Review – The Raven (1963)

Most of what I said about A Comedy of Terrors applies here as well. Indeed, take out “Basil Rathbone,” drop in “Jack Nicholson,” and it’s pretty much the same review. The raven flies in through Vincent Price’s window. “Are you some dark-winged messenger from beyond?” Price enquires. “Shall I ever hold again that radiant maiden whom the angels named Lenore?” To which the bird (in Peter Lorre’s filtered voice) replies, “How the hell should I know?” That sets the mood for the rest of the production. The point here eludes me entirely. Why would anyone other than a Poe fan ever take an interest in this movie? And why would any Poe fan ever derive amusement from this farcical flogging of the author’s best-known poem? I guess this picture has a moment or two, but they’re far too few to justify the rest of the crappy show. Wish I’d skipped it