The 4th of the Big Three horror icons (of sound films), like Karloff before him, Vincent Price had a liquid-jeweled voice and range. Priceās early work was more often in Film Noirs, comedies, and a few adventure films. Except for brief sojourns, he didnāt switch to horror until 1953ās House of Wax, but once there, he was stuck for life. The shame wasnāt that he spent decades only able to make horror pictures, but that they were never A pictures. Still, he made many enjoyable B films and seemed happy.
Before the Best list, a few more honorable mentions than normal: An Honorable Mention for Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)āhis part is too small to consider the film for his list. Then an honorable mention to The Invisible Man Returns (1940), which lacks in story, but Price talking to the scarecrow was a fantastic moment. Also an Honorable mention goes to His Kind of Woman (1951), which overall doesnāt quite work, but Price is wonderful in it. And a shout out toĀ Witchfinder GeneralĀ (1968), which would be #9 below.
Finally, a group Honorable mention to a whole line of B horror films that are a lot of fun and a touch silly, including: House of Wax (1953), The Mad Magician (1954), House on Haunted Hill (1959), The Tingler (1959), The Diary of a Madman (1963), The Haunted Palace (1963), The Raven (1963), The Oblong Box (1969), and Theater of Blood (1973)
Which brings me to his best 8 films:
8 – The Last Man on Earth (1964) – The first and most accurate version of the novel āI Am Legend,ā about a lone man fighting a world filled with vampires. Price and the theme makes this a must see.
7 – Tower of LondonĀ (1939)Ā – A horror-tinged version of the story of Richard III. Price is in a supporting role as the peevish Duke of Clarence who ends up on the wrong side of Basil Rathbone’s Richard and Boris Karloff’s Mord. (My Review) [Also on the Boris Karloff List]
6 – The Fly (1958) – THE mad scientist film of the ā50s. Unlike the remake, this isnāt a monster movie, but a tragedy. The main character isnāt the genus inventor nor his brother (Price), but the none-too-clever wife. Her emotional strain is beautifully played. (My Review)
5 – The Masque of the Red Death (1964) – I donāt normally connect Roger Corman with deep themes but then he never made another film like this. Itās surreal and epic. Price is an evil prince who thinks Satan will protect him from Death.
4 – Champagne for Caesar (1950) – The hardest to find film on this list. In this zany comedy, Ronald Colman plays a brilliant man who decides to bankrupt an arrogant businessman by winning a quiz show. Price is the businessman. [Also on the Ronald Colman list]
3 – The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971) – There arenāt enough art-deco horror films. And there are few that are anywhere near this witty. Itās elegant and violent with Price as a deranged musician out for revenge.
2 – The Ten Commandments (1956) – There are thoughtful and spiritual religious films. This isnāt one. This is the Bible via Lord of the Rings and Mad Max. And Price is capable of bombast with the best of them.Ā (My Review) [Also on bothĀ the Edward G. Robinson listĀ and the Charlton Heston list]
1 – Laura (1944) – And as with Lugosi, this horror iconās best film isnāt horror. It is one of the great Film Noirs, with Price as a playboy gigolo. (My Critique)