Vincent Price: The Art of Fear

Vincent Price, whose name is virtually synonymous with the American horror film, was a major screen presence for more than four decades. His early films include such film noir classics as Laura and Leave Her to Heaven, but it was the release of House of Wax in 1953 that established the actor as the silky-voiced master of menace. The late 50s saw Price starring in William Castle’s extraordinary cycle of gimmick-driven films, including The Tingler, with cinema seats wired to simulate the movie monster’s electrical attacks. In the 60s, Price excelled in leading roles in Roger Corman’s The Fall of the House of Usher and The Pit and the Pendulum—mysterious, almost meditative films based on the work of Poe. Among his later career highlights are The Abominable Dr. Phibes, Theater of Blood, and Edward Scissorhands. Now, in this judicious, well-illustrated survey, Denis Meikle looks at both the highs and lows of an enduring film career.