Madhouse (1974)

Madhouse (1974)


As we wrap up Vincent Price in the 70's week at the the rant we come to Madhouse where Price plays horror actor Paul Toombs famous for playing "Dr Death," where Peter Cushing is his scriptwriter and Robert Quarry is his producer. This is the last of Price's starring horror roles and the last film he made for AIP. Soon the horror market would have little to do with its horror icon stars due to blockbuster horror flicks like Exorcist, Jaws and The Omen.

My first memory of this film was the painted cover of Famous Monsters of Filmland by Basil Gogos. This image would facinate me as much as Dr. Phibes or Theater of Blood. Along with catching The Tingler and The House on Haunted Hill on TV, the image alone would catapult Vincent Price to the top of my favorite actor's list (right next the Peter Cushing).


The movie itself would illude me for quite some time and I would see it for almost two decades. When finally seen, the movie would disappoint slightly while still retaining a sentimental quality. While the movie is entertaining, it doesn't deliver real scares or tension and feels like a swan song. The stars make this movie work. Vincent Price would only make a few movies with Peter Cushing and this would be where they would share the most screen time together. In Dr. Phibes Rises Again and Scream and Scream Again, they wouldn't even share a scene. Robert Quarry, also in Dr. Phibes Rises Again, would again share screen time with Price.

The movie was directed by Jim Clark and written by Angus Hall and Ken Levinson. The film also stars Adrienne Corri, Linda Hayden, Natasha Pyne and Barry Dennen.

So here it is ... Madhouse