The Haunted Palace & The Tower of London (Midnite Movies Double Feature)

In "The Haunted Palace," horror icon Vincent Price is superb in the dual role of warlock Joseph Curwen who possesses his descendant, Charles Dexter Ward. This is another lavish production from famed director Roger Corman; he helmed many other Vincent Price vehicles based on Edgar Allan Poe's literary works. Lon Chaney gives a great performance as Curwen's faithful, but creepy, servant, Simon Orne. Debra Paget is gorgeous as Ward's devoted wife who refuses to leave his side despite the horrible transformation he undergoes. "The Haunted Palace" is a great revenge story for fans of gothic horror, and this is gothic horror at its best, resplendent with a fog enshrouded village, a huge, crumbling castle, and superstitious, irate villagers who love to grab their torches and burn, burn, burn.

"The Tower of London" is a tour de force for Vincent Price who plays Richard III, one of the more diabolical characters of his career. No man, woman or child is safe when they stand between Richard III and the throne of England. "The Tower of London" boasts some creepy set pieces; gruesome, tortuous deaths; and a nice body count. The most notable torture scene is the one in which a hungry rat is thrown into a small cage that has been placed over a shackled man's head. This feature is by far the better of the two. It is extremely violent considering the decade in which it was made. And though "The Tower of London" was directed by Roger Corman, it is an United Artist production rather than an American International Picture; a pity that it was filmed in black and white rather than gorgeous color.

This excellently restored double feature from MGM is a must have for fans of gothic horror and Vincent Price. Both are grandiose tales of torture and revenge.