THEATRE OF BLOOD Vincent Price classic – free online

Theatre of Blood is a 1973 British comedic horror film about a Shakespearean actor who takes revenge on critics who denied him recognition.

Directed by Douglas Hickox and starring Vincent Price as vengeful Edward Lionheart and Diana Rigg as his daughter Edwina Lionheart.

The excellent cast includes Harry Andrews, Coral Browne, Robert Coote, Jack Hawkins, Michael Hordern, Arthur Lowe, Joan Hickson, Robert Morley, Milo O’Shea, Diana Dors, Dennis Price, Ian Hendry and Eric Sykes. Price considered it to be his personal favourite of all his films.

Plot:
When a top London film critic is murdered in a way reminiscent of Julius Caesar’s death in the Shakespeare play of the same name, it is clear that someone is starting to kill off the members of the Critics’ Circle. Could the murderer be Edward Lionheart (Vincent Price), an actor humiliated by the Circle, who apparently committed suicide because they failed to recognise his talents? Could be…

Lionheart’s theatre hideout was the Putney Hippodrome, built in 1906. It had been boarded up for fourteen years when it was chosen as a location for this film.

When the movie was adapted for the London stage in 2005, Diana Rigg’s role was filled by her real-life daughter, Rachael Stirling.

Buy Blu-ray: Amazon.co.uk

Blu-ray review:

Great as the Phibes movies are, this is much, much better. In fact, it’s one of the great British horror movies, up there with the best of Hammer, The Wicker Man and other classics.

“This new [Arrow] edition includes amongst the extras a commentary by the stars of The League of Gentlemen, and this is definitely worth a listen – enthusiastic, amusing and informative, it’s more a fan appreciation than anything, and is infinitely preferable to a dry ‘expert’ commentary. It does make you wish Price was still around to talk about these films though. Imagine the commentaries he could have given!
David Flint, MOVIES & MANIA

Buy X-Cert 2: The British Independent Horror Film 1971 – 1983 from Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Buy DVD: Amazon.co.uk

Cast and characters:
Vincent Price … Edward Lionheart
Diana Rigg … Edwina Lionheart
Ian Hendry … Peregrine Devlin
Harry Andrews … Trevor Dickman
Robert Coote … Oliver Larding
Michael Hordern … George Maxwell
Robert Morley … Meredith Merridew
Coral Browne … Chloe Moon
Jack Hawkins … Solomon Psaltery
Arthur Lowe … Horace Sprout
Dennis Price … Hector Snipe
Milo O’Shea … Inspector Boot
Eric Sykes … Sergeant Dogge
Diana Dors … Maisie Psaltery
Joan Hickson … Mrs Sprout
Renée Asherson … Mrs Maxwell
Madeline Smith … Rosemary
Brigid Erin Bates … Agnes
Charles Sinnickson … Vicar

Filming locations:
Alembic House – 93 Albert Embankment, Vauxhall, London, England (Devlin’s apartment)
Dock Road, Brentford, Middlesex, England (Lionheart is revived by wine drinkers)
Kensal Green Cemetery, Harrow Road, Kensal Green, London, England
London Dungeon – 28-34 Tooley Street, London, England (interior of the wine cellar)
Oakley Court, Windsor Road, Oakley Green, Windsor, Berkshire, England
Putney Hippodrome, Felsham Road, Putney, London, England
Robert Fielding Hair Salon, Knightsbridge, London, England
Thames Lock, Brentford, Middlesex, England (Lionheart is revived)
Windsor Great Park, Windsor, Berkshire, England

Technical specs:
1 hour 44 minutes
Aspect ratio: 1.85: 1
Audio: Mono

Alternate titles:
Theater of Blood (US title)

Trailer:

Free to watch online on YouTube [1080p]:

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