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Théâtre de sang

Original title: Theatre of Blood
  • 1973
  • 18
  • 1h 44m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
13K
YOUR RATING
Vincent Price and Diana Rigg in Théâtre de sang (1973)
A Shakespearean actor takes poetic revenge on the critics who denied him recognition.
Play trailer1:14
1 Video
99+ Photos
Dark ComedySlasher HorrorComedyDramaHorror

A Shakespearean actor takes poetic revenge on the critics who denied him recognition.A Shakespearean actor takes poetic revenge on the critics who denied him recognition.A Shakespearean actor takes poetic revenge on the critics who denied him recognition.

  • Director
    • Douglas Hickox
  • Writers
    • Anthony Greville-Bell
    • Stanley Mann
    • John Kohn
  • Stars
    • Vincent Price
    • Diana Rigg
    • Ian Hendry
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    13K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Douglas Hickox
    • Writers
      • Anthony Greville-Bell
      • Stanley Mann
      • John Kohn
    • Stars
      • Vincent Price
      • Diana Rigg
      • Ian Hendry
    • 177User reviews
    • 103Critic reviews
    • 81Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations total

    Videos1

    Blu-ray Trailer
    Trailer 1:14
    Blu-ray Trailer

    Photos148

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    Top cast44

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    Vincent Price
    Vincent Price
    • Edward Lionheart
    Diana Rigg
    Diana Rigg
    • Edwina Lionheart
    Ian Hendry
    Ian Hendry
    • Peregrine Devlin
    Harry Andrews
    Harry Andrews
    • Trevor Dickman
    Coral Browne
    Coral Browne
    • Chloe Moon
    Robert Coote
    Robert Coote
    • Oliver Larding
    Jack Hawkins
    Jack Hawkins
    • Solomon Psaltery
    Michael Hordern
    Michael Hordern
    • George Maxwell
    Arthur Lowe
    Arthur Lowe
    • Horace Sprout
    Robert Morley
    Robert Morley
    • Meredith Merridew
    Dennis Price
    Dennis Price
    • Hector Snipe
    Milo O'Shea
    Milo O'Shea
    • Inspector Boot
    Eric Sykes
    Eric Sykes
    • Sergeant Dogge
    Madeline Smith
    Madeline Smith
    • Rosemary
    Diana Dors
    Diana Dors
    • Maisie Psaltery
    Joan Hickson
    Joan Hickson
    • Mrs. Sprout
    Renée Asherson
    Renée Asherson
    • Mrs. Maxwell
    • (as Renee Asherson)
    Bunny Reed
    • Policeman
    • Director
      • Douglas Hickox
    • Writers
      • Anthony Greville-Bell
      • Stanley Mann
      • John Kohn
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews177

    7.113K
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    Featured reviews

    reasonbran234

    a classic not just of horror but of cinema in general!

    this movie is essential for anyone even marginally interested in film. vincent price gives one of the best performances of his career as the embittered edward lionheart, a shakespearean stage actor who has been unjustly disinherited by theatre as a result of the brutal criticism that his work generated. lionheart, disaffected and without hope of ever returning to the work he loves so much, decides to take justice in his own hands and the result is the most brilliant blend of horror and satire that i have ever seen. usually, horror and comedy do not mix well and nine times out of ten the results are less than impressive, but in this one it comes off beautifully. the question of whether we are supposed to sympathize with price's character or revile him as a bloodthirsty maniac has been much debated by fans of the film, but in my opinion it is obvious that it is the critics we are intended to hate and not lionheart, although his methods of retribution are admittedly a bit over the top. like the equally magnificent "dr. phibes", "theater of blood" explores not only the common theme of homicidal revenge but the idea of 'murder as art', as can be witnessed in the bizarre methods that lionheart uses:look especially for the scene where a particularly unfortunate enemy of price's is dragged to death by a horse in what looks like something out of a play by good old willy himself. also memorable is the scene in which price and his accomplice (his daughter, usually in a very deceptive disguise)feed an especially nasty critic his favorite poodle. the ending is, of course, very theatrical, and yet at the same time extremely funny and satirical. i've never seen a film quite like "theater of blood" before or since, and i doubt i will again. in any case this is a must see whether you are vincent price fan (like myself) or a casual viewer looking for something out of the ordinary. a masterpiece.
    lindee

    British at it's best

    This film is frightening, funny,stomach churning, and Vincent Price at his menacing best if you get a chance do watch it with actors like Robert Morley,Jack Hawkings,Diana Dors, Arthur Lowe, Diana Rigg and the way he plots his revenge for there critics of his acting which distroyed his career the Robert Morley one especially I will never forget that scene if I knew this film was on DVD I would love to have it but it's one of those classics that won't be on TV much now unless they have a Vincent Price season or something,I remember sitting there with my family and tucking into a box of chocolates after the Robert Morley killing least to say we got turned of them but we we fall about laughing about it now
    uds3

    The film which sends poodles into a total funk!

    "Reasonbran 234" (Nov 6 2001) takes out the award here for the most literate, apt and concise review of Theater of Blood. This WAS Vincent Price's finest screen moment and I recall clearly at the time, one particular UK critic who suggested "This brilliant film will probably require a generation before it can ever be held in the esteem to which it is entitled!"

    Way too literate for mainstream horror fans' taste - it was so much more. Few had the theatrical flourish of Vincent Price and he was just so perfectly cast as the acting-legend-in-his-own-mind disfavored by a cross section of critics that may otherwise have steered his career on to the rocks. Taking "tragedy" to a new level, he REALLY silencies his critics once and for all, taking them out one by one in escalatingly appropriate Shakespearean circumstances.

    Black black dialog with the Bard's turn of a phrase pervades the entire film. Yeah its gory - so's Macbeth! It is also one of the greatest horror comedies ever devised, with A-List acting credits.

    Quite simply, NOT to be missed!
    Mike S.

    A nasty and witty treat

    Vincent Price is at his extravagant best in this splendidly black comedy in which some complacent critics receive a cunning come-uppance from the dreadful actor who they drove to suicide. Some brilliantly staged imaginative deaths are the icing on the cake, making this a bit like a very camp "Friday The 13th". But who wouldn't rather watch Vincent at his best than boring old Jason ?
    BaronBl00d

    Tour de Force entertainment!

    A Tour de Force for Vincent Price in Theatre of Blood! Price plays a gothic Shakespearean actor who begins to slay all of the critics responsible for not giving him the best actor honours for the year. Price kills each in the style and spirit of a Shakespeare play. Each is killed with a generous dose of witty, dark black humour. The whole cast is superb as is the writing. A special treat is the performance of Robert Morley as a motherly critic forced to eat his doggies(babies) baked in a pie ala Titus Andronicus. A must see for Price fans.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Considered by Vincent Price to be his personal favorite of all of his films, followed closely by L'Abominable Docteur Phibes (1971).
    • Goofs
      Horace Sprout's decapitated head rolls over when the maid discovers him. In the next scene, it is impaled on a milk bottle at Devlin's front door. It has been said this is a goof because Lionheart could not have retrieved the head after the maid saw it the next morning. But the head left in the bed was a "dummy" waxwork head. Lionheart took the real head and put that on the milk bottle at Devlin's front door.
    • Quotes

      Peregrine Devlin: [after receiving Dickman's heart in a gift box] It's him, all right. Only Lionheart would have the temerity to rewrite Shakespeare!

    • Alternate versions
      Despite the film's comedic nature, the original UK theatrical version of it was cut by the BBFC and some of the close-up shots from the murders of Meredith Merridew and Miss Chloe Moon were slightly trimmed. All later home video and DVD releases were uncut.
    • Connections
      Featured in V.I.P.-Schaukel: Episode #9.2 (1979)

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    FAQ18

    • How long is Theater of Blood?Powered by Alexa
    • How did Florence King describe this film (a favorite of hers)?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 16, 1973 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Theater of Blood
    • Filming locations
      • Kensal Green Cemetery, Harrow Road, Kensal Green, London, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Harbour Productions Limited
      • Cineman Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 44 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1(original & negative ratio / European theatrical ratio)

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    Vincent Price and Diana Rigg in Théâtre de sang (1973)
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