IMDb > The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)
The Abominable Dr. Phibes
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 16 | slideshow) Videos
The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971) -- A doctor, scientist, organist, and biblical scholar, Dr. Anton Phibes, seeks revenge on the nine doctors he considers responsible for his wife's death.

Overview

User Rating:
7.0/10   4,030 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 1% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Robert Fuest
Writers:
James Whiton (writer) &
William Goldstein (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Abominable Dr. Phibes on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
18 May 1971 (USA) more
Genre:
Comedy | Horror | Music | Mystery more
Tagline:
Revenge Is The Best Medicine. more
Plot:
A doctor, scientist, organist, and biblical scholar, Dr. Anton Phibes, seeks revenge on the nine doctors he considers responsible for his wife's death. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
1 win more
NewsDesk:
(8 articles)
Nobody Shows Any Old Horror Movies In NYC - Except All Of These:
 (From Icons of Fright. 5 October 2009, 2:22 PM, PDT)
Greatest Scream Queens
 (From SoundOnSight. 1 September 2009, 12:00 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
One of the greatest of the Great more (94 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Vincent Price ... Dr. Anton Phibes
Joseph Cotten ... Dr. Vesalius
Virginia North ... Vulnavia
Terry-Thomas ... Dr. Longstreet
Sean Bury ... Lem Vesalius
Susan Travers ... Nurse Allen
David Hutcheson ... Dr. Hedgepath
Edward Burnham ... Dr. Dunwoody
Alex Scott ... Dr. Hargreaves
Peter Gilmore ... Dr. Kitaj
Maurice Kaufmann ... Dr. Whitcombe
Peter Jeffrey ... Inspector Trout
Derek Godfrey ... Crow
Norman Jones ... Sgt. Schenley
John Cater ... Waverley
Alan Zipson ... 1st Police Official
Dallas Adams ... 2nd Police Official
James Grout ... Sergeant
Alister Williamson ... 1st Policeman
Thomas Heathcote ... 2nd Policeman
Ian Marter ... 3rd Policeman
Julian Grant ... 4th Policeman
Hugh Griffith ... Rabbi
Aubrey Woods ... Goldsmith
John Laurie ... Darrow
Barbara Keogh ... Mrs. Frawley
Charles Farrell ... Chauffeur
John Franklyn ... Graveyard Attendant
Walter Horsbrugh ... Ross, the Butler
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Paul Frees ... Singer of 'The Darktown Strutters' Ball' (voice)

Joanna Lumley ... Laboratory assistant (scenes deleted)
Caroline Munro ... Victoria Phibes (uncredited)
Create a character page for: ?

Directed by
Robert Fuest 
 
Writing credits
James Whiton (writer) &
William Goldstein (writer)

Produced by
Samuel Z. Arkoff .... executive producer
Ronald Dunas .... producer (as Ronald S. Dunas)
Louis M. Heyward .... producer
James H. Nicholson .... executive producer
 
Original Music by
Basil Kirchin 
 
Cinematography by
Norman Warwick 
 
Film Editing by
Tristam Cones 
 
Casting by
Sally Nicholl 
 
Art Direction by
Bernard Reeves 
 
Makeup Department
Trevor Crole-Rees .... makeup artist
Bernadette Ibbetson .... hair stylist
 
Production Management
Richard F. Dalton .... production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Frank Ernst .... assistant director
 
Art Department
Chris Burke .... assistant art director
Brian Eatwell .... set designer
George Gunning .... construction manager
Rex Hobbs .... property master
 
Sound Department
Peter Lennard .... dubbing editor
A.W. Lumkin .... recording director
Ken Nightingall .... sound assistant
Dennis Whitlock .... sound recordist
 
Special Effects by
George Blackwell .... special effects
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Steve Birtles .... supervisory electrician
Steve Clayton .... assistant camera
Godfrey A. Godar .... camera operator (as Godfrey Godar)
John Jay .... still photographer
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Elsa Fennell .... wardrobe
 
Music Department
Jack Nathan .... music associate
 
Other crew
Gladys Goldsmith .... continuity
 
Crew believed to be complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Dr. Phibes (USA) (promotional title)
The Curse of Dr. Phibes
more
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for some horror violence/gore.
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
94 min
Country:
UK | USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
UK:X (original rating) | Australia:M (DVD rating) | Finland:K-18 | Norway:16 (1972) | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:GP (original rating) | USA:PG-13 (re-release) | West Germany:16
Filming Locations:
Elstree Film and TV Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK more
Company:
American International Pictures (AIP) more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
A young Joanna Lumley appeared as a laboratory assistant but her footage ended up on the cutting-room floor. more
Goofs:
Factual errors: In the closing sequence, when Dr. Phibes has the surgeon's son chained to the operating table, he states several times that he will have 6 minutes before the acid falls. The sequence, which follows continuous and uninterrupted runs 5 1/2 minutes from the time Dr. Phibes starts the flow of the acid to the moment when it falls in Vulnavia's face. Was Dr. Phibes a cheat? more
Quotes:
Dr. Phibes: My love, precious jewel and noble wife. Severed, too quickly, too cruelly from this life. I alone remain to give delivery of your pain. Nine killed you. Nine shall die. Nine times, nine! Nine killed you! Nine shall die! Nine eternities in DOOM! more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Fantastic Fantasy Fright-o-Rama Show Vol. 1 (1996) (V) more
Soundtrack:
Elmer's Tune more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.

User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
13 out of 15 people found the following comment useful.
One of the greatest of the Great, 9 July 1999
9/10
Author: Gislef from Iowa City, IA

This is one of Vincent Price's performance, and perhaps even his best (although Theatre of Blood is very close). Where to start...? The clever writing (which was lost in the sequel) revolving around Phibes' method of execution, based on the Biblical plagues of Moses. The grim-faced unstoppability of Phibes. Joseph Cotton in one of his best post-60's roles, here perfectly in character as a god-like doctor (particularly in the final operation sequence).

There's also the Art Deco set design which many have oohed and ahhed over in here and elsewhere.

The British cops are a bit too humorous, and there's not really a lot of background here. But the movie is a good example of the "Tales of the Crypt" macabre revenge line, with Phibes' scarred visage standing in for the Ghoul or the Crypt Keeper. Most of the doctors we see (particularly Terry-Thomas) are just the kind of elite arrogant snobs that so often got their one-uppance in such anthologies.

In any case, I would definitely recommend this movie. It's not really a "horror" movie, but more of a "grotesque serial killer" type flick in the lines of stuff like Se7ven.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (94 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Two Movies That Pay Homage to Vincent Price browncis
PHIBES series and sequel info sidterror
I'm all for a remake. Chimera-5
Vulnavia: Mute and/or Hypnotized? browncis
The Final Installment escalera-2
INSPECTOR PRETORIOUS phibesfilms
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Dr. Phibes Rises Again Batman Begins Kill Bill: Vol. 1 Freeway Hot Fuzz
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Comedy section IMDb UK section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.