{"id":48237,"date":"2020-03-23T22:44:30","date_gmt":"2020-03-24T05:44:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=48237"},"modified":"2022-04-09T22:10:16","modified_gmt":"2022-04-10T05:10:16","slug":"theatre-of-blood-1973","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=48237","title":{"rendered":"Theatre of Blood (1973)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;They&#8217;re not going to start killing critics for giving bad notices, are they?&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theater-of-Blood-Poster-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theater-of-Blood-Poster-1-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-55367\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theater-of-Blood-Poster-1-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theater-of-Blood-Poster-1-85x128.jpg 85w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theater-of-Blood-Poster-1-180x270.jpg 180w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theater-of-Blood-Poster-1.jpg 666w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nWith assistance from his loyal daughter (Diana Rigg), a vengeful actor (Vincent Price) systematically murders each of his critics while a hapless detective (Milo O&#8217;Shea) attempts to stay ahead of each Shakespearean-inspired crime.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Actors and Actresses<\/li>\n<li>Black Comedy<\/li>\n<li>Diana Rigg Films<\/li>\n<li>Harry Andrews Films<\/li>\n<li>Jack Hawkins Films<\/li>\n<li>Revenge<\/li>\n<li>Serial Killers<\/li>\n<li>Shakespeare<\/li>\n<li>Vincent Price Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary\u2019s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nPeary writes that &#8220;in what must have been his dream role, Vincent Price hit his horror-movie peak as Edward Lionheart, a Shakespearean actor who is as hammy as Price himself&#8221;. He argues that while &#8220;some of the death scenes are a bit too gory&#8221; (I disagree; Shakespeare wrote some undeniably gory sequences!), &#8220;this is a suspenseful, witty, flamboyantly stylish film&#8221; with an &#8220;excellent all-star cast&#8221; &#8212; and &#8220;viewers should have as much fun as Price seems to be having&#8221;. Peary points out that the &#8220;writing by Anthony Greville-Bell and direction by Douglas Hickox&#8221; (who helmed <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3319\"><em>Entertaining Mr. Sloane<\/em><\/a> a few years earlier) &#8220;are imaginative&#8221;, and notes that &#8220;Diana Rigg makes one of her rare screen appearances as Price&#8217;s daughter, who isn&#8217;t as sweet as she appears to be.&#8221; There are many layers of satisfaction in this darkly comedic thriller: watching Price wreak skillful revenge on all who refused to name him best stage actor of the year; waiting to see how the next murder will faithfully (albeit with a twist) enact a Shakespearean scene; witnessing both Price and Rigg&#8217;s delightful array of disguises and costumes (none of which the snobbish critics ever cotton onto). This companion piece to <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=1243\"><em>The Abominable Dr. Phibes<\/em> (1971)<\/a> is well worth a visit, and likely return viewings as well. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Vincent Price in numerous &#8220;roles&#8221;<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theatre-of-Blood-Price.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theatre-of-Blood-Price.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"435\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-48246\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theatre-of-Blood-Price.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theatre-of-Blood-Price-300x181.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theatre-of-Blood-Price-128x77.png 128w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theatre-of-Blood-Price2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theatre-of-Blood-Price2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"435\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-48240\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theatre-of-Blood-Price2.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theatre-of-Blood-Price2-300x181.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theatre-of-Blood-Price2-128x77.png 128w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theatre-of-Blood-Price3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theatre-of-Blood-Price3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"435\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-48241\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theatre-of-Blood-Price3.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theatre-of-Blood-Price3-300x181.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theatre-of-Blood-Price3-128x77.png 128w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Diana Rigg as Edwina<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theatre-of-Blood-Rigg.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theatre-of-Blood-Rigg.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"435\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-48247\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theatre-of-Blood-Rigg.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theatre-of-Blood-Rigg-300x181.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theatre-of-Blood-Rigg-128x77.png 128w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Many effectively gruesome sequences<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theatre-of-Blood-Gruesome.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theatre-of-Blood-Gruesome.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"435\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-48244\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theatre-of-Blood-Gruesome.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theatre-of-Blood-Gruesome-300x181.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theatre-of-Blood-Gruesome-128x77.png 128w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theatre-of-Blood-Gruesome2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theatre-of-Blood-Gruesome2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"435\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-48245\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theatre-of-Blood-Gruesome2.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theatre-of-Blood-Gruesome2-300x181.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theatre-of-Blood-Gruesome2-128x77.png 128w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Atmospheric sets and cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theatre-of-Blood-Cinematography2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theatre-of-Blood-Cinematography2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"469\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-48243\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theatre-of-Blood-Cinematography2.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theatre-of-Blood-Cinematography2-300x195.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theatre-of-Blood-Cinematography2-128x83.png 128w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theatre-of-Blood-Cinematography.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theatre-of-Blood-Cinematography.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"435\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-48242\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theatre-of-Blood-Cinematography.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theatre-of-Blood-Cinematography-300x181.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Theatre-of-Blood-Cinematography-128x77.png 128w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, as a most enjoyable suspense film, and for Price&#8217;s stand-out performance(s). <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?page_id=1784#goodshow\">Good Show<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?page_id=1784#noteworthy\">Noteworthy Performance(s)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0070791\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.moriareviews.com\/horror\/theater-of-blood-1973.htm\">Moria Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/17340\/theatre-of-blood#articles-reviews?articleId=463\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.qnetwork.com\/review\/800\">Q Network Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thespinningimage.co.uk\/cultfilms\/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=438&#038;aff=13\">Spinning Image Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s2412pric.html\">DVD Savant Review (scroll down)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;They&#8217;re not going to start killing critics for giving bad notices, are they?&#8221; Synopsis: With assistance from his loyal daughter (Diana Rigg), a vengeful actor (Vincent Price) systematically murders each of his critics while a hapless detective (Milo O&#8217;Shea) attempts to stay ahead of each Shakespearean-inspired crime. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Actors and Actresses Black Comedy Diana Rigg Films Harry Andrews Films Jack Hawkins Films Revenge Serial Killers Shakespeare Vincent Price Films Response to Peary\u2019s Review: Peary writes that&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=48237\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-48237","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48237","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=48237"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48237\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":82851,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48237\/revisions\/82851"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=48237"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=48237"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=48237"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}