The Tomb of Ligeia (Tomb of the Cat) (1964)
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86% of critics liked it
(7 reviews) -
65% of users liked it
(1,249 ratings)
Once again Vincent Price stars for director Roger Corman in The Tomb of Ligeia, the last of Corman's eight Edgar Allen Poe adaptations, a film graced by a script by Robert Towne and moody cinematography by Nicolas Roeg. Price has the creepy lead role of Verden Fell. In 1821, when Verden's… More Once again Vincent Price stars for director Roger Corman in The Tomb of Ligeia, the last of Corman's eight Edgar Allen Poe adaptations, a film graced by a script by Robert Towne and moody cinematography by Nicolas Roeg. Price has the creepy lead role of Verden Fell. In 1821, when Verden's wife Ligeia (Elizabeth Shepherd) dies, she is buried in a churchyard, despite the parson's objections that she can't be buried there since she isn't a Christian. Before the grave is closed, abetted by the screech of a black cat, Ligeia eyes shoot open, startling Verden, who becomes convinced that she is not dead. Months later, Lady Rowena (also played by Shepherd) is thrown from her horse and lands at the foot of Ligeia's grave. Verden tends to her and soon falls in love with her. They marry and move into Verden's gloomy Gothic abbey, where Rowena begins to have strange dreams involving Ligeia and a black cat. One night she awakens to discover a dead fox in her bed. When Ligeia's grave is exhumed, instead of Ligeia's corpse, a wax figure is discovered. Then Rowena finds, to her horror, Verden in the arms of his dead wife in a hidden room of the abbey. Having hypnotized Verden before she died, Ligeia had Verden convinced she will live forever. Verden, now possessed by the spirit of his dead wife, takes a torch to the abbey, trapping himself and Rowena in the flaming conflagration. But Christopher (John Westbrook), an admirer of Rowena, endeavors to rescue Rowena from the flames. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Directed By
- Roger Corman
- Written By
- Edgar Allan Poe, Robert Towne, Edgar Allan Poe IV
- Genres
- Drama, Horror, Classics
PG,
- In Theaters
- Jan 20, 1965 Limited
- Studio
- American International Picture
Critic Reviews
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Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy
An excellent conclusion to the [AIP Poe] cycle, and a fine achievement of penny-pinching filmmaking of the sort that Corman did better than anyone else.
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Mark Bourne, DVDJournal.com
...visually sumptuous as the fetid ambience of English ruins such as Stonehenge and a 900-year-old abbey fills every widescreen inch.... Price [is] the romantic lead and the (admirably restrained) vessel of necrophilic madness.
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Mark Bourne, DVDJournal.com
On MGM's 'Midnite Movies' double-feature disc, The Tomb of Ligeia looks gorgeous with a sterling print, sharp definition, and ripe colors in its full 2.35:1 (anamorphic) widescreen.
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
interesting in a morbid sort of way.
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Staci Layne Wilson, StaciWilson.com
A creepy and atmospheric ghost movie.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Vincent Price
as Verden Fell
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Elizabeth Shepherd
as Lady Rowena/Lady Ligeia
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John Westbrook
as Christopher Gough
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Oliver Johnston
as Kenrick
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Derek Francis
as Lord Trevanion
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Richard Vernon
as Dr. Vivian
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Ronald Adam
as Parson
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Denis Gilmore
as Livery Boy
- Penelope Lee
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Frank Thornton
as Peperel
- Richard Johnson
