Vincent Price stars as Trumbell, a New England funeral director who decides to drum up business by killing people. His assistant Felix (Peter Lorre) is forced to help him. Also on hand is Boris Karloff as Price's father-in-law, Basil Rathbone as an obnoxious landlord and Joe E. Brown (very briefly) as a grave robber. Oh, and it's a comedy.
With a script by Richard Matheson and direction by Jacques Tourneur this should be great. Sadly, it's not. The script is pretty poor--very scattershot and filled with unfunny lines. The acting carries this film. Price speaks every line with relish and overacts wonderfully--he gives his all to some truly bad jokes. Lorre looks miserable but he gives a good performance. Karloff is sadly wasted and Rathbone chews the scenery.
So, this is a historic movie for teaming up such great horror stars, but it gives them nothing to work with. See it for them.
With a script by Richard Matheson and direction by Jacques Tourneur this should be great. Sadly, it's not. The script is pretty poor--very scattershot and filled with unfunny lines. The acting carries this film. Price speaks every line with relish and overacts wonderfully--he gives his all to some truly bad jokes. Lorre looks miserable but he gives a good performance. Karloff is sadly wasted and Rathbone chews the scenery.
So, this is a historic movie for teaming up such great horror stars, but it gives them nothing to work with. See it for them.