I managed to tape "The Tomb of Ligeia" off of A&E,
this week. I always loved those Roger Corman/Vincent Price films
that were based on the Poe stories, and was happy to have the
chance to examine one in detail after not having seen any of them
in years. Robert Towne's screenplay does a nice job of
establishing the story's conflict at the beginning through the
use of a pious gentleman who only appears to berate the Price
character for burying his wife on hallowed ground. The use of
color, space, and expressionistic set decorations all make for a
creepy atmosphere. But the real treat is Price's performance;
whatever part he's playing, his inevitable descent into madness
has always been a joy to watch.
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