Over Priced

Our limerick tribute to Price
Was fitting but far from concise
For months it kept dragging
With interest flagging
Now slitting our wrists would feel nice.

Vincent Price holds Diana Rigg at the climax of Theatre of Blood. This brings to an end our tortuously long look back at the actor on his 100 year "Vincentennial", which we began last year with this rhyme.

The Glowering Inferno

His murders referred to the plays
In absurd and most curious ways
By vengeance consumed,
At the the end he is doomed--
If he'd heard but a kernel of praise...

Our voluminous Vincentennial tribute to Vincent Price is almost over. Title by David Crispy Cairns.

Play it Again, Ham

His reaction's too melodramatic
There's bats in his belfry and attic
But his bloody good show
Is most apropos
And his acting is, well, cinematic.


Vincent Price and Diana Rigg in Theatre of Blood (Douglas Hickox, 1973).

Spurn Notice

So to best get his credit in lights
Ed dressed in a thespian's tights
Though no glowing reviews
Had him blowing a fuse,
And a quest for revenge he ignites.

Vincent Price's Edward Lionheart torches the Theatre of Blood. Image source: Cool Ass Cinema

Illegitimate Theatre

The cops and the critic agree
They must stop an award nominee
Or the dangerous actor
Will hang his detractors
From the top of a West End marquee.

Milo O'Shea, Eric Sykes and Ian Hendry finally figure out what's going on in the Theatre of Blood. This is our final week on Vincent Price.

Physician Assisted Homicide

The critics' critiques were a shock
They hit the old geek like a rock
Though removing a head
Only proved actor Ed        
Was a bitter and freaky mad doc.

Actor Edward Lionheart (Vincent Price) performs in Theatre of Blood.

Bad Wrap

A grandiose Brit leading man
Couldn't stand it when critics would pan
But he settled his grudge
With one veteran judge
When his band wrapped the twit in Saran.


Critic Michael Hordern's fate is sealed in Theatre of Blood.

Credit Scarred

His hold on top billing looked weak
When the scolds gave his skills a critique
But their cracks were addressed
And they acted impressed
When he rolled out his killer technique.


Vincent Price kills in Theatre of Blood (Douglas Hickox, 1973).

Senior Moment of Truth

They opined he's a massive cliche
Of a kind that was last year, passe
Much too musty a fart
To entrust with a part
Now they find they're all passing away.

Vincent Price interrupts a gathering of the London Critics Circle in Theatre of Blood. Verily edited by David Cairns.

Role Cull

One has passed with heart-stopping surprise
Soon the last will get popped in the eyes
Each fitting dead end
Makes a critic descend
The poor bastards are dropping like flies.

In Theatre of Blood, Vincent Price plays a disgruntled actor who is bumping off the stuffed shirts in the London Losers--er, um...Critics Circle. Constructive criticism by David Cairns.

An Actor's Knife for Me

This Lionheart, critics agreed
Should never be given the lead
Though he worked at his craft
Eddie smirked as if daft
Though at murder his gifts they'd concede.

In Theatre of Blood, Vincent Price is demented actor Edward Kendall Lionheart. With poor Harry Andrews and Diana Rigg. Title by David "Cutting Edge" Cairns.

The Heart of the Splatter

The performer, unbalanced, was miffed:
In awards for his talents he's stiffed
How he feels is expressed
When he steals from a chest
A warmed over valentine's gift.


Playing Shylock and rewriting The Merchant of Venice, Vincent Price removes a pound of flesh from critic Harry Andrews in Theatre of Blood. Lending a hand is Diana Rigg.

Blood, Sweat and Sneers

In performances Edward would pour
All his blood, sweat and tears and much more
But the critics grew bored
(And one twit even snored)
So he gored them and evened the score.


Vincent Price (as Shylock) gets in a dig at his critics in Theatre of Blood. With Harry Andrews and Diana Rigg.

Queer Factor

Don't provoke the King Lear in this player
Or the bloke turns Shakespearean slayer
Your new hairdo will fizzle
When like Paris you'll sizzle
And the joke can't appear any gayer.

Vincent Price, Diana Rigg and Coral Browne In Theatre of Blood. Image source: Negative Pleasure.

Only His Hairdresser Knows For Sure

Some critics and imps will insist

That Vincent was limp in the wrist
Was he actually gay?
Or just acting "that way"?

Such pics can't be simply dismissed.


My answer, of course, is "Who cares?" Vincent Price and Diana Rigg in Theatre of Blood. Image source: Vincent F***ing  Price. Thanks to D. Cairns for kibbitzing.

Hairdos and Don'ts

When looking to redo her hair
She's booked for a seat in his chair   
But it turns out the dryer
Just burns like a fryer
And she's cooked to a medium rare.


Coral Browne sizzles in Theatre of Blood. With Vincent Price.

Piping Hot Seat

With her pans a belittling roast,
He laid plans for a fitting riposte
So she's taken a seat            
Where she'll bake from the heat
First she's tans, then this critic is toast.

Coral Browne takes the hot seat in Theatre of Blood. With Diana Rigg and Vincent Price. For a treasure trove of stills, screen grabs and photos of Mr. Price, I urge you to visit this Vincent Price Tumblr blog.

Straight and Switch?

Forgive bad reviews from those dolts?
This livid scene-chewer revolts!
One burns to a crisp

When he turns on the lisp 

And gives her a few hundred volts. 

Vincent Price throws the switch in Theatre of Blood, and curls the hair of Coral Browne. Okay, maybe he stops just short of a lisp.

The Permanent Permanent

As a critic she's earned his abuse
She's a bitch and he's cooking her goose
When she's strapped in the chair

The poor sap's unaware
There's a switch which will turn on the juice.


Vincent Price warms up future wife Coral Browne in Theatre of Blood.

Afro Pics

At his hairiest Vince steals a scene
With the scariest mincing routine
Like some gay Carry On
And cliché de salon,
He's the fairy-est disco-dressed queen.


Camping it up as "Butch", Vincent Price wigs out in Theatre of Blood. With Coral Browne in curlers.