Product description

The Abominable Doctor Phibes [DVD] [1971]

Price: £4.88
RRP: £12.99 This item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery
You save: £8.11 (62 %)
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
Average customer rating: 4.5

Binding : DVD
EAN : 5050070010565
Label : MGM Entertainment
Manufacturer : MGM Entertainment
Publisher : MGM Entertainment
Release date : 2003-10-20
Title : The Abominable Doctor Phibes [DVD] [1971]
Actor : Array
Audience rating : Suitable for 15 years and over
Format : PAL
Languages : Array
Number of items : 1
Original release date : 1971-01-01
Region code : 2
Running time : 90
Studio : MGM Entertainment
Theatrical releaseDate : 1971-05-18
Number of discs : 1

Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
IThe Abominable Dr Phibes/I is an unusually beautiful horror classic in which Vincent Price stars as the titular genius who specialises in organ music, theology and concocting bizarre deaths for anyone who wrongs him. Discovering why is half the fun, so for now let's just say that Phibes is a little mad and very, Ivery/I angry. Aided by his assistant, the lovely, silent Vulnavia, Phibes begins cutting a gory swathe through London's medical community, with the dogged Inspector Trout hot on his tail. The film contains many pleasures--exquisite art direction and a dark sense of humour among them--but the real treat is in watching an old pro such as Price at work. Whether he's playing his organ, staring down a victim or drinking through his neck, Price is at the top of his game. He mixes dark menace with wry comic touches, revealing both Phibes' maniacal obsession and offhanded confidence in his own genius. Settle in for an evening of elegant gore--and if an attractive, mute deliverywoman comes to the door, whatever you do, don't answer! --IAli Davis/I

Customer reviews

review by: Su B date: 2008-12-06 rating:

a plague on them all
Dr Anton Phibes (the late great Vincent Price) is out for revenge on those who's incompetance killed his wife Victoria (Caroline Monroe) with the help of his beautiful but mute assistant Vulnavia (VIrginia North). br / br /In the firing line are the likes of Terry Thomas who plays Dr Longstreet a porn mad surgeon who suffers the curse of blood. Joseph Cotton plays Dr Vesalius, a part that was originally meant for Peter Cushing, but Mr Cushing's wife was very ill at the time and he had to withdraw from the filming. br / br /All the deaths follow the plagues of Egypt: curse of boils, bats, frogs, the curse of blood, the curse of rats, hail, of beasts, the locust, of course, the death of the first-born, and then, finally, of darkness. br / br /It is one of those films where you want the bad guy to win, and played to the campest level possible. Inspector Trout (Peter Jeffrey) and Sgt Schenley (Norman Jones) add extra comic relief to the film. br / br /A great piece of escapism, that I remember from my childhood along with the Friday night Hammer Horror movies. Absolutely wonderful regardless of the fact that there are no extras.

review by: date: 2007-08-31 rating:

A jaunty revenge comedy
This was the excellent template used for the more famous and magnificent Theatre of Blood. All the elements are the same as this film's: The master of his profession who's been terribly wronged by lesser fools, now deranged by the injustice, takes diabolical revenge on them; he designs suitably insane deaths for each of them based upon a theme; he is aided by his insanely loyal daughter to achieve his aim. Even Theatre of Blood's use of strange zombie like henchmen is taken from this film. Technically this film is let down by slack directing, rather dull dialogue for the type of film it is, and in comparison to Theatre of Blood, a cast of 2nd tier character actors who do not engage you as much as they should. Also, its sudden ending without an obvious resolution would definitely have been a let down at the cinema, with viewers not knowing there was a sequel planned. This should not diminish the brilliance of this original, influential film.

review by: s.vernon date: 2007-08-08 rating:

AN OLD FASHIONED LOVE STORY
Vincent Price plays a "dead" man avenging the surgical team that lost his wife on the operating table. Nine doctors in all(one of them a nurse) are treated to nine of the most innovative, creative, outlandish deaths imaginable. The deaths loosely follow the Ten Plagues of the Old Testament, but each with a new twist. The film is an exercise in witty, stylish black comedy seldom seen today. Much of the credit MUST go to director Robert Fuest for his vision of something truly unique: a world in the 1920's with clockwork musicians, 20's music, and beautiful sets and costumes. Price gives one of his best performances in a role that barely utilizes his greatest attribute, his voice. Price relies heavily on movement and facial expressions, and does so wonderfully. The cast is superb with British stalwarts adorning the film all over. Terry-Thomas has a nice cameo as a Doctor Longstreet experiencing a blood donor's worst nightmare. Peter Jeffrey, a woefully under-appreciated actor, gives a fine comic performance as a policeman always on the spot a moment too late. Joseph Cotton does a credible job as the surgical leading physician. Aubrey Woods(wonderful..simply wonderful), Hugh Griffith, and John Cater also lend their talents to the supporting cast. Caroline Munro plays Price's dead wife as well. This film rejuvenated Price's career in the 70's. It is unique, poetic, haunting, and, for me the most important, very amusing. If you lack a sense of humour with regards to the world of the macabre, you might want to stay away from Phibes. It is a very dark, black comedy, yet one that is at its heart nothing more than a tragic love story of sorts.

review by: date: 2003-12-22 rating:

Nobody seeks revenge like the abominable Dr. Phibes!
Not since Dante came up with appropriate eternal punishments for those sent to the Inferno has there been such a macabre genius for taking vengeance as "The Abominable Dr. Phibes." The title character, played to the hilt and beyond by Vincent Price, seeks revenge upon the nine doctors he feels are responsible for the death of his beloved wife, Victoria. As inspiration, Anton Phibes uses the Plagues of Egypt, knocking off victims (including Terry-Thomas) with frogs, locusts and the like with the help of his silent assistant Vulnavia (Virginia North), while playing his grand pipe organ. Poor Inspector Trout (Peter Jeffrey) tries to get one step ahead of the Good Doctor, but he cannot even keep up as the murders progress. Phibes saves the best for last: Dr. Vesalius (Joseph Cotten), the man who botched the operation, at least in Phibes twisted view. By this point Phibes is up to the Death of the First Born and Dr. Vesalius has to operate on his son to the boy from suffering the same fate as Phibes. p"The Abominable Dr. Phibes" is like "Richard III" and "Silence of the Lambs" in that you find yourself rooting for the villain. This might be camp but it is done with such style and flair, not to mention a macabre (if not sick) humor. I love the fact that Vincent Price does all of his lines as a sort of disembodied voice. His lips never move, a result of having his character's mouth currently being in the side of his neck (what did you expect in a film that is so tongue in cheek?). This 1971 film, directed by Robert Fuest, was scripted by James Whiton and William Goldstein, a pair of decidedly sick human beings. Followed the next year by "Dr. Phibes Rises Again," Price did another camp revenge film, "Theater of Blood" in 1973. But be warned: most women do not consider these films appropriate for dates.

review by: www.sjhstrangetales.com date: 2003-11-14 rating:

gloriously OTT
Dr Anton Phibes is determined to wreck revenge on the surgeons who failed to save the life of his beloved wife when she is injured in the car crash which also left him monstrously disfigured. His means of revenge is ingenious to say the least: he decides to base them on the Biblical plagues of Egypt, so we get each victim stung to death by locusts, drained of all blood, devoured by flies, frozen to death, etc. (The frogs one is particularly clever). Just about everything about this film is done in sheer panto style, and it works splendidly. Vincent Price camps it up so much we even have him playing the organ whilst wearing a black leather hoooded cloak, and an art-deco orchestra supports him in the background! Sort of Busby Berkeley does horror! He is assisted throughout by a mute young woman who moodily saws away on a violin whilst he is despatching his victims. As in "Theatre of Blood", which ably matches it for sheer outrageousness, Price is helped by a terrific supporting cast. Grisly, but great fun.

Similar products

Doctor Phibes Rises Again [DVD] [1972]
Theatre Of Blood [DVD] [1973]
The Raven [DVD] [1963]
The Pit And The Pendulum [DVD] [1961]
The Fall Of The House Of Usher [DVD] [1960]

Similar categories