The Oblong Box (1969) is that Price film that kind of lingers on the periphery while the Red Deaths and Pit/Pendulums are right at the forefront getting all the attention. This isn't prime Price but his star power nonetheless is unmistakable even when he's considered hammy or not at his best, his name carries weight. A horse kills an African boy and supposedly Sir Edward is considered responsible, with a natives' disfiguring and sorcery of madness sentenced to him. Price is brother Sir Julian, himself not quite free of certain sins in Africa, where their business "plunders the land of its riches" (sugar) and is quite wealthy because of it. The dead boy's murder is a catalyst that springs all that befalls aligning forces associated with Edward and Julian... including a swindling attorney (a game Peter Arne), a witchdoctor (Harry Baird) brought from Africa, the attorney's colleague, and even a scientist (Christopher Lee) who pays for bodies supplied by Burke and Haire types robbing graves for him. Alistair Williamson could have been just a stunt double considering he's dubbed by a rich, textured English voice...
Hillary Dwyer is Price's love interest, but his Julian is as accursed as Edward...doom awaits them. Uta Levka as a busty hedonistic pub sex worker and Sally Geeson as a lusty maidservant offer less cherubic gals that aren't quite as classy as Dwyer...they're more carnal than cultured.
Edward goes mad over and over, leaving his trail of bodies, under the crimson hood, while Julian seems to be ready for happiness and marriage. These two will meet again.
Story has Arne's Trench orchestrating escape for Edward leaving him to remain buried alive. Graverobbers for Lee's surgical scientist dig Edward up, with matters spiralling out of control. Murders lead to Lee's doorstep, the crimson hood linked back to him. Cops now close to Lee has him ever most nervous.
A murdered hotel proprietor by Trench to supply a "face" representing his brother at a bed funeral, native sorcery, psycho under crimson hood, premature burial in the oblong box, and body snatching: another day at AIP!
Hillary Dwyer is Price's love interest, but his Julian is as accursed as Edward...doom awaits them. Uta Levka as a busty hedonistic pub sex worker and Sally Geeson as a lusty maidservant offer less cherubic gals that aren't quite as classy as Dwyer...they're more carnal than cultured.
Edward goes mad over and over, leaving his trail of bodies, under the crimson hood, while Julian seems to be ready for happiness and marriage. These two will meet again.
Story has Arne's Trench orchestrating escape for Edward leaving him to remain buried alive. Graverobbers for Lee's surgical scientist dig Edward up, with matters spiralling out of control. Murders lead to Lee's doorstep, the crimson hood linked back to him. Cops now close to Lee has him ever most nervous.
A murdered hotel proprietor by Trench to supply a "face" representing his brother at a bed funeral, native sorcery, psycho under crimson hood, premature burial in the oblong box, and body snatching: another day at AIP!
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