The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Robert Fuest

Writers:

James Whiton (writer) &
William Goldstein (writer)

Release Date:

18 May 1971 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Horror | Mystery

Tagline:

Revenge Is The Best Medicine.

Plot:

A doctor, scientist, organist, and biblical scholar, Dr. Anton Phibes, seeks revenge on the nine doctors he considers responsible for his wife's death.

Plot Keywords:

Doctor | Biblical Plagues | Frog | Organ Player | Revenge

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Vincent Price	...	Dr. Anton Phibes
Joseph Cotten	...	Dr. Vesalius
Virginia North	...	Vulnavia
Terry-Thomas	...	Dr. Longstreet
Sean Bury	...	Lem Vesalius
Susan Travers	...	Nurse Allen
David Hutcheson	...	Dr. Hedgepath
Edward Burnham	...	Dr. Dunwoody
Alex Scott	...	Dr. Hargreaves
Peter Gilmore	...	Dr. Kitaj
Maurice Kaufmann	...	Dr. Whitcombe
Peter Jeffrey	...	Inspector Trout
Derek Godfrey	...	Crow
Norman Jones	...	Sgt. Schenley
John Cater	...	Waverley

Also Known As:

Dr. Phibes (USA) (promotional title)
The Curse of Dr. Phibes

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some horror violence/gore.

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:X (original rating) | Australia:M (DVD rating) | Finland:K-18 | Norway:16 (1972) | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:GP (original rating) | USA:PG-13 (re-release) | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Elstree Film and TV Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

American International Pictures (AIP)

Trivia:

At one point, Phibes quotes "The Good Morrow" by John Donne.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Virginia North (Vulnavia) cannot avoid smiling as Vincent Price (Dr. Phibes) dances with her in his lair. The scene is filmed to keep her face concealed most of the time, but if you look closely at her, you can see her face for a moment and it is obvious that she is trying not to laugh at Vincent Price's deliberately camp performance.

Quotes:

Dr. Anton Phibes: Work faster, Doctor! The acid is descending! My wife existed only six minutes on the operating table, and then she was dead. You murdered her!
Dr. Vesalius: No!
Dr. Anton Phibes: Murdered her!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Diabolik (#11.13)" (1999)

Soundtrack:

Charmaine

Campy cult classic with perfect performance...

1st watched 12/11/2004 - 7 out of 10(DIr-Robert Fuest): Campy cult classic with perfect performance and role by Vincent Price who does most of the job through his facial expressions and presence. The story revolves around a dead-like "Dr. Phibes" playing his organ, directing music, dancing and ceremoniously killing off the surgeons who failed to fix his wife after a car accident. He uses the Pharoah's curses as the basis for each killing and he inventively makes each one unique and grins and even applauds himself after one demise. Some subtle British humor is also thrown in for extra but all that's needed with this one is Price and this role to make it classic horror-camp.