Made in Wax

FROZEN INTO ZOMBIES
DOOMED TO UNSPEAKABLE HORRORS . . .

There’s just something cool about movies set in wax museums. Perhaps it’s that uncanny valley effect of the lifelike yet still disturbing figures, or maybe it’s that so many wax museums specialize in horror and gore. Whatever the reason, I really dig them, and studios obviously agree with me, as they’ve made great settings for films through the years. I decided to watch one of these this weekend, the 1969 schlocker from Crown International, Nightmare in Wax.

 Now, before I get started, let me make one thing clear. This is in no way what would be considered a “good” film. It’s cheap, poorly paced, and trashy. Story-wise, it’s basically a rip-off of the much better House of Wax (starring Vincent Price). But I gotta admit, the trashy aesthetic of this film is 100% in my wheelhouse.

It stars Cameron Mitchell, who is one of my favorite actors. He was in a ton of cheap and low-budget pictures but always delivered, despite the quality of material he was given. He stars in this one as Vincent Renard, the proprietor of a wax museum who is a former Hollywood special effects artist. We eventually learn that he was permanently (and intentionally) maimed by the head of the studio he worked for and blinded in one eye, which is why he wears an eye patch. Recently, star actors of the studio have come up missing. Guess you can see where this one’s going! The police investigate Vincent and have a few questions, especially as he’s created lifelike figures of each of the actors who have come up missing. We eventually learn Vincent has a unique method for creating such realistic work involving hypnotism and a secret serum that turns people into catatonic zombies for his dioramas.

I love that Cameron’s character is named Vincent in this one. It’s a neat little nod to Vincent Price that had to be intentional. It is also appropriate that he has an eye patch, as the director of House of Wax, Andre De Toth, was blind in one eye and wore a patch as well. This was written by Rex Carlton, the writer and producer of The Brain that Wouldn’t Die. This one has a touch of that same sleaze feel to it that Brain has. It was directed by Bud Townsend, who also directed Terror at the Red Wolf Inn in 1972.

 

Despite its low-budget, cheap sets, and poor pacing, I think Nightmare in Wax is still fun and worth a watch. It would be nice if there was a remastered version out there somewhere—this could be just the type of film someone like Arrow or Vinegar Syndrome should restore. I think it would improve a lot from being cleaned up, both audio and video-wise.

Dr. Gangrene in Rue Morgue Halloween issue (on noosestands now)!

I picked up the new Rue Morgue Magazine last night, the Halloween issue, and they have a great plug for my YouTube Channel in there, specifically mentioning my ongoing Vincent Price series! Thanks Rue Morgue, you rock!


And you can check out myYouTube here:

http://www.youtube.com/drgangrene

Letter to Vincent Price from actor Mark Damon

OK here is something really cool. This sold on auction back in 2007 for just under $400. It is a letter to Vincent Price from his costar Mark Damon. The two actors appeared together in HOUSE OF USHER in 1960. He thanks Vincent for his kindness and professionalism. Very neat letter, glad that it was preserved for posterity. Click to enlarge and read it...

Vincent Price Memories from Actor David Frankham

Happy Halloween fright fans!

Here's a special treat for all you monster kids, excerpts from an interview I did recently with actor David Frankham recalling memories of Vincent Price. He tells some wonderful stories of Price and what a generous, wonderful man he was both on and off set. David worked with Price on three films: Return of the Fly, Master of the World, and Tales of Terror. This is a lot of fun, give it a listen if you have a few minutes, you won't regret it...

Vincent Price Personal Memorabilia

I was talking with my friend Robert Taylor recently, and the topic of some of Price's personal memorabilia came up. Robert owns a ton of personal items that were owned by Vincent himself, and the following pictures are some I thought I'd share - with Robert's permission.

Below you see a collection of books -the ones in back were all owned by Vincent Price, and are mostly art books. According to Robert, Vincent signed the inside of every book he owned. The ones in front are Robert's own books by, or about, Vincent.

We were talking specifically about the book that Vincent wrote, THE BOOK OF JOE, dedicated to his favorite pet, his beloved dog Joe. Below is Price's personal copy of that book, as well as a few other books that WERE CHEWED BY JOE. The pup was cutting his teeth, and apparently chose to do so on Vincent's books. I can't imagine he was really upset about it, though!

Corman's World - Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel

I just re-watched the excellent documentary CORMAN’S WORLD (2011) recently, and was once again struck with what a terrific love letter it is to Roger Corman, his fans, and especially his work. Corman is a true one of a kind, a movie-making machine who helped launch the careers of a ton of Hollywood elite, many of whom appear in the documentary to rightfully sing his praises. He has created a tremendous body of work that will live on and be enjoyed by fans for many, many years.

The problem with producing a documentary on someone as prolific as Corman, however, is that many of his films are barely covered, or even left off entirely, in some cases. It is curious to me which films director Alex Stapleton did and didn’t choose to cover. For instance, the series of films that are among Corman’s best known (and arguably his overall best) are the Poe series of films, made for AIP.

There are a total of eight films in the “Poe” Series, so named because they are all based on - some more than others – Edgar Allan Poe stories or poems. The films in the series are: HOUSE OF USHER (1960), THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM (1961), THE PREMATURE BURIAL (1962), TALES OF TERROR (1962), THE RAVEN (1963), THE HAUNTED PALACE (1963), THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH (1964), THE TOMB OF LIGEIA (1965).

Stapleton spends a total of two minutes on the entire Poe series of films. She glosses over them quickly, showing very brief clips from five of them (House of Usher, Pit and the Pendulum, Masque of the Red Death, Tomb of Ligea, and The Raven), along with a some very brief mentions and quotes from Roger and various celebrities about them. BUT, no real facts or information are given about the production or the impact of this most influential series in his career. Heck, they are so important that a documentary could be produced on this series alone!

The most grievous omission, in my mind, is the fact that the name Vincent Price is NEVER mentioned once throughout the entire documentary! How can you not mention the name of the man who starred in seven of the eight Poe films, and who played a huge part in raising Roger’s level of respectability? Price was one of the biggest box office stars at that point, at the height of his career throughout this series. Landing him for these films was huge for Roger!

By comparison Stapleton spends two entire minutes – the same amount of time as she spent on the entire Poe series - on one film, THE TERROR. And what I found equally head-scratching, she then offsets and contrasts the Poe series against a lesser-known film in Corman’s catalog, INTRUDER, and spends a total of five minutes on that one film!


It almost seems as if she intentionally means to downplay the Poe series, and in fact even kicks off her discussion of Intruder with a dismissive comment toward them by Roger’s brother, Gene Corman - “This picture (Intruder) was the first film where Roger could actually make a statement about his personal feelings, as opposed to doing the Poe films, or the films that were just exploitation drive-in films.”

Again, I realize that in a career as massive as Corman’s you can’t spend time on every movie. But, there are some glaring omissions. But, that being said, it is still a very well made documentary, and a wonderful tribute to one of my favorite directors, Roger Corman. 

The full title of the documentary is CORMAN’S WORLD: EXPLOITS OF A HOLLYWOOD REBEL, and the DVD is distributed by Anchor Bay. Highly recommended, it’s available through Amazon.

VINCENT PRICE LONDON LEGACY TOUR 2015

VINCENT PRICE LONDON LEGACY TOUR 2015
 NOVEMBER 4-6, 2015

This coming November, a celebration of the life and career of horror movie icon Vincent Price will take place in London, England, hosted by the late actor’s daughter Victoria Price and award-winning film blogger and Price expert, Peter Fuller.



Tickets are on sale now. For full details go to:
http://vincentpricelegacy.uk

Events include:
    •    Theatre of Blood at Kensal Green Cemetery | Film Location Tour
    •    Cry of the Banshee at Grim’s Dyke | Lunch & Tour
    •    The Last Man on Earth with Animat | Performance & Film
    •    Vincent Price: Master of Menace, Lover of Life | Talk & Film Screening
    •    A Treasury of Great Recipes at Harrods | UK Book Launch, Tour & Breakfast
    •    Witchfinder General | Film Location Tour

WITCHFINDER GENERAL FILM LOCATION TOUR
Full-day tour of the film locations used in 1968's Witchfinder General, visiting the medieval town of Lavenham in Suffolk and magnificent 16th-century Kentwell Hall, where you'll discover the terrifying real-life story of Matthew Hopkins.

HE'S THE MASTER CHEF WITH A TASTE FOR TERROR
Celebrate the UK launch of the 50th anniversary edition of the ghoulish gourmet's A Treasury of Great Recipes with a breakfast tour of Harrods Foods Halls.

MASTER OF MENACE, LOVER OF LIFE
Horror movie icon, fine arts expert, gourmet cook and urbane lecturer… and devoted dad. Victoria Price pays tribute to her father at a suitably scary London location.

GRIM'S DYKE - LONDON HAUNT OF THE KINGS OF HORROR
Return to the London film location where Vincent Price, Boris Karloff, Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee filmed some of their most memorable horror film classics!


It promises to be a fantastic time, so make plans now! And remember to visit http://vincentpricelegacy.uk for full details and to purchase tickets.

CONAN’S KIND OF WOMAN

So I had one of those moments of Zen recently, where things just sort of all seem to fall into place, a serendipity of sort, if you will.  I had just listened to the amazing seven hour podcast – that’s right, I said SEVEN HOUR long podcast – on Conan the Barbarian by the always entertaining PROJECTION BOOTH podcast.



The Projection Booth is hosted by Mike White, and for this show he had guest hosts El Goro and Josh Hadley, along with a plethora of special guests to discuss not only the original CONAN THE BARBARIAN film (one of my all-time favorite films by director John Milius) but also the entire CONAN franchise, from the pulp roots of writer Robert Howard all the way through the sequels, TV series, cartoon, and remake.

 It really is an impressive episode, and well worth checking out:
http://projection-booth.blogspot.com/2015/02/episode-207-conan-barbarian.html

Mike White is usually joined on his show by fellow host Rob St. Mary. They launched the show in 2011, and tackle a new movie each week – each episode usually includes interviews with people involved directly or indirectly with the movie, often times writers, directors, or even stars of the films. The Projection Booth was nominated for a Rondo Award, and is definitely one of the better shows out there, as they go above and beyond in the effort to create a quality program.

Well, getting back to my story – That same week on my own ongoing program, THE FANTASTIC FILMS OF VINCENT PRICE, I was tackling a film called HIS KIND OF WOMAN.




Made in 1951 by RKO Pictures, it was directed by John Farrow and features a truly star-studded cast, including Price, Robert Mitchum, Jane Russell, Raymond Burr, and Jim Backus. It is a fun little story, an unusual film-noir of sorts that takes place mainly in an island hotel, full of quirky characters. The thing that rung a familiar bell was the fact that Producer Howard Hughes had brought in a second director to shoot additional scenes once shooting was wrapped, to include more comedy  - and more Vincent Price, who Hughes adored. Price gives a performance that starts off fairly normal and ramps up in intensity throughout the picture, culminating in a Shakespeare-spouting campy performance that is terrific fun to watch. That second director brought onboard was Richard Fleischer.



I was sure I had heard that name mentioned recently. A quick look through Fleischer’s filmography showed that, sure enough – he was the director of the Conan sequel, CONAN THE DESTROYER!

Fleischer is the son of Max Fleischer, who was the head of FLEISCHER STUDIOS, the animation studio that created Betty Boop and Popeye the Sailor, as well as the excellent SUPERMAN animated series in the 1940s. He directed some truly iconic films, including 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA (which is interesting to consider Disney hired the son of their competitor to direct their film), THE VIKINGS with Kirk Douglas, Fantastic Voyage, Soylent Green and many more.

Truly one of those aha moments that made me smile.

That evening I dug out my Conan DVD and gave The Destroyer a re-watch. My memories of it held up pretty well over time. It looks pretty, with a couple of nice special effects sequences – not a HORRIBLE film, but a big step down from the first. Overall I’d say it has enough good things going for it to make it worth watching, at least once.

Not really a ringing endorsement though, is it? The dorky humor throughout the film is the main detraction for me, and unfortunately, it seems Fleischer is the one responsible for the shift in tone from the first Conan film. But then he had been brought on to add humor to the Vincent Price film, hadn’t he? It all somehow  kinda makes sense now…

 

Hot Dripping Facts from the House of Wax

HOUSE OF WAX (1953) was an important film in the career of Vincent Price, arguably THE single most important one of his entire career.  Released in the new technique of 3D, House of Wax would go on to become a box office sensation and help make Price's name synonymous with horror.

Here are fifteen fun facts you may not know about HOUSE OF WAX:

1. HOUSE OF WAX (1953) was filmed under the working title THE WAX WORKS, and is a remake of the 1933 film MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM, which, incidentally, was directed by Michael Curtiz, with whom Vincent Price had previously worked on the film THE PRIVATE LIVE OF ELIZABETH AND ESSEX in 1939.

2. Both MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM and HOUSE OF WAX were made by Warner Brothers Pictures, and both films were based on a three-act play called THE WAX WORKS, written by Charles Belden. 

3. Even though it is a 3D movie, HOUSE OF WAX was directed by Andre De Toth, who was blind in one eye, and therefore unable to reap the benefits of the 3D process.  

4. HOUSE OF WAX was not the first 3D movie. That honor went to the film BWANA DEVIL a year prior, from writer/producer/director Arch Obler (best remembered for the Lights Out old-time radio series). But it was the first 3D movie from a major studio, and the first 3D HORROR movie.

5. Though most famous for its 3D, HOUSE OF WAX was also the first widely distributed film using the new process of Sterophonic Sound.

6. House of Wax had two premieres, one for each coast. The East Coast premiere was held in New York April 10, 1953, and the West coast premiere was held in Los Angeles CA on April 16, 1953, and kicked off with a midnight spookshow. 

7. Bela Lugosi appeared at the LA premiere in a cape and tuxedo, with a gorilla on a leash. It was the only time Bela and Vincent would meet. 

8. HOUSE OF WAX was re-released in 3D in 1971, and again in 1982.

 9. Vincent Price almost turned down the role of Professor Jarrod, as he was offered the lead role in the Broadway play MY THREE ANGELS at the same time. He said it was a decision that “changed his life.”

10. This was Vincent’s first true horror film. He would go on to make many more over the years (6 more in the 50s alone), including THE MAD MAGICIAN the following year, which was a loose reinterpretation of HOUSE OF WAX. In fact, it even shared a number of crew members, including the same writer (Crane Wilbur), producer (Bryan Foy), and cinematographer (Bert Glennon).

11. Dr. Jarrod’s mute assistant Igor is played by a young Charles Bronson, credited as Charles Buchinsky. Price and Bronson would meet again in the 1961 film; MASTER OF THE WORLD, but this time Bronson would play the lead (Price is the villain).

12. During the fight between Bronson and actor Paul Picerni, Bronson got a little over-enthusiastic, and lifted and slammed Paul onto his back, injuring his tailbone. Picerni had to go to the hospital for x-rays.

13. Actor Nedrick Young plays Jarrod’s alcoholic assistant Leon Averill. He appears uncredited in this film because he was blacklisted at the time during the McCarthy red scare. His character is a heroin addict in MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM, but was changed to an alcoholic due to Production code restrictions for HOUSE OF WAX. 

 

Interestingly, Price had played a drug addict just eight years earlier in DRAGONWYK, and would play a character experimenting with LSD just six years later in THE TINGLER.

14. The guillotine used in the film in Jarrod’s wax museum was a real working guillotine, procured from a French museum, with an actual sharp blade. Director Andre De Toth initially wanted to do the shot, where actor Paul Picerni is knocked unconscious and placed in the guillotine (then pulled out at the last moment), in one take while the blade was falling toward him. He refused and after a heated argument was kicked off the set. The following day studio head Jack Warner ordered De Toth to bring Picerni back and continue filming, and extra precautions were put in place.

 

15.  The movie poster for House of wax can be seen in the music video THRILLER by Michael Jackson, along with the posters for the Price films THE MAD MAGICIAN and THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH (as well as director John Landis’ SCHLOCK). Price, of course, recites his famous “rap” during the middle of the song.

The Collectin' Cousins - Robert taylor and Sara Waugh

I want to take a moment this morning to give a huge thanks to two friends of mine who have contributed greatly to my ongoing Fantastic Films of Vincent Price series, as well as several other projects over the years, Robert Taylor and Sara Waugh, pictured here posing with Vincent Price's daughter, Victoria Price.

I first met Robert at the Monster Bash Convention in Pittsburgh sometime in the early 2000s, probably around '03 or so. Anyone who has ever met Robert immediately becomes his friend - outgoing, friendly, gregarious, and funny as all get out, he is also a HUGE collector to boot, of  memorabilia from movies and more, new and old.

A couple of years later at the Wonderfest Convention in Louisville Robert introduced me to his cousin Sara. Once again, one of the nicest and sweetest folks you could ever meet. We all get together with a cast of like-minded folks for an annual lunch outing to our favorite Mexican restaurant during the convention. Good times, good food, and great stories abound.

Last year at Wonderfest I mentioned to Robert and Sara that I was just about to launch my Fantastic Films of Vincent Price video series. They both offered assistance in any way possible, including their extensive memorabilia collections!

Seems collecting runs in their families, as both Robert and Sara have incredible collections.  I want to take a minute and shine the spotlight on these two Collectin' Cousins, as they are affectionately known.

Sara has a specialized collection of memorabilia dedicated primarily to one topic -Vincent Price. She has collected press books, posters, and photographs and more from every Price film, and even has a room dedicated to the master of Menace that includes two life-sized statues of price, sculpted by Ray Santoleri.

 

 

She has also taken the press books and inserted them into protective plastic sleeves, then lined the walls of her hallway floor to ceiling with them, along with the one-sheets- Talk about a true House on haunted Hill!

Sara credits her cousin Robert with her love of all things Price. 

She says: "House of Wax was the one, when I became the biggest fan of Vincent Price.  I saw this for the first time when I was in 7th or 8th grade at my school auditorium as a Christmas movie treat for the students. I had asked my cousin Robert many years later if he had something to do with of selecting a movie for Christmas treat, for he was the school librarian during that time. And it turns out that he did select that movie. LOL"

 

Robert is a huge collector himself, and owns a ton of Price memorabilia, as well as his own Price Room which also features these life-sized figures of Vincent. 

Among the highlights of Robert's collection is a ton one-of-a-kind memorabilia purchased directly from the price estate. Here is just a sampling of some of the goodies he owns:

Collection of cards from Vincent's wallet, carried every day by him, as well as a couple of cards from his mother, Mary, and a pair of personalized luggage tags.

A portrait of Vincent, circa 1935 or so  Taken in New Jersey--not a Hollywood photo.

top left, a family group photo, early 1920s;  bottom left, from WHALES OF AUGUST, relics display--bits of wood from the house, rusty piece of the old buoy...

The original of the Frank Dietz Phibes artwork (I think it is going to be the cover art for his upcoming book), and the small stuff is a little candy box and 2 advertising cards--candy box from Price Sr's candy company; adverts from Grandfather Price's baking powder and flavoring extracts company (19th Century).

 Price art poster (formerly belonged to Forry, given to Robert by Terry Pace); Price lifemask in old age (this is not the one USED, but is a copy of the lifemask taken for effects used in the movie DEAD HEAT); and also in this photo--one of Price's baby shoes from 1911 and a photo of baby Price and his mother, circa 1912.  Those are from the Price estate, of course.

8x10 of Price in Hollywood when he went out to do SERVICE DE LUXE; two of Price's favorite little framed photos of his mom and dad (from his estate).

Three of the theatrical playbills for early Price work--top left, VICTORIA REGINA (1936), top right ANGEL STREET (1941), bottom MAMBA'S DAUGHTERS (late 1941).

 

Youth and old age!  Price in the later years, around the time he was hosting MYSTERY! on Public Television--and a couple of the shots from his so-called "Tarzan" photoshoot in England in 1934.  All from Price estate.

 Just various personal letters to Vincent over the years--from Lillian Gish, Dennis Hopper, Joan Crawford, Helen Hayes, Ethel Waters, Arthur Byron (if Byron sounds familiar--you know him from Karloff's THE MUMMY--he is Sir Joseph Whemple in that, and ends up killed by Karloff!  He did a lot of films in the '30s, but spent 50 years on the legitimate stage as well--which is where he met Price).

 A couple of Vincent's personal contracts from '37, '38, when he signed with Orson Welles' Mercury Players--a playbill from that time--and a page of notes, written by Price, for his last great stage success, DIVERSIONS AND DELIGHTS.

 Just for fun-- Robert has a lot of personal knick-knacks from Vincent's home(s)--here, to show the variety of the things Price owned--a little award from the City of St. Louis (St. Louis Arch); a carved wooden fox "box" (the head is the lid--lifts up on a hinge!--probably circa 1900); and an old Dutch Delft jar, broken and glued (Vincent loved gluing things back together, by the way!) which he found in a flea market and, as he said, "I saw what the jar said--St. Vincent!--and just couldn't possibly have NOT bought it!".

  

The Vincent Price baby book from 1911.  The cover, discolored and soiled with age, used to be white and silver.

 Closer shot of a Vincent Price baby shoe (the family lost the other one in 1912!) and his baby mittens.    Robert says, "These were pressed in the baby book!  By the way, the baby book turned up at auction in North Carolina several years ago.The previous owner of the book said his mother had bought it from the estate sale of Price's agent--but why the agent had it in his possession all those years ago remains an unknown.  I suspect it may have been borrowed for Price's appearance on THIS IS YOUR LIFE, but that is just a guess."

 This is a studio portrait of Vincent with big brother Mort--I think circa 1916 or so.  This large photo was stuck in the baby book also.  You can see Vincent's hair still had blonde in it, but it was darkening a little by this time.

 And this is just the tip of the collecting iceberg!! Both of their collections are extensive, and true treasures to be proud of!

Again, I want to sincerely thank both of you, Robert and Sara, for sharing your collections. I truly appreciate your friendship, and look forward to seeing you both in June at this year's Wonderfest (and another Mexican feast)!