mention showcases Vincent Price's acting ability in a unique way. Directed by Kenneth Johnson, Vincent Price narrates four Edgar Allan Poe tales. Those being The Tell-Tale Heart, The Sphinx, The Cask of Amontillado and finally The Pit and The Pendulum. Each character being completely different and requiring different skills to bring to life. Vincent Price to no one’s surprise delivers each one with care and consideration.
'The Tell-Tale Heart' depicts a madman desperately trying to convince us of his sanity, which would not be hard to believe, except he is walking us through a murder he committed. For one poor old man with Cataracs, his bad eyesight should be the least of his worries. Vincent Price slowly builds the intensity of his performance, first smugly remarking how clever the whole plot was, as he hunches over centre stage and speaks in hushed tones. A stark contrast to the end of the piece where Price is pleading desperately for us to believe in his sanity and rages about the police mocking his current state of horror. Vincent Price uses his iconic voice well to deliver eerily chilling lines, in true gothic Edgar Allan Poe Fashion.
'The Cask of Amontillado' story has sky-rocketed to popularity after Mike Flanagan’s final Netflix release ' The Fall of The House of Usher', however Vincent Price's performance carries a more classic tone. This role feels like Price's comfort zone as we sit across from him at the dinner table listening to his entertaining yarn. The comedic and conversational delivery could almost trick us into thinking this is a simple dinner with a friend, but as you listen closer... The disturbing truth is revealed. Amongst the tale of wine and carnival, Price details the murder of the characters friend for committing an unforgiveable slight against our narrator. Although we never learn what this act is, Price makes us feel as though the reason must be good enough. The tale is recounted with a spirit of delight that sends a chill down your spine. A sparkle can be seen in Price's eyes as he settles into a role he knows all too well, the arrogant upper-class murderer.
'The Pit and the Pendulum' shows Vincent Price portray a character we aren't used to seeing from him. A prisoner at the mercy of the evil at will, when usually it is Price who conducts the villainy. The evil we speak of is, of course, the Spanish Inquisition. Well... What Poe imagined the Spanish Inquisition to be. We see Price dishevelled and at the end of his tether from the beginning as he details the current situation. We believe in the characters struggle with hopelessness as his impending death approaches despite his valiant effort at survival. This performance interests me the most from all four tales, as it demonstrates that Price is much more than a type cast villain.
This is one of my favourite performances that Vincent Price ever gave. It is a testament to his ability to capture an audience so masterfully. Price is the only person on set throughout the whole piece, and yet I can't take my eyes off him. The range in his voice and his theatrical experience comes out in full force as he flexes his acting muscles all over Edgar Allan Poe’s most respected works. I dare say that if Poe could see this depiction of his work, his little black heart would sing a death rattle so sweet to our ears it would sound positively lyrical.
The Legacy
If the above picture doesn't drive home how legendary Vincent Price was, you must be a lost cause. We talk about Horror icons an awful lot in this community, and for good reason, they encapsulate our fondest foul memories. However, I am yet to see another era of Horror that produces icons such as those of Price's time. There is something magical about the way Vincent Price commands the role of villain, giving the role a new meaning. In the sense that he took care and consideration to respect the villain role and recognised how layered each character could be. At the beginning of this post, I asked you to remember the power in being able to see art. I believe that Vincent Price used this power to create art in his performances for us all to see. By understanding how to view a character’s deepest desires and motivations, it allowed Price to deliver characters we still talk about today.
Vincent Price blurred the line between his characters and his true self. We all have a vision of who Vincent Price was, but many of us unknowingly blend his characters into that vision. The truth is that Vincent Price had a respect and appreciation for the arts so much so, that he followed that passion until the very end of his life. That is certainly something to be remembered for. Many modern Horror projects today reference Vincent Price due to his talent and impact on Horror. Even Disneyland Paris uses his voice in their ride 'Phantom Manor'. In many years to come, we will still be talking about Vincent Price as more people find their way into the Horror community. Even more people will get to discover the King of Horror and that fills me with jealousy. What I would give to experience all this for the first time again.
Cry Of The Banshee
The Masque Of The Red Death
An Evening Of Edgar Allan Poe
Sources Document
Iconic!!!