The Tomb of Ligeia (Tomb of the Cat) (1964)

86% of critics liked it
(7 reviews)
65% of users liked it
(1,187 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 wife… 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

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: Roger Corman
Written By: Edgar Allan Poe, Robert Towne, Edgar Allan Poe IV
Genres: Drama, Horror, Classics

In Theaters: Jan 20, 1965 Limited
Studio: American International Picture

Critic Reviews

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.
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.
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.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
interesting in a morbid sort of way.
Staci Layne Wilson, StaciWilson.com
A creepy and atmospheric ghost movie.
Matt Bailey, Not Coming to a Theater Near You
This was the last of Corman's Poe films, but it is clear that the well of ideas had not run dry.

Read all 6 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Randy T

Nice paring of legends Vincent Price and Roger Corman. Solid '60's Gothic horror.
AJ V

This is one of my favourite Corman movies and favourite Price movies. Plus, it's got a cat, I love cats. I love the story too, it's very much like Poe's stories. And it has great atmosphere. I highly recommend it.
Robert C

All things considered...a very polished looking film. Based on the short story by Edgar Allan Poe. Vincent Price is delightfully morose as poor Verden Fell. A widower who (along with his new bride) is haunted by the memory(?) of his deceased(?) wife. One of the better Corman… More
All things considered...a very polished looking film. Based on the short story by Edgar Allan Poe. Vincent Price is delightfully morose as poor Verden Fell. A widower who (along with his new bride) is haunted by the memory(?) of his deceased(?) wife. One of the better Corman films in my opinion. Full of creepy fun, cheap scares and over the top acting. Oh and an omnipresent "FLYING" cat...can't forget the omnipresent flying cat!
Stella D

a really creepy poe adaptation with vincent price as a man whose dead wife won't give him any peace. good performance by elizabeth shepherd as the unlucky woman who marries him. great gothic atmosphere. one of the better corman films i've seen though less known than the… More
a really creepy poe adaptation with vincent price as a man whose dead wife won't give him any peace. good performance by elizabeth shepherd as the unlucky woman who marries him. great gothic atmosphere. one of the better corman films i've seen though less known than the pit and the pendulum and house of usher
Kylie B

Really enjoyed this. Sexy, creepy and very stylishly done.
Brian R

This is my first Roger Corman picture I have seen. The Tomb Of Ligeia left me with the feeling of eerie dread. Corman makes useful touches of gothic hell and brimstone. Vincent Price plays as Verdon a lonely man who's wife named Ligeia died and he seems to have an obsession or… More
This is my first Roger Corman picture I have seen. The Tomb Of Ligeia left me with the feeling of eerie dread. Corman makes useful touches of gothic hell and brimstone. Vincent Price plays as Verdon a lonely man who's wife named Ligeia died and he seems to have an obsession or haunted by her death. There is annoyance of a dark cat who keeps lurking around the mansion of abbey and taunting Verdon and his new wife Rowena Trevanion played by Elizabeth Sheperd. TTOL is often slow and at times was difficult for me to follow. I pretty much knew that this was Corman's intent since he was saving the best for last, and is it ever striking. Corman makes very good use of location, color, sets, camera tracking shots, swish pans, and cast. Corman's picture lacks in character development but he makes it up in the visual department which in my opinion is somewhat key.