Theater of Blood (1973)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Douglas Hickox

Writers:

Anthony Greville-Bell (screenplay) and
Stanley Mann (idea) ...
(more)

Release Date:

5 April 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Mystery | Horror

Tagline:

At your own risk

Plot:

A Shakespearean actor takes poetic revenge on the critics who denied him recognition.

Plot Keywords:

Critic | Actor | Revenge | Police | Theater

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Vincent Price	...	Edward Lionheart
Diana Rigg	...	Edwina Lionheart
Ian Hendry	...	Peregrine Devlin
Harry Andrews	...	Trevor Dickman
Coral Browne	...	Miss Chloe Moon
Robert Coote	...	Oliver Larding
Jack Hawkins	...	Solomon Psaltery
Michael Hordern	...	George Maxwell
Arthur Lowe	...	Horace Sprout
Robert Morley	...	Meredith Merridew
Dennis Price	...	Hector Snipe
Milo O'Shea	...	Inspector Boot
Eric Sykes	...	Sergeant Dogge
Madeline Smith	...	Rosemary
Diana Dors	...	Maisie Psaltry
Joan Hickson	...	Mrs. Sprout
Renée Asherson	...	Mrs. Maxwell
Bunny Reed	...	Policeman
Peter Thornton	...	Policeman
Charles Sinnickson	...	Vicar
Brigid Erin Bates	...	Agnes
Tutte Lemkow	...	Meths Drinker
Stanley Bates	...	Meths Drinker
Eric Francis	...	Meths Drinker
Sally Gilmore	...	Meths Drinker
John Gilpin	...	Meths Drinker
Joyce Graeme	...	Meths Drinker
Jack Maguire	...	Meths Drinker
Declan Mulholland	...	Meths Drinker
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tony Calvin	...	Police Photographer (uncredited)
Charles Gray	...	Solomon Psaltery (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Douglas Hickox

Writing credits
Anthony Greville-Bell		screenplay and
Stanley Mann		idea &
John Kohn		idea
William Shakespeare		(plays) uncredited

Produced by
Gustave M. Berne	....	executive producer (as Gustave Berne)
Sam Jaffe	....	executive producer
John Kohn	....	producer
Stanley Mann	....	producer

Original Music by
Michael J. Lewis

Cinematography by
Wolfgang Suschitzky

Film Editing by
Malcolm Cooke

Production Design by
Michael Seymour

Set Decoration by
Ann Mollo

Costume Design by
Michael Baldwin

Makeup Department
George Blackler	....	makeup artist

Production Management
David Anderson	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dominic Fulford	....	assistant director

Art Department
Richard Rambaut	....	assistant art director

Sound Department
Simon Kaye	....	sound mixer
Les Wiggins	....	sound editor

Special Effects by
John Stearns	....	special effects

Stunts
Terry Yorke	....	stunts (as Terry York)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ronnie Taylor	....	camera operator

Editorial Department
Chris Kelly	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Michael J. Lewis	....	conductor
Lawrence Ashmore	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Tutte Lemkow	....	choreographer

Production Companies

• Cineman Productions

Distributors

• United Artists (1973) (USA) (theatrical)
• United Artists Corporation (1973) (UK) (theatrical)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2002) (UK) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (video)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1974) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• PlayArte Home Vídeo (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1987) (UK) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment

Also Known As:

Much Ado About Murder
Theatre of Blood (UK) (alternative spelling)

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | USA:R (certificate #23502) | Ireland:18 | Australia:M (DVD rating) | Australia:PG (original rating) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (video re-rating) (2002) | UK:18 (video rating) (1987) | UK:X (original rating) (cut) | West Germany:16 | Norway:(Banned) (1973-2003) (cinema release)

Filming Locations:

Kensal Green Cemetery, Harrow Road, Kensal Green, London, England, UK

Company:

Cineman Productions

Trivia:

This film was shot entirely on locations in and around London. No scenes were shot in a studio.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Edward Lionheart carries his dead daughter's body over the rooftops of London, you can see her hand clutching his neck to keep from falling.

Quotes:

[Edward is disguised as Butch, an effeminate hairdresser]
Edward Lionheart: Hullo, I'm Butch. Hey, dishy, dishy hair. Can't wait to get my hands on it.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in My Bloody Valentine (1981)

Tour de Force entertainment!

A Tour de Force for Vincent Price in Theatre of Blood! Price plays a gothic Shakespearean actor who begins to slay all of the critics responsible for not giving him the best actor honours for the year. Price kills each in the style and spirit of a Shakespeare play. Each is killed with a generous dose of witty, dark black humour. The whole cast is superb as is the writing. A special treat is the performance of Robert Morley as a motherly critic forced to eat his doggies(babies) baked in a pie ala Titus Andronicus. A must see for Price fans.