Wednesday, January 18, 2012

THE TOMB OF LIGEIA - Kenneth V. Jones - "She Is Not Dead To Me" (1964)

"Ligeia" was a short story written by Edgar Allen Poe, and first published back in 1838! This film is more like a combination of elements from "Ligeia" and one of Poe's other classic masterpieces, "The Black Cat!"

"The Tomb Of Ligeia" was Roger Corman's eighth and last Poe adapatation. It was written by Robert Towne and was based loosely on Poe's original story! Robert Towne among his stack of credits, also wrote the screenplay for "Last Woman on Earth," and wrote "The Chameleon" episode of "Outer Limits." He is also the writer for the great Jack vehicle, "Chinatown," and is writing the screenplay for a TV show now in production called "Pompeii."

Composer Kenneth V. Jones has got some good horror credits that include "The Brain," "Psyche 59," "The Projected Man," "Who Slew Auntie Roo," and "Horror On Snape Island!"

Here's the basic premise, take a good solid story, and find a cool atmospheric place to shoot it! How can you lose?

"That motley drama!..Oh, be sure, It shall not be forgot! With its Phantom chased forever more, By a crowd that seize it not, Through a circle that ever returneth in To the self-same spot, And much of Madness and more of Sin And Horror the soul of the plot." - Those were words from the poem that Ligeia wrote called "The Conqueror Worm," that four years later would be the title of another Vincent Price movie known as "Witchfinder General." - Don't you think she looks like she just stepped out of a spaceship?

These days "Castle Acre: Castle Acre Priory" is a Norfolk tourist attraction! It dates back to 1090, and is one of the largest and best preserved monastic sites in England! Just in case you're ever in the neighborhood, stop by and check it out!

Elizabeth Shepherd has the role of The Lady Rowena Trevanion, and also that of The Lady Ligeia! Elizabeth doesn't have a lot of horror in her bountiful portfolio, but she did have a gig in a weird short lived 1966 TV show called "The Corridor People," as the evil Syrie Van Epp, and she was also Joan Hart in "Damien: Omen II."

The viewer is led to believe that the soul of Ligeia lives on in this black cat, and Rowena is just about to find out that Ligeia is quite jealous!!

The always amazing and amusing Vincent Price is Verden Fell, Ligeia's Ex, and Rowena's future husband!

Castle Acre, King's Lynn, Norfolk - PE32 2XD - Find out more about it right Here! Isn't this an awesome shot?!

Here's an equally amazing interior shot! Great cinematography from the eye of Arthur Grant!!

Many people consider Edgar Allen Poe's original story to be satire! Poe only wrote two other pieces of prose in the same year, and they were both Gothic styled satires, "Siope - A Fable" and "The Psyche Zenobia." Great titles!!

Edgar Allan Poe's version of "Green Eggs and Ham!"

Now tell me where else can you go and get back to back references to Dr. Seuss and Edgar Allan Poe?

You'd have to own a cat to know that it's not difficult to train them to take over your spot when you move, it's just something they do naturally!

Don't go snooping around if you don't want to find out what's creepy!!

I'll get you, you son of a b...........!!!

The final showdown ensues between man and beast!!

The end result was inevitable beyond a shadow of a doubt!!!

Edgar Allen Poe, Roger Corman, and Vincent Price, a power trio to rival Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, and Ginger Baker, no doubt!!

2 comments:

  1. As it happens, TOMB OF LIGEIA originally opened on January 20, 1965, 46 years ago today, so very appropriate posting.

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