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:

Continuity: When Peregrine Devlin arrives at the fencing school you see him attach a cable to the back of his fencing kit (which would signal a hit with a buzzer), yet when the other fencer reveals himself to be Edward Lionheart and they start fencing the cable is no longer attached to Devlin's back.

Quotes:

Peregrine Devlin: Lionheart!
Edward Lionheart: Alive and triumphant. And you thought me slain? Lionheart is immortal!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Tremors: The Sounds of Silence (#1.10)" (2003)

Very fun, one of Vincent Price's best roles

THEATER OF BLOOD (1973)

starring: Vincent Price, Diana Rigg, Ian Hendry, Harry Andrews, Coral Browne, Robert Coote, Jack Hawkins, Michael Hordern, Arthur Lowe, Robert Morley, Dennis Price.

plot: Hammy Broadway actor Edward Lionheart (Vincent Price) has suffered horrible reviews for years and finally snaps. He fakes his death by plunging into the ocean and returns to kill the critics one by one in ways inspired by plays written by William Shakespeare.

my thoughts: I had bought this DVD to add to my Vincent Price collection and I really loved the premise. When I sat through the opening credits with the perfect score and the black and white Shakespeare plays going on, I knew I was going to be in for a great movie. And I was.

This film mixes comedy, horror and drama perfectly and no one could play Lionheart like Vincent Price. The rest of the cast also does great, most notably Diana Rigg was Lionheart's daughter.

The death scenes were very creative, my favorite being the opening death inspired by JULIS CEASAR. Douglas Hickox made the film very stylish as well, showing us where Anthony Hickox got his style from.

For Vincent Price and gore fans, this film is perfect to check out!