DR. PHIBES RISES AGAIN
UK, 1972, 89 minutes, Colour.
Vincent Price, Robert Quarry, Valli Kemp, Fiona Lewis, Peter Cushing.
Directed by Robert Fuest.
The Abominable Dr. Phibes and Dr. Phibes Rises Again are two excellent Vincent Price classics. They are clever blends of screams, satiric laughs and sumptuous baroque productions. Dr Phibes was so successful that, apparently, one can't keep a good undead down. His rising was rather self-consciously calculated to bring the fans back to the box office. The sequel may not be as good as the original, but it keeps all the ingredients to make it enjoyable for horror fans. Vincent Price hams effectively as Dr. Phibes. Good English supporting casts in both films success, fully keep proceedings moving, marred only by some cruelty.
1. The quality of this film, as horror, as comedy? The style, the type of audience response to humour and horror? Vincent Price?
2. How evident was it that the film was a sequel? The comparison with the original?
3. The film's emphasis on style? Sets, an atmosphere of the twenties, England and Egypt, the West and the East? The stars and the guest parts, the tongue-in-cheek approach to the style?
4. How did the film communicate its English atmosphere and Phibes within it? Inspector Trout? The contrast of the atmosphere with Egypt and the exotic? The suspense and the danger?
5. Did the film offer any more insight into the character of Dr. Phibes? His madness? His horror? Relationship with his wife?
6. The contribution of Vulnavia and the feminine type, the assistant?
7. The importance of the police, the humour of Trout, the contrast with the horror and the murders?
8. How interesting and plausible was the focus on the scroll? The motives for Phibes' activity? The activity of Biederbeck?
9. Was Biederbeck built up to be a sufficient contrast in horror and murder with Phibes? His character, behaviour, greed, defeat?
10. Diana and her use? The irony of a heroine in danger?
11. Comment on the various incidents in their dram? Horror and suspense? Humour?
12. What is the value of this kind of horror film and comedy?
