The Raven (1963)
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91% of critics liked it
(11 reviews) -
63% of users liked it
(4,397 ratings)
Although Roger Corman narrowly managed to avoid self-mockery in his pulpy, flamboyant adaptations of Edgar Allan Poe tales, it appears that the director chose this opportunity to let loose with outright parody; the result is a wonderfully entertaining romp with tongue planted firmly in cheek. The… More Although Roger Corman narrowly managed to avoid self-mockery in his pulpy, flamboyant adaptations of Edgar Allan Poe tales, it appears that the director chose this opportunity to let loose with outright parody; the result is a wonderfully entertaining romp with tongue planted firmly in cheek. The first screen teaming of legendary horror stars Boris Karloff, Vincent Price, and Peter Lorre -- later billed as "The Triumvirate of Terror" -- this so-called "adaptation" uses Poe's most famous poem as a springboard for Grand Guignol comedy from scriptwriter Richard Matheson. Melancholy magician Erasmus Craven (Price), having recently relinquished his membership in the Brotherhood of Sorcerers after the apparent death of his wife Lenore (Hazel Court), is paid a visit by a foul-mouthed talking raven, claiming to be small-time wizard Adolphus Bedlo (Lorre). After some persuasion, Craven returns Bedlo to human form, reversing a spell placed by the evil Dr. Scarabus (Karloff), Craven's chief rival. After learning that a woman bearing a strong likeness to Lenore was seen in the Doctor's company, Craven accompanies Bedlo to Scarabus' castle, where the resulting battle of wills escalates into all-out magical warfare between the two embittered sorcerers. Corman and company relished the opportunity to poke fun at the staid Poe series, and the distinguished leads contribute to the spirit of fun by lampooning their own cinematic reputations. Fans of Jack Nicholson (who cut his acting teeth on this and other AIP productions) should enjoy his melodramatic performance here as Bedlo's straight-arrow son; Nicholson would later co-star with Karloff in Corman's The Terror, which was shot in two days using the same sets! ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi
- Directed By
- Roger Corman
- Written By
- Richard Matheson, Edgar Allan Poe, Edgar Allan Poe IV
- Genres
- Horror, Classics, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy
G,
- In Theaters
- Jan 25, 1963 Limited
- Studio
- American International Picture
Critic Reviews
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Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy
Indisputably the odd duck among the AIP Poe movies, although it is also one of the very best.
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Mark Bourne, DVDJournal.com
The Raven takes Poe's most famous poem and doesn't so much adapt it as dress it up in a clown nose and silly hat.... it's hard to shake the cognitive dissonance of Jack Nicholson posing like Burt Ward...
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Anything to do with Poe other than hearing The Raven poem read aloud is non-existent.
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Rob Vaux, Flipside Movie Emporium
Gimmicky drive-in fare, though nobody can deliver that poem like Price.
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Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Amusing horror parody notable mostly for its stars.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Vincent Price
as Dr. Erasmus Craven
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Peter Lorre
as Dr. Adolphus Bedlo
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Boris Karloff
as Dr. Scarabus
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Hazel Court
as Lenore Craven
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Olive Sturgess
as Estelle Craven
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Jack Nicholson
as Rexford Bedlo
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Connie Wallace
as Maidservant
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William Baskin
as Grimes
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Aaron Saxon
as Gort
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Jim McCullough Jr.
as The Raven
