Film reviews

The 1960s were a period in Hollywood history which gave birth to twists on the horror theme, often combining horror and comedy. This black comedy is typical of its type – the horror is not ghastly, and the delivery of humorous one-liners is wickedly nonchalant. The entire effect is one of delicious self-mockery and a lovely sense of fun.

The Raven is based upon the poem of the same name by Edgar Allen Poe (which Vincent Price quotes at the beginning of the film). Dr Erasmus Craven (Vincent Price) is enjoying himself at home with the performance of some magic, when he is disturbed by the tapping of a raven at his window. It’s a miserable night outside, and he invites the raven in. Lo and behold, the raven turns out to be an enchanted magician who that very night had been turned into a raven by the infamous Dr Scarabus (Boris Karloff), who is the Grand Master of the Brotherhood of Magicians.

The raven is an alcoholic, abusive and stubborn mage, by name Dr Adolphus Bedlo (Peter Lorre), and he somewhat rudely demands that Dr Craven turn him back into a human by concocting a magic recipe. Although the ingredients (including dead man's hair and bat’s blood, among other horrid ingredients) are not kept by Craven himself (“We’re vegetarians”, he says apologetically), he does recall that they can probably be found in his father’s laboratory, long un-entered by Craven as he has confined himself to much more playful and hobby-oriented magic than his father. A hunt for more dead man’s hair leads Craven to open the creaking coffin of his father, who he’s sure won't mind a snip or two. To his surprise, his father’s corpse does not simply lie there, but an ominous hand moves to grip him by the collar and long-dead lips breathe, “Beware!”

During Bedlo’s conversation, once he is restored to manhood, he mentions having seen (that very night at Scarabus’ castle) the original woman who is depicted in a portrait that graces Dr Craven’s wall. Craven expresses shock and disbelief, for the picture is of his second wife Lenore, who died two years ago. Spoiler He opens her coffin to prove it – yes, the shrivelled body is still there. Craven smiles lovingly at it, but subsequent details by Bedlo lead him to suspect that the infamous Scarabus (long his father’s sworn enemy, for his father had been Grand Master until his death, and Scarabus had constantly sought to overthrow him) had enslaved Lenore's soul. This means, of course, that he must head off to Scarabus’ castle to confront the magician.

Craven, his pretty daughter Estelle (Olive Sturgess), Bedlo and his rather doltish son (Jack Nicholson) head off in a coach and four to the castle, not before a bizarre attempt by Craven’s servant Grimes to kill them all with an axe. Craven’s power detects that a distant mind had taken over Grimes’s mind through magic, and he is convinced it is Dr Scarabus’ doing .

Once at the castle, Dr Craven’s suspicions are disarmed by Scarabus’ urbane personality and calmly-expressed denials, but can Scarabus be trusted? Spoiler It is revealed that Lenore (Hazel Court) is not dead, but has left Craven for Scarabus on account of the latter’s wealth and power, leaving behind a dead body to fool her erstwhile husband. In fact, it was her power that took over Grimes’ mind, as she did not want her husband to find out where she was – she considers him “such a bore” with his adoration of her. A second confrontation between Bedlo and Scarabus results in Bedlo being turned into raspberry jam – or is it just a trick? Spoiler Bedlo turns up alive and well, but revealed as having been in Scarabus’ pay, his job being to lure Craven to Scarabus’ castle. Scarabus desires the wandless magic of this rival Dr Craven, and in a final duel of wicked charm, the two engage in a magical battle that may remind adventure game players of certain aspects of the Quest of Glory games. In another (inadvertent?) reference, Scarabus’ obedient henchman is named Gort. Spoiler Dr Craven, of course, defeats his enemy, and in the burning light of the destroyed castle, hurries away his daughter, the cowardly Bedlo, and Bedlo’s son (who of course has become rather fond of Estelle). The luscious Lenore is left behind, her hurriedly concocted excuse of having been controlled by Scarabus failing utterly to convince her now-unadoring husband.

This is fun viewing, with many lovely touches of dark humour. Recommended for light viewing.