Friday Favorites – Edgar Allan Poe!

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Once upon a midnight dreary… Edgar Allan Poe was born on January 19ty, 1809, and has become one of America’s greatest known writers. And for someone who wrote very dark and troubling tales, and the way the “normal” public likes to shy away from that genre, it is even more amazing that he is still popular today, to the fact that he is still discussed in schools.

My first introduction to Poe was in my American Literature class in high school, where I first read The Cast of Amontillado and witnessed not only Poe’s style but the way he captures insanity as well as revenge. Being a somewhat bullied highschool kid, I took to that like ugly on an ape! We also read and discussed The Tell-Tale Heart, which again shows a different side of insanity. Maybe because they were the first, but these two stories remain my favorite, and both have been adapted for the screen more than a few times. But which versions are my favorite? In due time, my friends. In due time.

For our first Friday Favorites of 2021, let’s us hear YOUR favorite adaptation of a story from Edgar Allan Poe? Could be part of anthology film, or could even be from a television show, we’re not going to be picky here. And we’re also not looking for the most faithful adaption either, because we know that is a whole other can of worms. Granted, if you mention Corman’s Haunted Palace (1963), you might have an argument on your hands for (hopefully) obvious reasons.

So what sayeth, thee? 

9 thoughts on “Friday Favorites – Edgar Allan Poe!”

  4. While I also enjoy Masque, my favorite Poe film would have to be “Pit and the Pendulum” (1961). Vincent Price is in fine, over-the-top form, once again in this lavish and slick horror production from Roger Corman.

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  5. Oh yeah, got to agree on Masque of the Red Death. But I would like to mention one most probable do not remember, “Manfish” which merged “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Gold-Bug” into what I thought was an interesting film.

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  6. I’m kind of surprised on most everyone’s reply. Not that I don’t like Masque, which I do quite a bit, but I wouldn’t have thought it was that popular. Now it makes me want to bust it out again!

    For me, while it’s technically not a feature, in the Evening with Edgar Allan Poe, with Price doing little one man plays of a few stories, his version of Tale-Tell Heart remains my favorite. As a feature, I would have agree with Todd and say Pit and Pendulum. Sure, it is very loosely based on the story, but Price is excellent, but so is Steele. And that ending!?!?!?

    But I would also like to give a shout-out to the segment in Tales of Terror with Price and Lorre, doing a combination of The Black Cat and The Cask of Amontillado. When Lorre is bricking Price up, joking with himself, but still chilling as he tells him “Yes….For the Love of God.”

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  7. Sorry…a bit late to the party.
    To begin with a really was surprised by Tomb of Ligeia and thought it was awesome when I saw it. It flirts with necrophilia and other dark subjects and just really has a dark feel all around it. It beats out the Masque for me.

    In addition, the Evening of Edgar Allen Poe that Jon mentioned was also a big hit to me. Yes, it was just price telling the stories but he really brought them alive. I have read Poe before but I always found the language a bit dry…like reading Shakespeare. But Price changed that!

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