Fuest of the Few

His movies were magic and mad
Art deco and stylishly clad
Now the color in heaven's
Turned up to eleven
To welcome the pop-art de Sade.

David Cairns


English film director, screenwriter, and production designer Robert Fuest has died. His films include And Soon the Darkness (1970), The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971), Dr. Phibes Rises Again (1972), and The Final Programme (aka The Last Days of Man on Earth) (1973). Top: Feust directing Vincent Price in The Abominable Dr. Phibes. Above and below: Art deco sets from the film.

Mother, Slay I

His shrine to misogyny's apt
The mind in his noggin has snapped
Though his bride is the bomb,
He despises his mom,
And she finds the montage has her trapped.

Joan Bennett and Michael Redgrave in Secret Beyond the Door.

Diary of a Chamber Made

This lunatic's basement is filled
With rooms in which ladies were killed
To the smallest detail
They're installed without fail
Let's assume by the place she ain't thrilled.


Joan Bennett learns Michael Redgrave's Secret Beyond the Door (Fritz Lang, 1947). Redgrave gives a tour of his murder rooms here on YouTube. And our earlier limericking on this delirious damsel-in-distresser is right here on Limerwrecks.

Husband and Strife

A whirlwind romance and they wed
But the girl from the man should have fled
She married too soon
And was paired with a loon
Who's so squirelly he fancies her dead.

Michael Redgrave and Joan Bennett in Secret Beyond the Door ( Fritz Lang, 1947). That's right, post Vincent Price my mind is on the Fritz.

Secret Beyond the Door Man

To protect her the groom has to swear
But their wedding's a gloomy affair
What are vows to the louses
Who espouse killing spouses,
And collect rooms of doom in their lair?


Rosa Rey, Michael Redgrave, Joan Bennett and Natalie Schafer in Secret Beyond the Door (Fritz Lang, 1947).

Bride and Doom

You'll be bound to a morbid life mate
Live surrounded by horror and hate
Your bridal bouquet
Will dry and decay
Turn around now before it's too late.


Joan Bennett approaches the altar in Secret Beyond the Door ( Fritz Lang, 1947).

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 Ladies Manhunt

In the scariest nightmare he's hurled
A new terrible, frightening world
Great jeopardy lurks there
Though he's hep to the perks there
As it's very delightfully girled.

 

Fugitive Fridays stars David Janssen, seen here with his romance of the week, Antoinette Bower. Image source: Vintage, My Love. Title by David "Man-Lady" Cairns.

Shred Scissorhands

The elderly Vincent appears
And moves everybody to tears
Yet his black-clad creation
Has one aberration
He hasn't got fingers -- just shears.

David Cairns

Vincent Price and Johnny Depp in Edward Scissorhands (Tim Burton, 1990), a touching and fitting feature finale to Price's long career.

Sesame Street Cred

From humor Price wasn't aloof
His gruesome film image he'd spoof
His penchant for shock
He'd trenchantly mock
And foolishly act like a goof.


Vincent Price on The Muppet Show. Though most of Price's horror films are not comedies per se, they do contain plenty of humor, ranging from tongue-in-cheek to gallows black. And the actor enjoyed sending up his image as a horror star when he was a guest on radio and television. Image source: Tara @ Burachura

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