The Tomb of Ligeia (1965)

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

I wanted to get more familiar with horror movies from the 60's and I couldn't find a better reason than Edgar Allan Poe adaptions. It is a decision I am glad to have taken, because I am now familiar with Vincent Price and Roger Corman. I was mesmerized by Vincent Price playing Verden Fell, I thought he was so smooth, so elegant in his portrayal of the character yet he gave off vibes of tragedy and sadness that was pretty intriguing and immersing. But he also gave a vibe of brutishness that felt like it was well hidden beneath his elegant and well-spoken exterior. Verden Fell is a deliciously mysterious and complex character. I have not read the short-story yet, but I feel the story was adapted pretty well. It was dark, poetic, romantic and tragic. It felt like Poe. With the horror of the story slowly unfolding as the movie progresses. I gotta say, Roger Corman did a good job introducing the characters first then slowly set out the plot which I feel made the impact of the story stronger. Also quite a story! It makes me wonder what horrors went inside the head of Edgar Allan Poe. The great, dark poet.Director: Roger Corman; writers: Robert Towne and Paul Mayersberg; based on Edgar Allan Poe's short story "Ligeia"; Year of release: 1964; Starring: Vincent Price and Elizabeth Shepherd; themes: Jealousy, possessiveness and obsession. I must also mention Elizabeth Shepherd as Rowena Trevanion/Ligeia, I felt she played her characters pretty well. She was both vulnerable but still without being such a damsel-in-distress as Rowena. There was adequate reason for Rowena to be curious about her husband's odd behavior. Which made for an interesting drama between the two main characters. She also portrayed Ligeia with a strange fury yet authority you could see why a character such as Verden would be under her control. Verden was an intelligent yet torn man, torn between two worlds: that of Ligeia and the one he is trying to live in. Ligeia sounds like a cruel woman, putting a spell upon Verden before she died. Which is by the way a reflection of man's jealousy and possessive nature. Ligeia might have gone but she held so dearly onto Verden she did such a cruel thing. It can also be a representation of man's refusal to move on with his life, after the loss of a dear one.I have not read the short story yet, but I have read some of Poe's stories and I gotta say it is a memorable adaption that is full of gloom, dread and tragedy. 9/10

These Poe adaptations by Roger Corman are always fun. Vincent Price is a hoot in this one. As is the case with most of these protagonist, he is in perpetual agony. Here he has over sensitive eyes (in other films, it is his hearing). He frequently visits the tomb of his late wife, Ligeia. She was a raven haired beauty who led him by the nose. There is something strange about the tomb and about her death. Enter a pretty blonde lady of a chance taking spirit. For some reason she falls in love with this nut. He is spooky and almost strangles her at one point. But she is determined. The problem is that she is in competition with the dead ex. An issue I have with this film is how rambling the ending is. It goes on for the longest time. Obviously, it is about transmigration. By the way, what's with the fire that happens to be burning in the house. Is it a big fireplace or did I miss something? Anyway, it is always a pleasure to observe the perpetually pained Price mug and emote for the camera.

10/10, although my favorite movies are song and dance. I was watching this movie to see Vincent's creepy clothes for Halloween costuming ideas for a friend, plus I like to hear Vincent's creepy voice. I watched him as an ambitious, worldly priest in the Keys to the Kingdom (starring that awesome Gregory Peck -- yummmm). Price did not always act the horror master.Another horror master was Roger Corman, whom I hear was a renowned expert filmmaker and director. I am studying filmmaking coursework at university, presently.Enjoyed watching Elizabeth Shephard/Shepherd? in her dual role as Ligeia and Rowena. Elizabeth has quite a few emotions and theatrical shadings in her presentation. That takes quite a lot of talent and dedicated concentration.Also liked seeing Frank Thornton (RIP) as household staff, he of future Captain Peacock in Are You Being Served.The cat totally stole the show. This trained animal actor was very talented, and so cool when stealing the dark glasses and running off.Questions: Vincent had no British accent, so I find that a flaw. The description said Verden was a Victorian widower, but Queen Victoria did not reign until 1837. Ligeia died in 1821, so this is bogus. George IV and William IV reigned from 1820 to 1837. Was Verdell a widower past 1837? I don't think so. Victoria is infamous for architecture and lingerie. Some people still act post-Victorian in their mores and supposedly strait-laced attitudes. Verden's widowhood must have actually been pre-Victorian. I can't imagine he was widowed 1821-1837 (16 years). I am still watching the film, and via DVR have not been able to get quite finished.Costuming, props, makeup, hair, etc.: superb. Dark glasses: Look almost mid-1960s mod-London (out of time frame, but what the heck?). Mise-en-scenes: creepy graveyard among ruins; old mansions; fox and hounds. Good-looking cobwebbing in Verdell's abode. Fake-looking dead fox or bad taxidermy job. Elegant women's costuming. Vincent looks old and angry -- mentally disturbed at the beginning, wearing dark and gloomy widower's "weeds". On his wedding day to Rowena, he looks younger and happier, plus wears a light grey suit and looks years younger.I have read some of Edgar Allan Poe's works. IMHO he was alcoholic and a loser with women, plus he only lived to age 40. Still, he was a master writer whose works are still read and enjoyed. I am familiar with The Cask of Amontillado and The Raven. In my university history coursework, I find that his picture looks a lot like that of John Wilkes Booth.Vincent was also known as a famous gourmet chef and renowned art collector.

The Tomb of Ligeia was yet another in the long line of Corman horror flicks with Vincent Price. This one aimed for a sumptuous Gothic romance look despite a low budget and mostly pulled it off. The production design work was surprisingly sharp for a B-picture. Everything has a nice murky gloom to it, nice and creepy, very goth. All of the usual story tropes appear here: Price as a brooding widower, unable to let go of his dead wife, and unwilling to believe wife #2 when she claims wife #1 has returned as something... unnatural! Dusty, unused staircases, locked rooms never to be opened, screams in the dead of night etc. abound and it all seems terribly clichéd forty years later, but the atmosphere of gloom and dread carries through to the modern viewer and the results are fairly entertaining. The script tends a bit toward the hysterical, and some of the performances get overcooked, but this is nothing too unusual for the time and genre. Worth a look.