hrkepler Verden Fell (Vincent Price), a recently widowed man is convinced his wife Ligeia is still alive. Even meeting another woman Rowena (Elizabeth Shepherd who also fills the Ligeia's part) and marrying her, the man quite get over the death of his first wife. Eerie tale comes to tragic end when Vernon fights with the ghost and his own growing madness.The film is visually rich with every inch of the screen filled with the ruins of abbey and spooky interiors of Verden's mansion. The bright outdoor scenes and dark rooms combines nice contrast that illustrate the Poe's words that end the movie - "The boundaries which divide life from death are at best shadowy and vague. Who shall say where the one ends and where the other begins." The many usage of sunlit countryside scenery wasn't very usual in '60s horror films and some of the most haunting scenes take place in bright daylight. Constantly eerie mood flows through the film without giving much rest to the viewer.Perfect finale to Corman's Poe themed series.

mark.waltz Poor Vincent Price. Always a widower, never at peace with his dead wife looking over his shoulder, ready to pounce like a Fruma Sarah. Elizabeth Shepherd gets the privilege of being both good and evil, blonde and brunette, and possibly going in between life and death as fast as the black cat prowling Price's castle howls or hisses. As usual, Price is a brooding Heathcliff/Maxim de Winter type character, not outwardly evil, but with Price you never can be too sure. He is desperately afraid of sunlight so he wears the strangest looking sunglasses in film history. Like any good well-bred English countryside neighbor, Shepherd's "Lady Rowena" is gallivanting across Price's property (which seems to have belonged to his late wife Ligeia, not Price), and after falling right atop Ligeia's grave, she encounters the dour Price and a rather strange relationship begins between the two. It's obvious from hints Price's character gives that Ligeia would never allow him to re-marry, so when they do, it's no surprise that legal ramifications make the marriage not recognized by the law. The angry black cat doesn't like Rowena either, violently attacking Shepherd and growling at her every chance it gets. This soon leads to a showdown between wife #2, the furious feline and whatever is lingering in the middle-ages like castle of Ligeia's evil spirit.Slow moving, moody but romantic, this never fully explains what Ligeia was supposed to be in life. Witch? Devil worshiper? Succubus? The audience is left to decide, but one thing we are instantly aware of is that this isn't going to be a happy relationship between Price and wife #2. John Westbrook is present as Rowena's admirer/protector who comes to Shepherd's rescue on a number of occasions. Shepherd has a dream of husband/cat/first wife that is part horrific nightmare, somewhat comical, and definitely a sign to me that her first response would be to get as far away as you can as fast as possible. Encounters between Shepherd and the cat are very frightening, and those who love cats will be very disturbed by Price's reaction to this creature who definitely represents evil. Like other American International/Vincent Price/Roger Corman/Edgar Allan Poe Gothic horror tales, this depends a lot on the wrath of fire to conclude its story. It isn't one I would watch again over and over (missing the humor and camp element of "The Pit and the Pendulum" and "The House of Usher") but it is definitely one that will leave you with a few chills.

tomgillespie2002 The films that immediately come to mind when considering Roger Corman's considerable cycle of Edgar Allen Poe adaptations are undoubtedly titles such as The Fall of the House of Usher (1960) and The Pit and The Pendulum (1961), both starring Vincent Price as a man psychologically torn by a past event or his looming fate, and both featuring the Gothic, set-based atmosphere that is now so celebrated by movie fans. The Tomb of Ligeia may be one of Martin Scorsese's all- time favourite horror movies, but it has been strangely, and unfairly, overlooked in the horror cannon.Price once again plays a man, Verden Fell, haunted by the death of his wife. While out fox-hunting one day, the young and boisterous Lady Rowena (Elizabeth Shepherd) comes across Verden in a graveyard, apparently looming over the grave of his wife, the mysterious Ligeia, and forced to wear protective glasses due to his failing eye sight. Rowena takes pity on him, and witnesses his psychological torment first hand, which is mainly due to the presence of a threatening cat and the idea that his dead wife is haunting him from the grave. The two eventually marry, but Rowena finds herself the subject of increasingly strange goings-on.Ligeia is noticeably different to the other entries into the Corman- Poe cycle, mainly due to it's use of exterior filming. While this causes it to lose the claustrophobic, and beautiful, sets of the likes of Usher and Pendulum, it makes for a spookier atmosphere. Price is excellent as always, as is Shepherd, but the blooming romance between their two characters suffers from a distinct lack of chemistry and the niggling problem of the glaring age-gap. However, Ligeia was written by Chinatown (1974) scribe and all-round Hollywood titan Robert Towne, so the absorbing dialogue more than makes up for the awkwardness between the two leads. Certainly a different experience, but Ligeia is up there with the very best of Corman's output.www.the-wrath-of-blog.blogspot.com

gkeith_1 10/10, although my favorite movies are song and dance. I was watching this movie to see Vincent's creepy clothes for Halloween costuming ideas for a friend, plus I like to hear Vincent's creepy voice. I watched him as an ambitious, worldly priest in the Keys to the Kingdom (starring that awesome Gregory Peck -- yummmm). Price did not always act the horror master.Another horror master was Roger Corman, whom I hear was a renowned expert filmmaker and director. I am studying filmmaking coursework at university, presently.Enjoyed watching Elizabeth Shephard/Shepherd? in her dual role as Ligeia and Rowena. Elizabeth has quite a few emotions and theatrical shadings in her presentation. That takes quite a lot of talent and dedicated concentration.Also liked seeing Frank Thornton (RIP) as household staff, he of future Captain Peacock in Are You Being Served.The cat totally stole the show. This trained animal actor was very talented, and so cool when stealing the dark glasses and running off.Questions: Vincent had no British accent, so I find that a flaw. The description said Verden was a Victorian widower, but Queen Victoria did not reign until 1837. Ligeia died in 1821, so this is bogus. George IV and William IV reigned from 1820 to 1837. Was Verdell a widower past 1837? I don't think so. Victoria is infamous for architecture and lingerie. Some people still act post-Victorian in their mores and supposedly strait-laced attitudes. Verden's widowhood must have actually been pre-Victorian. I can't imagine he was widowed 1821-1837 (16 years). I am still watching the film, and via DVR have not been able to get quite finished.Costuming, props, makeup, hair, etc.: superb. Dark glasses: Look almost mid-1960s mod-London (out of time frame, but what the heck?). Mise-en-scenes: creepy graveyard among ruins; old mansions; fox and hounds. Good-looking cobwebbing in Verdell's abode. Fake-looking dead fox or bad taxidermy job. Elegant women's costuming. Vincent looks old and angry -- mentally disturbed at the beginning, wearing dark and gloomy widower's "weeds". On his wedding day to Rowena, he looks younger and happier, plus wears a light grey suit and looks years younger.I have read some of Edgar Allan Poe's works. IMHO he was alcoholic and a loser with women, plus he only lived to age 40. Still, he was a master writer whose works are still read and enjoyed. I am familiar with The Cask of Amontillado and The Raven. In my university history coursework, I find that his picture looks a lot like that of John Wilkes Booth.Vincent was also known as a famous gourmet chef and renowned art collector.