I Bet You Didn't See... The Abominable Dr. Phibes

The Abominable Dr. Phibes is probably one of the last classic horror films. It still carries the vibes of The Fly (1958), The Pit and the Pendulum (1961) and Cat People (1942). Starring the legendary (and one of my personal favourites) Vincent Price, to make it more gruesome would be something of a travesty! However, this film is a great example of how the genre was developing and how the industry was reacting to changes in societal attitudes.

In fact, if you look at those three examples (I reviewed Cat People reviewed early on in this blog) you can almost track the development perfectly. While there is a 16-year gap between Cat People and The Fly, you can see that filmmakers are getting more graphic. This is clearer still with The Pit and the Pendulum. I will be visiting these films individually later.

The Abominable Dr. Phibes follows the fate of Doctor Anton Phibes (Price), a once famed concert musician, now avenging the death of his beloved wife. Inspired by the plagues of Egypt, he vows that “Nine killed you. Nine shall die!”.

Phibes (Price, Right) worships an image of Victoria (Munro, left). I met Caroline Munro once. She's very friendly. Just thought I would share that.

Dr. Phibes is now unable to speak following an accident as he raced home to see his wife as she died. Assisted by Vulnavia (Virginia North), who also doesn’t speak (more for intensity than injury), the two conspire and carry out horrific murders in the name of his wife, Victoria (Caroline Munro, uncredited).

Following Phibes’ trail of death is Inspector Trout (Peter Jeffrey) who, with the assistance of Dr. Vesalius (Joseph Cotten,), is struggling to understand the connection between these violent and ingenious crimes. It isn’t until an amulet is found at one of the crime scenes that he starts to close in on Phibes.

Terry-Thomas laughs no more... at least for the film.

Throughout the film, there is no attempt to hide Phibes’ identity from the audience. Arguably, the film is following Inspector Trout and his discovery of Phibes’ past. The Director, Robert Fuest, teases us with a less graphic first murder, but then doesn’t hid the drama and intensity of the second, and slowly they grow (although he does have a limit, which I was glad for).

Dr. Vesalius (Cotten) and Insp. Trout (Jeffrey) in a 1925 London flat... supposedly!

Artistically, this is wonderfully 60’s. It was released in 1971, and the décor on set is beautifully 1960s, despite being set in 1925. Phibes has a phenomenal house, with a grand hall in which he can rise in a very Phantom of the Opera fashion and conduct his mechanical band. We also find out the true extent of his injuries with fantastic - if a bit dated - make up and prosthetics, and we are enveloped in the tension we are taken to the climax of the film. Does Phibes succeed?

In the 1970’s, these sorts of B-movie style, “camp” horrors started to decline, being replaced by more intensely graphic stories as prosthetics and effects technologies started to drastically improve and by the end of the decade, they were pretty much gone. You could still find over-the-top B-movie horrors, but they helped with the development of effects, not the memory of the classics. This is a shame because they are fun, they can make us laugh as we are used to such high-end CGI and special and practical effects, but they give you a real sense of fear and tension as being able to see something real drags you into the fear that the filmmakers want.

What a mask!

Sometimes, the over-the-top or overtly graphic gore we see today loses that as you know it is being used for a certain effect (like the blood effects in Kill Bill) or because the story is so far-fetched (like The Purge films) that they can use the horror to make you jump and freak out. You sit waiting for the next thing to make you jump out and scream, while these old horrors hold your attention like a book does, and makes you want to know what happens to the people without being physically shocked.

Dr Phibes' home, with mechanical band and rising organ - fantastic set design here!

I enjoyed The Abominable Dr. Phibes, despite the flaws, and not just because it is Vincent Price in the lead! It has a well thought out and inventive plot, great sets, and keeps some comedic tones without it losing the seriousness of the drama.

Insp. Trout's identity bugged me all through the film. In case you were wondering, this is Mr Wainwright's earlier career! (For all of you Porridge (1974-77) fans!)

Directed by: Robert Fuest

Written by: James Whiton, William Goldstein

Starring: Vincent Price, Joseph Cotton, Terry-Thomas, Hugh Griffith, Peter Jeffrey

Release Date: April 1971

Rating: 7/10