Tag Archives: Vincent Price

William Castle Fest at the Music Box!

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“For the first time in motion picture history…” was a line that director William Castle used quite often to promote his new movie, that usually came with a gimmick. Whether it was Percepto, Emergo, or Illusion-O, Castle made not only pretty entertaining pictures but made going to see one of his film an event. While he didn’t create ballyhoo, he damn near perfected it when it came to his films. This August, as Chicago’s Music Box Theatre, you’ll be able to experience 5 of his features, most of which from 35mm. See below for the schedule and start making your plans.

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Movie Review: The House of Hammer: Volume 1

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For decades, Hammer fans would get excited when the famous studio would get a new owner and we’d hear promises of a return of the name of Hammer. And then we’d wait. And wait. And nothing. Then another new owner, and the same would follow. But ever since John Gore bought Hammer Films, those promises has not only happened but have gone way beyond any fans’ dream. It started with the glorious 4K restorations of not only some of their most famous classic titles, but even some more obscure and non-horror titles that started Hammer on their path years before the gothic revival they started in 1957. And they continued on.

Then they started to announce titles that were not from the Hammer catalog but other British titles, acquiring licenses from studios like Tyburn, AIP, United Artists, and others. They are giving these films the same treatment and restorations as their own titles, giving movie fans a chance to see them like never before. Not to mention the extras included in the releases.

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DtH Episode 124 – The Fly Trilogy

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The Fly (1958), Return of the Fly (1959), and Curse of the Fly (1965)

With all the films out there were deviant mad scientists end up paying for their meddling in things that man shouldn’t, in 1958, you have a film where the scientist really was trying to create something for the betterment of mankind. Unfortunately, something unforeseen happens and tragedy soon ensues. And while it turns into a monster film, there is so much more than just a simple ’50s creature feature. And of course, when the movie does well at the box office, we have to have a sequel. Or two, even if that takes 6 years to bring to the screen. But the exploits of the Delambre family continue on, as well as their mistakes, and once again, at the cost of life and sanity.

While these films sometimes divide fans on which one is great and not-so-great, or even to which one is best, we decided to take the time to dive into this trilogy and maybe give you more to think about the next time you watch them. If you hear any buzzing around when you’re listening to the show, I’m sure it’s nothing.

Films mentioned in this episode:

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Hammer is Killing My Wallet!

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After years of complaining about Hammer Films getting a new owner and a promised reboot that never happens, I would almost say that I’m regretting that it is actually happening now. But I won’t. Because even though it’s costing me more and more money, I’m loving every minute of it! We all know the incredible special edition box sets they have put out on the first two Quatermass films, as well as The Curse of Frankenstein, as well as some other more rare non-horror titles, but now even releasing some non-Hammer but still British horror titles, such as Doctor Blood’s Coffin and Cry of the Banshee. Then there is their new documentary Hammer: Heroes, Legends and Monsters documentary that his coming out. What more could we ask for? How about The House of Hammer: Volume 1?

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Super Monster Movie Fest 2026

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Once again, the genius behind the Skyline Drive-In have come up with a different and unique theme for this year’s Super Monster Movie Fest, and it’s called You’ll Die Laughing! When I first saw that, I have to admit I was a little disappointed because I wanted to see some classic horror titles. And then I started to look at the movies playing and they made me smile. Sure, they are comedies, but they are still damn entertaining and can even be considered scary too! You’ll have the comedic wonders of Bob Hope, Abbott & Costello, Alan Tudyk, Bruce Campbell, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost! But you’ll also get to see horror icons like Vincent Price, Peter Lorre and even Boris Karloff show just how funny they can be!

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DtH Episode 116 – Corman / Price / Poe

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House of Usher (1960), The Pit and the Pendulum (1961), and The Masque of the Red Death (1964)

In the beginning of his career as a producer / director Roger Corman was known for cranking out cheap and fast black and white pictures that always made money. He worked in all genres, but it was mainly the horror and sci-fi pictures in the mid to late ’60s he was known for. All that changed in 1960, when he convinced AIP to let him adapt a story from Edgar Allan Poe, but in color, with a bigger budget, and longer shooting schedule. That started a new phase of Corman’s career, which also made an even bigger star of Vincent Price.

In this episode, we take a deep dive into three of these Poe adaptations, and not necessarily looking in the faithfulness of them, but in their production, the incredible casts, the look, the style, as well as the feel of them. They really do get better each and every time you watch them. Hopefully after listening to this episode, you’ll decide to either venture down this dark path for the first time or take a revisit to admire the doom and gloom they all have.

Films mentioned in this episode:

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Hammer Presents More British Horror

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This is one thing I did not expect to happen but am thrilled at the aspects of it. Okay, maybe my wallet isn’t, but that’s a problem for Future-Jon to worry about! The new Hammer Films company, under the leadership of John Gore, has been making a lot of fans of the studio very happy with their amazing releases of some of their classic titles, such as the first two Quatermass movies, Captain Kronos, as well as The Curse of Frankenstein (1957). But now, not only are they going to continue to do that, but they are also going to be putting out other British horror titles from different studios under the banner Hammer Presents.

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Movie Review: House on Haunted Hill

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(1959)
Directed by William Castle
Starring Vincent Price, Carol Ohmart, Richard Long, Alan Marshal,
Carolyn Craig, Elisha Cook Jr., Julie Mitchum, Leona Anderson

I can vividly remember renting this film for the first time on VHS. I’m not sure if I had seen it on TV at some point before in my life, but I knew of it. But once I became a dedicated fan, starting down that road to see every horror film that I could, this was one of those rentals. This was even before I had my own VCR but would rent a few films and take them over to my future in-laws during a Saturday afternoon and sit and watch 3 films back-to-back.

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Royalty at HorrorHound Weekend

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While the horror conventions are filled with guests from the latest horror films out there, such as the Terrifier films, who have been making the rounds for almost the last decade, we also see names from the Child’s Play movies, Re-Animator (which is making its 40-year anniversary), guests from the Hellraiser films, and many more. We even get some big names like Robert Englund still making the rounds. But when it comes to the decades even before all of them, going back 60 years, there aren’t too many of them left that made the impact that Barbara Steele did.

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Roger Corman – Rest in Peace

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I know we like to throw around the word legend when we talk about people in the film industry, but that moniker doesn’t even fit Roger Corman. That title would fit him if only because of the amount of talent that he helped come up through the ranks by giving them a chance. But it goes so far beyond that. The number of movies that he both directed and produced, on the budgets they had, and yet still turned out incredibly entertaining films, is the true testament to this man’s legacy.

While only directing 56 titles, he’s produced almost 500 in his career that has spanned over 7 decades! And no matter how cheesy some of those earlier films he made in the ’50s were, the fact that they are still cherished and remembered today shows us his talent. But then he changed all of that in the ’60s with the Poe films he did with Vincent Price. That changed the genre, once again.

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