I caught Phibes last night. Dr. Phibes that is, when he's gone and risen.
Staring Gothmeister himself Vincenzo Price, I do like a Phibes film. I saw them both many years ago and fancied a non-anthology last night. And there it was on You Tube free of charge!
Personally I think the first Phibes, the Abominable one, is better than this sandy re-birth, but it does hold its own. The setting in Egypt is fabulous and the sets are worthy of Howard Hughes! Pyramids, rivers, gates of eternity, sarcophagi, deserts, statues and more!
The despatching of his enemies is once again a gory affair - this is 1972 after all - and we are 'treated' to all manner of horrendous ends inserted between the lavish organ playing and the puppet orchestra.
The dead Missus Phibes, one Victoria - 'played' by an uncredited Caroline Munro no less - gets lots of mentions but its the swirling chiffoned maid Vulnavia that steals the show. There is something very unsettling about Vulnavia and the care she takes looking after her mad master. And she never says a single word - no lines to forget for Vulnavia then!
Valli Kemp played the role, an Australian model who was involved with pop impresario Jonathan King [since disgraced]. She got a ten-year contract with Dr. Phibes, as the studio expected the character to just keep on rising. Kemp appeared in Rollerball before going back to Australia, where she teaches art in Newcastle, Sydney.
I've read that a different actress played this role in the first film, Virginia Northup, erstwhile Baroness of Hull. The Abominable Dr. Phibes was her final film role.
I can't help comparing the whole Phibes-Vulnavia-Avenging Nutcase-scenario to that of Theatre of Blood a year later, to my mind a much more accomplished and enjoyable romp into posthumous wrath and theatrics. Price is ably assisted by Diana Rigg in this and its a genius combination, as she's such a good actress and fabulous speaker [and so well known from the Avengers!]. Even the police slapstickery is better with Eric Sykes and Milo O'Shea pulling it off beautifully. Ian Hendry adds some 1970's class and off we go. And who can forget Robert Morley's poodled demise!
There is another similar Vincent Price vehicle, Madhouse, where he plays Paul Toombs. I even have the novelization of this but can't recall much detail at all.
Needless to say, I enjoyed watching Dr. Phibes and all the 'priceless' memories it brought back!
Do you Phibes treaders?
