Runtime: 82 minutes
Directed by: Roger Corman
Starring: Vincent Price, Elizabeth Shepherd, John Westbrook, Derek Francis, Oliver Johnston
From: Alta Vista Productions
A recommendation seen before it leaves the Criterion Channel at the end of the month. Technically, a mutual commented that in the Corman-Poe Cycle, Ligeia was his favorite. The film was different from the rest I’ve seen in the Cycle yet I was still glad to have seen it. Vincent Price w/o a mustache hurling a cabbage at a black cat… that alone was great! More seriously, it’s Price wearing the 1800’s version of sunglasses due to light sensitivity who can’t get over the death of his wife but despite being an eccentric, young well-to-do Rowena still falls for him. However, that aforementioned black cat seems to despise her…
Felines of that color are also a trademark of this time of year; it’s a shame that even now they have such a negative stereotype that too many don’t even want one as a pet, but that doesn’t color my opinion of the film. It was mainly an English production and was filmed in that country; the locations they chose (from the interiors to the ruins of Castle Acre Priory) helped set a chilling gothic mood, as did the overall story and the themes presented by the great Robert Towne in greatly expanding what I understand was a rather short story.
Price was admittedly too old for the role as written; his casting was a requirement. That noted, it was still a solid performance as a character different from the norm. Also impressive was someone I was far less familiar with-Elizabeth Shepherd as Rowena. This was the conclusion of the Corman-Poe Cycle and arguably it was the most ambitious. For certain, while Ligeia is not my favorite the end result was still pretty good.
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