The Tomb Of Ligeia
The last of Corman's "Poe Cycle" is also one of the best. This is the only one to make large use of location shooting and was made in the UK. Set in England in the mid 19th century the film can be mentioned with
Witchfinder General and
Blood On Satan's Claw in its use of the English country landscape for Gothic atmospheric effect.
It is quite beautifully shot, and in this regard had a lot to live up to coming as it did after
The Masque Of The Red Death in the Cycle. Perhaps a realisation that this masterpiece could not be topped in visual terms is one reason why
...Ligeia is filmed so differently to Corman's other Poe pictures. Whatever the reason, it is a visual feast in its own right and quite stunning to look at. By this stage too, Corman had fully mastered the Cinemascope (here masquerading as "Colorscope" ) anamorphic format and was clearly enjoying it.
Robert Towne's script is quite as good as those revered efforts Richard Matheson provided for Corman and there is some humour to be dug out from the Gothic/Victorian English stylings. It deals with many deep Poe themes, not least survival after death and necrophilia and is a successful evocation of Poe's work.
There are also much splendid shenanigans with a possessed/evil cat (great performance from the cat too!) and - really! - an under-stated Vincent Price performance! Perhaps the only one of his career!
A great film, not quite achieving the perfect heights of
The Masque Of The Red Death, but certainly a major achievement of Corman's Gothic period.