Murders in the Rue Morgue

In the extra on my Blu-ray of the film, director Hessler states he was upset with Jason Robards' performance in the title role and laments he didn't get to inherit Vincent Price as the film's star when he was asked to direct it. In watching, I quite agree that as fine an actor as Robards was, his heart wasn't in horror and thus his tone is off here. Still, Herbert Lom is great as the antagonist and there are many enjoyable wonders to behold.

I strongly feel that had Price acted in Robards' place, this film would have joined the fine string of minor masterpieces Price starred in during that purple patch of his career.

Poe mixed with Phantom of the Opera

At a Grand Guignol-like theater in turn-of-the-century Paris a troupe is beset by a shadowy acid killer. Jason Robards plays the director/actor, Christine Kaufmann his young wife, Lilli Palmer her mother, Herbert Lom a mysterious stalker, Michael Dunn a dubious dwarf and Adolfo Celi the inspector.

Murders in the Rue Morgue (1971) is not a film version of Edgar Allan Poes story, which the viewer is keyed-off to right away with the revelation that the play featured at the theater IS Poes Murders in the Rue Morgan. The director & writer decided to do something different because Poes story was so well known. This movie has more to do with Phantom of the Opera.

Once you accept that, you c...