The Raven (1963)

Director:

Roger Corman

Writers:

Richard Matheson (writer)
Edgar Allan Poe (poem)

Release Date:

25 January 1963 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy | Horror

Tagline:

The supreme adventure in terror!

Plot:

A magician who has been turned into a raven turns to a former sorcerer for help in this film loosely based on the Edgar Allen Poe poem.

Plot Keywords:

Sorcerer | Raven | Magician | Death | Transmutation

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Vincent Price	...	Dr. Erasmus Craven
Peter Lorre	...	Dr. Adolphus Bedlo
Boris Karloff	...	Dr. Scarabus
Hazel Court	...	Lenore Craven
Olive Sturgess	...	Estelle Craven
Jack Nicholson	...	Rexford Bedlo
Connie Wallace	...	Maid
William Baskin	...	Grimes (Craven's servant)
Aaron Saxon	...	Gort

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Pathécolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | UK:PG (video rating) (2003) | UK:X (original rating) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:G (1980)

Company:

Alta Vista Productions

Trivia:

Peter Lorre and Jack Nicholson were fond of ad-libbing their lines, much to the annoyance of Boris Karloff, who was working from the script.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Dr. Scarabus shakes hands with Dr. Craven, Dr. Bedlo stands behind the latter, but seen from behind he appears a little way on the left side of Dr. Craven.

Quotes:

[Craven and Bedloe toast each other with wine after Bedloe's complete transformation back to human]
Dr. Bedloe: A little unexpected what happened down there, huh?
Dr. Craven: Yes it was most unexpected. I, I just don't understand why should my father return from the dead and then tell me to beware, of what?
Dr. Bedloe: I wish I knew, I, I, I, I wish I knew.
[Bedloe mistakenly picks up a glass of milk and drinks]
Dr. Bedloe: Uh, that milk!
Dr. Craven: Oh I am sorry.
Dr. Bedloe: In any case I have to return to the castle of Dr. Scarabus tonight.
Dr. Craven: Oh no, sir please, I beg you, I implore you. Don't go back there.
Dr. Bedloe: But he has confiscated all my magical equipment and I want revenge.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Edited into Not of This Earth (1988)

Karloff, Price and Lorre acting silly, what more could you ask for?

This very silly horror comedy is more than a bit over the top, but then again how often did three masters of horror and suspense get to play it for laughs? The plot has Peter Lorre arriving at Vincent Price's home to tell him that his wife isn't dead, that she has in fact run off with another wizard, Karloff. Price with Lorre and his daughter in tow head off to see Karloff and it soon becomes a battle of magicians for the lives of everyone involved.

Its clear that everyone on screen is having a good time and its hard not to share in the mirth. Made as part of the "Poe" series that AIP was churning out this film takes its name from the classic poem which Price recites at the opening as Lorre shows up in the form of a raven. Any notion of this being a scary film is quickly done away with when Lorre begins cracking wise. So much for another scare film like The House of Usher or The Masque of the Red Death. Its a welcome breath of fresh air from the Poe series and a great deal of fun.

Wile not a truly great film it is one that is a full of a great deal of fun as the actors who scared you as a child instead make you laugh. I don't know what else to say other than just see this film if you want to have a good time.