Vincent Price

Vincent Price, whose name is virtually synonymous with the American horror film, was a major screen presence for more than four decades. His early films include such film noir classics asLauraandLeave Her to Heaven,but it was the release ofHouse of Waxin 1953 that established the actor as the silky-voiced master of menace. The late 50s saw Price starring in William Castle’s extraordinary cycle of gimmick-driven films, includingThe Tingler,with cinema seats wired to simulate the...
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Vincent Price, whose name is virtually synonymous with the American horror film, was a major screen presence for more than four decades. His early films include such film noir classics asLauraandLeave Her to Heaven,but it was the release ofHouse of Waxin 1953 that established the actor as the silky-voiced master of menace. The late 50s saw Price starring in William Castle’s extraordinary cycle of gimmick-driven films, includingThe Tingler,with cinema seats wired to simulate the movie monster’s electrical attacks. In the 60s, Price excelled in leading roles in Roger Corman’sThe Fall of the House of UsherandThe Pit and the Pendulum—mysterious, almost meditative films based on the work of Poe. Among his later career highlights areThe Abominable Dr. Phibes, Theater of Blood,andEdward Scissorhands.Now, in this judicious, well-illustrated survey, Denis Meikle looks at both the highs and lows of an enduring film career.