THE TOMB OF LIGEIA
UK, 1964, 81 minutes, Colour.
Vincent Price, Elizabeth Shepherd.
Directed by Roger Corman.
The Tomb of Ligeia is one of the last of Roger Corman's series in which he adapted Edgar Allan Poe's stories for the screen. They ranged from 'The Fall of the House of Usher' in 1960 to 'The Haunted Palace' to 'The Masque of the Red Death' in 1964.
While small-budgeted and made quickly, they achieved quite a good reputation in their time and this was enhanced later. Corman is a very effective producer and maker of small budget-films. He has also encouraged many film makers and his New World Company during the seventies promoted new directors.
Vincent Price appeared in all of the Poe adaptations except 'The Premature Burial' in which Ray Milland starred. The later films were made in England and this was one of then. It is of good standard within the conventions of the Corman horror films.
1. How good a horror film? Audience interest in Eagar Allan Poe, his stories, horror themes and mystery? Tales of mystery and imagination? Horror and themes of madness, death, loving relationships, mutual power, haunting? The American nature of this 19th century Gothic horror?
2. The film's place in the series by director Roger Corman? This film came late in the series. How well did it capitalize on the others? The particular qualities that Corman brought to his cinema adaptation of Poe - small budget, Panavision, colour, locations, atmosphere? Special effects?
3. The importance of the presence of Vincent Price in the film? The particular horror style - his voice, imposing presence? The effectiveness of using the main actress both as Rowena and Ligeia?
4. The atmosphere via colour, wide screen, the presentation of the mansion and its Gothic style, the interiors, the vaults and the Egyptian art work? The contrast with the cemetery scenes, the hunting scenes, and the atmosphere of being enclosed within the palace?
5. The opening with the tomb, the inscription about Ligeia's death, her presence in the coffin and her seeming to be awake? Theories of death, people being mesmerised? The atmosphere of the cemetery? The introduction to Verden Fell at the funeral? The return to the cemetery - his haunting presence, his eyes and the glasses? His morbid tone?
6. The contrast with Rowena and the hunting group and the encounter with Fell in the cemetery? What fascinated Rowena and lured her into the mansion? The contrast with Christopher an the ordinary kind of hero for this film? Rowena's rejection of him for Verden? The mutual fascination of Rowena and of Verden? His breaking through his mourning for Ligeia? The marriage and yet the ominous atmosphere of the marriage and indications of the future?
8. The mystery about Verden's behaviour at meals, in the bedroom, his disappearances? The importance of the discussion about mesmerism and his demonstrating at the table and the identity of Rowena/Ligeia?
9. The important contribution of Rowena's dreams and nightmares, their terror - images of Ligeia, of the house and its being haunted? The importance of the cat in the dreams? Life and death and mystery?
10. The presence of the cat in the film - as symbol of Ligeia, her presence? The background of Egyptian mythology and life and death? Its attacks on Rowena, scratching her? its presence throughout the house, its presence in the vault? Its violence towards Verden? Its death? Audience response to the presence and symbolism of the cat?
11. How effectively did the film portray the interchange of Rowena and Ligeia especially in the vault sequences, voice, appearance, the change in life and in death?
12. The atmosphere of the climax with the spells, death, fire? Who died in the end? The importance of the final quotation and the line between life and death?
13. The appeal of Fell's stories and the atmosphere of mystery, plumbing the fears of the sub-conscious? Mystery and horror and the necessity of the imagination? Playing on audience fears and bringing them to the surface?
