The Masque of the Red Death (1964) User Reviews (145)

Bold, Daring, Lurid.

[hitchcockthelegend · 7/10 · 4 May 2010]

Visually appealing and trippy in its telling, The Masque of the Red Death is a very acquired taste. Directed by Roger Corman, the film stars Vincent Price as the diabolical Prince Prospero who holds fear over a plague infested peasantry while jollying it up in his castle. The screenplay by Charles Beaumont and R. Wright Campbell is based upon a short story written by Edgar Allan Poe, while part of the film contains a story arc based on another Poe tale titled Hop-Frog. It's the 7th of 8 Corman film adaptations of Poe's works.

Sinister yet beautiful (Nicolas Roeg genius like on photography), "Red Death" has proved to be the most divisive of all the Corman/Poe adaptations. Choosing to forgo blood in favour of black magic dalliance and general diabolism, the film is arguably the most ambitious of all Corman's love affairs with Poe's literary works. With Price gleefully putting gravitas of meanness into Prospero, the film also greatly benefits from the intelligent input to the script from Beaumont (many Twilight Zone credits). This is, strangely, an intellectual type of horror film, offering up observations on the indiscrimination of death and proclaiming that cruelty is but merely a way of life.

God, Satan and a battle of faith, are all luridly dealt with as the story reaches its intriguing and memorable closure. It's a very tough film to recommend with confidence, and certainly it's not a film one wishes to revisit too often (myself having viewed it only twice in 30 years!). However, the one thing that is a cast iron certainty is that it's unlike most horror film's from the 60s. It's also one of Price's best performances. Gone is the camp and pomposity that lingered on many of his other horror characterisations, in its place is pure menace of being. A devil dealer shuffling his pack for all his sadistic worth.

You may feel afterwards that you must have eaten some weird mushrooms, or that the last glass of wine was one too many? You are however unlikely to forget "The Masque of the Red Death" in a hurry. 7/10

Each Man Makes His Own Heaven and His Own Hell

[claudio_carvalho · 7/10 · 3 October 2014]

The evil Prince Prospero (Vincent Price) is riding through the Catania village when he sees that the peasants are dying of Red Death plague. Prospero asks to burn down the village and he is offended by the villagers Gino (David Weston) and his father-in-law Ludovico (Nigel Green). He decides to kill them, but Gino's wife, the young and beautiful Francesca (Jane Asher), begs for the lives of her husband and her father and Prospero brings them alive to his castle expecting to corrupt Francesca. Propero worships Satan and invites his noble friends to stay in his castle that is a shelter of depravity against the plague. When Prospero invites his guests to attend a masked ball, he sees a red hooded stranger and he believes that Satan himself has attended his party. But soon he learns who his mysterious guest is.

"The Masque of the Red Death" is a stylish movie directed by Roger Corman, with wonderful cinematography by Nicolas Roeg and based on a story by Edgar Allan Poe. Vincent Price has a great performance in the role of an evil Prince that worships Satan and learns that Death has no master and that each man makes his own Heaven and his own Hell. The Death is very similar to the character dressed in black of Ingmar Bergman's "Det sjunde inseglet" (a.k.a. "the Seventh Seal"). My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "A Orgia da Morte" ("The Orgy of the Dearh")

An American Classic

[El_Rey_De_Movies · 8/10 · 3 November 2005]

This is one of those movies whose reputation and stature has grown over the years, and deservedly so. From the wonderful sets and costumes that are awash in color, to the eerie and bombastic score, all the way through to the Bergman-inspired ending, this film is a classic. But towering over the direction by Corman, the set design by Haller, and the cinematography by Roeg is the performance of Vincent Price as Prospero. Here is a man who has seen the pain and evil in the world, who is a humanist in the sense that he believes that we must all be true to our natures and because of this he cannot accept that the world is ruled by a benevolent God. His friend and companion Alfredo, played by Patrick Magee, agrees with him but there are still subtle differences between them. Prospero has turned, not to what he considers evil, but to what he considers truth and understanding because he just can't believe that God would allow so much pain and misery in a world that He made - therefore, God is dead and the world is ruled by Satan. Alfredo, on the other hand, is a cruel and sadistic sycophant who is constantly on the lookout for more 'entertainment', whether thru torture or sex...or both. The inclusion of the story of Hop-Toad and the dancer is a masterstroke in that it lengthens and deepens the movie while also providing a highly deserving comeuppance to Alfredo. Jane Asher as the peasant girl, Francesca, starts by despising Prospero as a tyrant but in the ending ballroom sequence she feels pity for him, and you know that Prospero has achieved his aim with her: she is no longer innocent. See how much meaning you can wring out of a low-budget horror movie? As for the transfer, excellent with vivid colors and a strong Dolby Digital mono soundtrack. The only drawback, and it's a minor one, is that there's no commentary track from Corman - that would have been a delight. Still, this is probably one of the top ten best American horror movies ever made.

Price at his Most Wicked!

[BaronBl00d · 26 September 1999]

Roger Corman has done an outstanding job with this film, possibly the best of his Poe adaptations. Although the film really is an incorporation of two Poe stories....The Masque of the Red Death and Hop-Frog...it is an excellent, atmospheric, quality piece of entertainment. At the core of the film's strength are the performance of Price as the evil, malignant, malicious Prince Prospero, follower of the devil and cruel sovereign of an area plagued with a all-consuming Red Death, and the fabulous period sets and costumes, many borrowed from the film Beckett. Price is at his best, and his turn as Prospero easily ranks as his most sinister and wicked performance(closely running against his portrayal of a witch hunter in The Conquerer Worm). Vincent Price blends outrageous showmanship with intricate subtleties of a man reasoning why he is what he is. The dialogue certainly is more important than the action in the story...a reason why some viewers(younger ones more than likely) will find film a bit tiresome. The sets and costumes are just gorgeous and the film looks like the most lavish ever made by Corman and company. A true modern masterpiece of the horror cinema!

Pretty Good for the Genre

[gbheron · 7/10 · 17 February 2002]

A reviewer linked to this site described "The Masque of the Red Death" as Bergmanesque. A Roger Corman film Bergmanesque? Since I've only seen one Ingmar Bergman film, and it bored me silly, this was not much of an endorsement.

When I was a kid and Corman's Edgar Alan Poe adaptations were new, they scared the be-jeebers out of me. So would have "The Masque of the Red Death". After watching the movie recently, I didn't gain any insight into Mr. Bergman's film style, but I was entertained. And happily, the movie is free of the campy acting that seeps into so many of the Corman opus. Especially good is Vincent Price as the Satan-worshipping Prince Prospero, in whose castle his debauched guests wait out the plague that is ravishing the countryside. Dark and grotesque, this is an excellent example of Corman's work. Actually, one of the best I've seen.

imaginative and colorful Edgar Allan Poe with awesome acting by the great Vincent Price

[ma-cortes · 7/10 · 17 May 2021]

Roger Corman's nice attempt at Edgar Allan Poe's terror tale in which evil Prince Prospero , Vincent Price , reunites at his castle a motley group of aristocrats until the creepy appearance of the Red Death. As the sadistic Prince and his sycophants trying to ignore the plague outside castle walls . As the Red Death is the deadly plague which has swept throughout villages and now menaces the besieged castle . Along the way , Prospero deals with a cunning devil and playfully murders any of his subjects not already dead of the plague . Look into this face : Shudder ...at the blood-stained dance of the Red Death! Tremble.?. To the hideous tortures of the catacombs of Kali ! Gasp .. at the sacrifice of the innocent virgin to the vengeance of Baal !

An essential and immortal masterpiece of the macabre written by Charles Beaumont , and produced in budget enough by James H Nicholson and Samuel Z Arkoff from American International Pictures . A highly stylish Roger Corman adaptation with Horror is still ever present , including eerie images , surprising scenarios and gorgeous costumes . Vincent Price gives a terrific acting , as always , by playing a sort of medieval Faust who has sold his soul to the Devil . He is accompanied by a pretty good cast , such as : Hazel Court , Jane Asher, Patrick Mcgee , David Weston , Nigel Green , and Skip Martin as a dwarf has a touching little romance revealing himself as rather a fine player . As all main and secondary cast delivering decent interpretations .There are other inferior versions about the brief novel by Poe , but pale compared to this 1964 film , such as : "Masque of Red Death" 1989 produced by Corman with Patrck Macnee , Adrian Paul , Maria Ford and "Masque of Red Death" 1990 by Alan Birkinshaw with Frank Stallone, Brenda Vaccaro, Herbert Lom.

It contains a glimmer and shining cinematography by Nicolas Roeg , subsequently a great filmmaker, being shot mostly in British studios . Thrilling and exciting musical score by David Lee. The motion picture was competently directed by horror expert Roger Corman and seven Poe adaptations , as he proved in "The Raven" , "The Terror" , "Tomb of Ligeia" , "The Haunted Palace" , "Premature Burial", "Tales of Terror" , "Tower of London" , "The Pit and the Pendulum", among others . Rating : 7/10. Better than average . Worthwhile seeing .

One of Corman's Better Poe Adaptations

[bsmith5552 · 7/10 · 14 August 2003]

"The Masque of the Red Death" is another in the series of Edgar Allan Poe adaptations from Producer/Director Roger Corman. It has been compared in style to the films of Ingmar Bergman (particularly in the dream and masquerade sequences) and is one of Corman's personal favorites from the series.

The evil Prince Prospero (Vincent Price) discovers the "Red Death" in a tenant farmer village and burns it down. He takes protesters Juliana (Jane Asher), her father (Nigel Green) and her lover Gino (David Weston) to his castle, imprisoning the men and taking Juliana into his household. There she meets Prospero's mistress Juliana (Hazel Court) who becomes jealous of her.

On hearing mysterious noises one night, Francesca wanders through the cavernous castle and discovers that Prospero and Juliana are satanists and have plans to bring her into the "fold". Prospero believes that his "master" will protect all who are within his walls from the "Red Death". He arranges to have all of his so-called friends brought into the castle where they are entertained by their host. He announces that the evening will climax with a midnight masquerade ball. But an uninvited guest crashes the party.

Vincent Price is really nasty in the lead and gives one of his better performances. Jane Asher is appealing as the young Francesca and the lovely Hazel Court makes a beautiful bride of satan. This film is aided by the fact that it was filmed in England and was able to employ many gifted English character players in the supporting roles. In addition to those mentioned, there is Patrick Magee as Alfredo, who is equally as evil as Prospero, Skip Martin as the dwarf Hop Toad, little Verina Greenlaw as the dancer Esmeralda and Robert Brown as a prison guard.

This movie has to be viewed in wide screen in order to appreciate the panoramic shots within the castle, the beautiful color photography and the eerie shadows of the night.

Useless Trivia Dept.

1. Jane Asher is the sister of Peter Asher of Peter and Gordon pop music fame;

2. She was also linked romantically with Beatle Paul Macartney at the time this film was made;

3. Nigel Green would achieve greater fame as Inpector Nayland Smith in the Fu Manchu series with Christopher Lee; 4. Although I can't confirm this, I swear that that is Christopher Lee's voice coming from the red cloaked figure.

Jane Strikes Out Vincent

[Dan1863Sickles · 9/10 · 29 May 2004]

Baseball writers like to say that while fans pay to see home runs, it's actually pitching that wins ball games. The great teams are always strong up the middle, whether a power hitter is in the line-up or not.

Vincent Price was the Babe Ruth of horror. Always at his chilling best, he gave hundreds of brilliant performances, but made only a handful of good movies. Why? He always hit home runs, yet most of the time he had to be the whole show. Evil was alive in his movies but good was either shadowy or non-existent.

THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH is a masterpiece because for once Vincent is up against goodness that is rich, alluring, attractive and unique. Jane Asher gives an indelible performance as Francesca, the village girl who refuses to be cowed or corrupted by the suave, satanic lord. Though so waif-like and fragile that she could almost be a child, the beautiful redhead has the courage of her convictions and the real dignity of innocence.

Watch the early scene where she is roughly undressed by handmaidens and forced into a hot bath in order to become more ladylike. Evil Count Prospero comes in to leer at her, of course, and she confronts him. While the steamy sensuality is certainly there, the astonishing thing is the dignity with which Francesca conducts herself. Once the evil lord is gone, she rises from her bath (discreetly wrapped in a towel) and announces to Prospero's jaded mistress Juliana, "I will do what I must to save my men. But if they die, I will die -- and so will Prince Prospero."

For once Vincent Price has something to work against, and the result is the richest, most colorful and rewarding film of his career. In the story line Jane strikes out Vincent, as Prospero is ultimately defeated -- but for once the slugger is playing on a World Series team.

Beware The Sins

[AaronCapenBanner · 7/10 · 5 October 2013]

Roger Corman directed this adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's short story, as Vincent Price plays the evil Prince Prospero, who brutally rules over the local peasantry, and abducts a beautiful girl who catches his eye, Francesca(Jane Asher). He promises not to hurt her, but instead seeks to corrupt her innocence by inviting her over to his castle, where many guests have gathered both for their debauchery, as well as an escape from the plague, a red death that ravages the countryside. Prospero's wife Juliana(Hazel Court) is also evil, and promised to Satan. Francesca's village will attempt a rescue, leading to an apocalyptic climax, as sins will be punished...

Superbly written, directed, and acted film is quite literate and atmospheric, with richly saturated colors, striking religious symbolism and a chilling end make this a winner.

A brilliant tale of 'intellectual' evil. Probably Corman's finest achievement!

[Coventry · 10/10 · 3 March 2004]

Who ever said Roger Corman is a no-good director, only capable of shooting sleazy quickies??? All the amateur-critics who live by this statement should urgently watch 'The Masque of the Red Death' and reconsider. True, Corman depended on a magnificent and professional crew here.but it remains his achieving mostly. First and foremost, the most thrilling Edgar Allen Poe short story sets the right tone. Out of his entirely brilliant oeuvre, this fable is probably the most horrifying one. The over-talented Charles Beaumont adapted this into a compelling and intense script and the wholesome is wonderfully cinematographed by Nicolas Roeg. The same Roeg who went on making cool movies himself like 'Don't Look Now' or 'Track 29' to only name a few. Last but certainly not least, the legendary Vincent Price gives away one of the most stunning performances in his rich career.

The Masque of the Red Death is the greatest and most ambitious film in Corman's Poe cycle and therefore it should get all the credit and praising it can possibly get. The atmosphere this film breathes is the most horrifying one I ever witnessed and the fable's theme is pure terror! Vincent Price is the absolute top as the wealthy servant of Satan who thinks his safely locked away in his castle while the plague of the Red Death crosses through the countryside.killing all the poor villagers. Inside the walls of his ghoulish castle (with the scariest cellars you'll ever see), Price entertains a group of rich and spoiled bastards by thinking up diabolical games and throwing eccentric parties. He's convinced that Satan protects him and that the plague of the Red Death can't do any harm. 'The Masque of Red Death' does something here that is practically unique! There where all other horror movies can't fulfill in telling a satanic tale without showing a huge amount of bloodshed, Corman's film achieves this effect easily thanks to its atmosphere, its intelligent structure and side plots, the costumes and scenery and the beautiful use of colors. There's a genius scene in which a possessed Hazel Court walks from chamber to chamber.each of them shown in a different color. In short. The Masque of Red Death belongs to the absolute top of horror cinema ever! One of the most fascinating films of the sixties and the ideal proof that horror will never see highlights like this anymore.

Impressive Adaptition // Arthouse of the 60's

[TwistedContent · 7/10 · 21 February 2021]

For a long time already I've been meaning to venture about into the Corman's world, and see more works of Vincent Price, and as a bonus I'm a fan of Edgar Allan Poe, so I'd say "The Masque of Read Death" is a great place to start. I have read the tale many years ago, and it still stands as one of my favorite pieces of Poe, right besides "The Pit and the Pendulum". I truly wasn't sure what to expect from an adaptation, but for what is in fact a real low-budget feature, it is impressively visually rich, atmospheric, oddly compelling, and has Vincent Price just dripping in evils and charm.

"The Masque of Read Death" sees the lands in the grip of the red plague, and follows tyrannical Prince Prospero (Vincent Price), who terrorizes locals, and pretty much everyone below him, while hiding from the Read Death in his castle. Along with many wealthy nobles and the bourgeoisie, Prospero hosts a masquerade ball, entertaining himself and being oblivious of the imminent danger.

Roger Corman's ambitious adaptation is a real arthouse horror cinema of the 60's, quite 'trippy' in all regards. The story, up to the end, is quite mean and bizarre, with immoral shenanigans being orchestrated by the diabolical Prince Prospero. Before arriving at his castle, Prospero takes with him (kidnaps) peasant girl Francesca (Jane Asher), and imprisons her father and brother, before burning down their village. In the castle, Prospero is law, his entertainments are cruel and dirty, and any efforts to escape or change the odds will fail. It is not those under him, who will deal with Prospero. Vincent Price has magnificent charisma, and all the wit to convey most mischievous deeds. Evil suave. He marches through the guests, and rooms, all richly dressed in bright colors, filling up the atmosphere with gothic and peculiar feels. Corman has really went nuts with the production design, and it's almost amazing how well it actually worked. Most of the filler may very well be melodrama, lots of it, but the house filled of devil-worshippers doesn't fail to entertain, and even though, against Price, the 'good' pole of "The Masque of Red Death" is imbalanced, the atmosphere is consistent right up to the fevery finale.

This blend of malevolent terror, surreal-like imagery and gothic vibes holds up surprisingly well, and it's easy enough to marvel at its peculiarities, while gently passing the flaws. I can attest to the fact that this is a good first entry into the Corman's world. Or Price's. Or Poe's. My rating: 7/10.

I can't believe Roger Corman directed this masterpiece!

[Casey-52 · 9/10 · 17 October 2000]

For those of you who are fans of director Roger Corman's classic 50s sci-fi films like ATTACK OF THE CRAB MONSTERS, IT CONQUERED THE WORLD, or THE WASP WOMAN, you are going to be surprised that this is the same man who directed MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH. Superbly directed and beautifully composed, MASQUE is the first and best of Corman's Poe films of the 1960's.

Prince Prospero (played with just enough venom by Vincent Price) is an evil tyrant who hates his citizens and thinks nothing of burning their village to the ground. Holding a weekend get-together for his noble acquaintances, he discovers that the Red Death has manifested itself in the village around his castle. He kidnaps the beautiful Francesca (the wonderful Jane Asher), her lover Gino, and her father and keeps them in the castle with him. Prospero is a Satan worshipper as well and forces the princess, Juliana, to brand herself with an upside-down cross and sics his falcon on her when he feels like it. All the while, the Red Death decimates the land outside the castle and eventually makes its grand entrance during a masque.

Corman has certainly matured over the years. His filmmaking techniques are no longer shoestring or cheap. Here, it is obvious that he has developed a taste for color, atmosphere, tone, and lighting. MASQUE features his best work as a director and is only rivalled, in my opinion, by TALES OF TERROR, a later Poe anthology. Vincent Price proves once again why he has won the hearts of genre fans everywhere. I can only compare his performance here to that in HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL, only better. Jane Asher does a splendid job here, but Hazel Court, Hammer's resident scream queen, has little to do here as Juliana. The final images of the film set during the masque are breathtaking and will stun those expecting cheap gothic thrills a la THE UNDEAD, an earlier Corman work.

MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH is very deserving of a new VHS/DVD release. Fans of Price or Corman should definitely seek this out, as it is probably both mens' greatest work. Highly recommended.

Please Don't Wear Red Tonight...

[slokes · 6/10 · 15 February 2012]

The mood of "Masque Of The Red Death" is so perfectly formed, with its eerie music and sumptuously alien set design, that one wishes it had a better-constructed story to go with it. What is there is effective enough to at least pass the time, if not completely satisfy.

Vincent Price is the diabolical Prince Prospero, who worships Satan and relishes the opportunity to inflict pain on his poor subjects. His view is that he is not being cruel but practical. "Can you look around the world and believe in the goodness of a god that rules it?" he asks his Christian captive Francesca (Jane Asher). He simply wants to play for the winning team, and decides to crown his service with a festive ball celebrating evil's reign while his realm is ravaged by the disfiguring scourge called "The Red Death."

The greatness of "Masque Of The Red Death" is immediately apparent in Nicolas Roeg's immersive color photography, showcased in Prospero's lair of color-coded rooms and smoky incantations. Entering his great hall, Prospero is trailed by a camera that gives us a nearly 360-degree view of a two-level set where assorted people cavort in variegated medieval garb. It's a stunning visual panorama that gives the lie to director Roger Corman's reputation as a cheapo schlockmeister.

Price is effective when given the chance, sinister with the driest traces of humor. When Francesca asks Prospero about two other prisoners he took from her village, he coolly replies: "Your father and your lover are being quartered...in a warm and safe place."

Yet Prospero is a character Corman and his screenwriters seem to have trouble placing. Is he truly a villain of the worst construction, or is he a noble character, seeking a kind of transcendence in a world he sees clearer than most? He calls his attempts at leading Francesca down his hellish path as "not corrupting...instructing," and there are moments when "Red Death" plays up this clinical, anti-religious strain to deliver real chills. But maybe because it's a Corman adaptation of an Edgar Allan Poe story, Prospero is played up for the most part as a comic-book baddie, whose gloating redlines as he and his agents inflict horrible cruelties.

While the main storyline ping-pongs between Bergmanesque philosophizing and "Tales From The Crypt" skullduggery, the short movie is padded with a couple of subplots. One wastes the luscious Hazel Court as a would-be mistress of Satan who prostrates herself before her evil lord in a scene that would have been sexier without Roeg overdoing the trick photography. The other employs the Poe story "Hop-Frog," to somewhat better effect than the main act. It's a simple if creepy revenge story that benefits from a short running time (about 15 minutes all told), a wow finish, and the movie's best two performances by Skip Martin as the seemingly docile Hop-Toad and Patrick Magee as the sneering noble Alfredo, as vicious as Prospero but of "blunter sensibilities."

Outside of the "Hop-Frog" sequence, a number of scenes do have bite. The metaphysics of the film are layered rather cleverly, agnostic with strains of blacker night throughout, but not without a sense of Godly hope for those inclined to notice them. The point of Satan's majesty is hammered often, yet we are also told "Satan does not rule alone." Perhaps it just means the Red Death doesn't play by Satan's playbook, but there's a suggestion that mercy can co-exist with evil, if not quite override it.

Corman struggles with his own worst excesses all the way through to the end. A final scene has Prospero whining about someone wearing the color red to his big party, and getting the shock of his life as things turn rather sour. This gets wince-inducing with its bad choreography, dripping blood, and Price hamming it up for the cheap seats, yet for a pulp horror film "Masque" works its black magic well - if only in fits and starts.

Didn't do anything for me.

[poolandrews · 4/10 · 25 August 2005]

The Masque of the Red Death starts with an old woman in a forest talking to a mysterious figure completely dressed in red, back at her village Cartania the evil, sadistic & cruel Prince Prospero (Vincent Price) who rules the land through fear discovers that she has caught the red death. Knowing that the disease will spread & kill everyone Prospero takes a young woman named Francesca (Jane Asher), her lover Gino (David Weston) & her Father Ludovico (Nigel Green) for a spot of entertainment back at his castle where Prospero feels he will be safe from the red death. As Prospero holds a extravagant Masque for his rich & influential guests there is one uninvited guest, a guest dressed entirely in red...

Produced & directed by Roger Corman I was disappointed after all the good things I had heard. The script by Charles Beaumont & R. Wright Campbell based on a couple of short stories 'The Masque of the Red Death' & 'Hop-Frog' by Edgar Allan Poe just didn't do a thing for me, I found it overlong, dragged & lacked focus. It mixes a love triangle, revenge, devil worship, religion, a plague, two dancing dwarfs & a guy in a gorilla suit. The story neither interested or gripped me. I also didn't like the look of it, the sets were garish & like they belonged in a Disney film with all the bright colours. I thought this was meant to be a horror film? The cobweb encrusted dungeons apart The Masque of the Red Death is best viewed through sunglasses. There is very little horror except the last 10 or 15 minutes & as a whole I found the film rather dull. Having said that it does what it sets out to reasonably well, it has good solid production values & is technically well made throughout although having just finished watching it mere hours ago I simply can't remember that much about it which is definitely not a good thing to say. The acting is OK & Vincent Price is always fun to watch. I personally like The Pit and the Pendulum (1961) far more than this & still remains my favourite Corman adapted Poe. The Masque of the Red Death is not a film I can recommend despite all the positive word of mouth, very disappointing.

A slap in the face for Corman's critics! An atmospheric and imaginative adaptation of one of Poe's most intriguing stories.

[Infofreak · 30 January 2003]

Roger Corman frequently gets a hard time from misguided movie snobs who look down on b-grade and exploitation movies. While Corman undoubtedly was involved in more than his fair share of silly schlock (usually as a producer rather than a director), he also made some wonderful movies that are criminally underrated. Some of his best movies as a director were the series of Edgar Allen Poe adaptations he made in the Sixties starring horror legend Vincent Price. 'The Masque Of The Red Death' is quite possibly the very best in the series. It is certainly the most unusual and imaginative. Now I'm not sure whether it was filmed in Britain or not, but Price is supported by a largely British cast which includes Jane Asher ('The Stone Tape'), Hazel Court (Hammer's 'Curse Of Frankenstein'), and the legendary character actor Patrick Magee ('Dementia 13', 'A Clockwork Orange'). That and the fact that the cinematographer is none other than Nic Roeg(!), later to become famous for such classics as 'Performance', 'Don't Look Now' and 'The Man Who Fell To Earth', leads me to believe that it was made in England. The involvement of the aforementioned, and a strong script co-written by the talented Charles Beaumont (try and track down some of his short stories, you'll be impressed), make this a memorable experience. But Corman's direction should be given credit, and the single best thing about it is Vincent Price himself, who gives one of his very best performances. This movie has it all, striking visuals, an intriguing plot (with a stronger Satanic theme than generally seen in most mainstream horror movies), good acting, suspense, plenty of atmosphere, and some striking dream-like imagery many have compared to Bergman's 'Seventh Seal'. 'The Masque Of The Red Death' is one of Roger Corman's greatest achievements and one of the very best horror movies made in the 1960s. It has lost very little of its impact over the years and is still essential viewing for any horror fan, or anybody who appreciates imaginative cinema.

The best of the Poe - Corman - Price big screen adaptations

[mwilson1976 · 7/10 · 17 February 2020]

For the best of his big screen Edgar Allan Poe adaptations, Roger Corman hot footed it to England where the movie qualified for the Eady Levy affording it a greater budget and filming time. Corman expanded Pope's original story to incorporate plot elements from another of his short stories called 'Hop-Frog,' and the macabre affair sees villainous Vincent Price playing the evil Prince Prospero, a devil worshipping and cruel dictator in medieval Italy, who holes up in his castle with the local gentry while the local peasants are ravaged by the plague. Shot in glorious technicolour by a certain Nicolas Roeg on sets used for the BAFTA award winning movie 'Becket,' the movie is more like a work of art than a film. Roeg use of blood red colour will sear your corneas, and the climatic dance of death is a particular highlight. The impressive supporting cast includes Jane Asher, Nigel Green and Patrick Magee (who is set on fire whilst wearing a gorilla suit by a vengeful Skip Martin).

And The Red Death Held Sway Over All

[ShootingShark · 6/10 · 30 December 2006]

In Europe in the Middle Ages, a lethal plague, Red Death, is sweeping the countryside. The corrupt and corpulent Prince Prospero holds a grand masque in his castle whilst the peasants suffer outside, but Death is an uninvited guest ...

This is the penultimate of Corman's eight sumptuous Edgar Allan Poe adaptations, and one of two made in Britain (the other being The Tomb Of Ligeia). There really isn't much of a plot (the story is only six pages long), just a setup; we gaze aghast at the fat, gaudy revellers sinking in sin and the hideous, world-weary and sinister Prospero presiding over them, and wait for the moment of reckoning. What the movie is really about instead is creating the unholy atmosphere of satanic decadence described in the story, and this is where it really scores. Daniel Haller's sets are astonishing and the incredible photography is by Nicolas Roeg and operator Alex Thomson (who went on to be a great director and a great cameraman respectively). The use of colour is just stunning throughout; the left-profile shot of Court as she walks from the black room to the main hall (and a memorable death) is incredible; the purples and yellows just leap off the screen. Price and Asher are perfectly cast as amused corrupter and wide-eyed innocent, although my favourite is Court as Beelzebub's Hussy, whose gowns are the lowest-cut you'll ever see in a movie. My favourite in this series is The Pit And The Pendulum (mostly because of Barbara Steele), but this is undoubtedly the artiest and the most visually splendid.

Vincent Price, We Salute You!

[rainking_es · 7/10 · 24 July 2004]

The Masque Of The Red Death is one of the last Roger Corman's adaptation of an Edgar Allan Poe's story. Before this one he adapted titles such as Premature Burial, House Of Usher, The Raven, or Pit And The Pendulum (after The Masque he made one last adaptation: Tomb Of Ligeia). Always counting with the glorious presence of Mr. Vicent Price (except on Premature Burial -Ray Milland played the main role in that movie-). I've read each and every Edgar Allan Poe's stories, and I must say that Corman made the best cinema adaptation from Poe's tales. What I see in Roger Corman's adaptation is exactly what I saw on my mind as I read House Of Usher, Premature Burial, etc. And he made all those movies spending a few bucks, that is praiseworthy enough.

The Masque tells the story of Prince Prospero (Vincent Price), a mean and cruel tyrant which decides to invite all of his friends to his castle so they can be protected against the Red Death (sort of a medieval disease). Prospero has sold his soul to the devil, 'cause he thinks that way he will beat death. And we can see how decadent his friends are, and how heartless.

Corman perfectly recreates the castle atmosphere, its dungeons, its rooms, its sounds. Vincent Price has always performed arrogant and cruel characters better than anyone, with his theatrical ways, his looks, his magnificent voice, and so he does with Prince Prospero. The Masque may not be a masterpiece, but Price's performing sure it is. Too bad Vincent Prince has never been considered as one of the best classic actors ever (just like Lawrence Olivier or Charles Laughton), maybe because he got stagnating in terror movies (b-movies the more of the times); it's the same with Lugosi or Karloff. Superb actors which played always the same roles. But I'm sure that any of them were as talented as Laughton, Olivier, or Alec Guinness... It's worth watching The Masque Of Red Death even if it's just for Vincent Price's work. He belongs to an actors lineage that no longer exists.

PS: Though this movie is fully based on Edgar Allan Poe's "The Masque Of The Red Death", Corman introduced some parts from another Poe's tale: Hop Frog (the one about the dwarf and the tiny woman)... And I must say that it perfectly fits The Masque Of...

My Rate: 7/10 (11/10 as for Price's work)

A wonderful blend of surreal imagery and pure terror

[The_Void · 10/10 · 7 January 2005]

For this entry in his Poe series, Roger Corman decided to move the production to England. Not for artistic reasons, just because films made in England at that time got a government subsidy, and thus keeping his costs down. That's what I love about Corman - he brings a whole new meaning to the term 'penny pinching', and on the whole he has proved to cinema audiences the world over that great films don't need massive budgets and can excel on a shoestring. The Masque of the Red Death is another triumph over low budget, and sees horror's premier team of Vincent Price, Roger Corman and, of course, Edgar Allen Poe team up to great effect once again. This Poe story follows the evil Prince Prospero, a man who believes that his master, the Lord of Flies (Satan to you and me), will grant him and his friends that are taking refuge in his castle safety from the disease known as the 'red death' that is laying waste to the surrounding towns and villages.

This is a very different production to the earlier films in Corman's Poe cycle. The sets are much more lavish and on the whole, it's on a much larger scale. This also marks something of a departure for the Poe protagonist. As usual, he's portrayed by Vincent Price (the finest horror actor to ever live) but unlike the parts he'd played for Corman so far, this character is a strong and malicious presence, and therefore a far cry from the more pathetic characters he played films like 'The Fall of the House of Usher' and 'The Pit and the Pendulum'. As usual, however, Price approaches this role with relish and completely makes it his own. His malicious tone fits the Prince Prospero character like a glove, and you cannot imagine anyone but Price in the role. The character is a typical Poe labyrinth and helps to maintain the interest and malicious intent that the film presents for it's running time.

The story is one of absolute terror, and through Corman's surreal use of colours and atmosphere, he makes the best of it and the result is a truly terrifying tale of faith, disease and death. There are many macabre events in the film, but none of them go over the top with gore, nor are they especially sleazy. The film is consistent throughout, and it's obvious that everyone involved knew exactly what they wanted to achieve with it. The story revolves around having faith, whether it be faith in God or indeed in the Devil. The Masque of the Red Death professes that every man creates his own hell, and the way that is presented on screen is magnificent, just like the rest of this great film.

A Decent Movie That Could Have Done Without The Satanic Theme

[sddavis63 · 7/10 · 7 January 2012]

This is based on a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, one of several adaptations of Poe stories produced by producer/director Roger Corman in the 60's, most of which starred Vincent Price, as did this one. It's not by any means a perfect or even faithful adaptation of the Poe story. In fact, it actually combines elements of the Poe story of the same name with another Poe story named "Hop-Frog," although in this movie that dwarf character is named "Hop-Toad." Corman's movie follows the Poe story in revolving around the main character of Prince Prospero (Price). Prospero is an evil, sadistic prince, who takes great delight in cruelty, and in humiliating even the wealthiest and highest ranking of his subjects. Discovering that the "Red Death" (a form of plague) has entered a nearby village, he walls himself up (along with many of his wealthy subjects and a young lady from the village to whom he had taken a shine, and whose father and lover he had imprisoned in his dungeons) in his castle to stay clear of the pestilence.

What happens in the castle is actually a pretty good depiction of the darker side of human nature. Prospero is cruel and sadistic, and his subjects are greedy and selfish and concerned mostly with their own pleasure; willing to be subjected to Prospero's humiliations in order to curry favour with him. Francesca (the girl from the village, played by Jane Asher) tries to hold on to her essential goodness in the midst of the insanity she sees around her. While the movie stayed focused on this, it was interesting and at times even frightening. Where Corman went off base was in introducing a rather silly religious sub-theme to the movie (although in the end it turns out to be more than just a sub- theme) which I don't believe was present in the Poe story. So Prospero turns out to be not just cruel and sadistic, but is in fact a Satan worshipper. Francesca, on the other hand, is a rather innocent but faithful Christian who has to deal with the possibility of giving up her soul to the devil as a result of all that. Indeed, the religious sub- theme - to me at least - didn't work very well and added very little aside from an unfortunate element of silliness that detracted from what was otherwise a decent movie.

I will say that of the Corman films I've seen (not all of them by any means, but a few) this was one of the better ones. Because it dealt fairly seriously (in a Corman-esque sort of way) with that study of human nature at its worst, it didn't have as much of the "campy" feel that often takes over his movies, and Vincent Price offered what I considered one of the better performances I've seen him in. This is by no means a perfect movie, nor is it a good or faithful adaptation of the Poe story. It is, however, interesting and entertaining, particularly if you can let go of the whole "Satanic" theme and appreciate the study of that darker side of human nature that this really should have revolved around. (7/10)

Possibly the Best Corman film

[theowinthrop · 10/10 · 31 October 2006]

When Edgar Allan Poe wrote THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH, I keep thinking he was thinking about some classic literature of the past. First, he is taking (and inverting) the basic plot of Boccacio's collection of short stories THE DECAMERON. If you recall, ten young people (five men and five women) of aristocratic families go to the country to avoid the plague in Florence. They entertain each other by each telling ten stories a night to the others - mostly dealing with love. They survive the plague as a result. Poe's Prince takes all his friends and fellow aristocrats out of a plague drenched countryside and they go to his castle in the hills. But at the end they all die. The other classic story is William Shakespeare's final great play, THE TEMPEST, wherein the master of the island and of all the elements nature (which he controls as a wizard) is Prospero, former Duke of Milan (pronounced Millon). Here, the Prince Prospero is unable to control nature and all die as a result.

The story THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH is about the inevitability of fate and death - nobody can avoid it, no matter how hard they build up walls, and in the end they end up searching out for it (and finding it).

Roger Corman, as I mentioned in discussing his film about Richard III, took to Edgar Allan Poe as no other major director of horror had before him. But he had to expand it. Poe only wrote one novel, THE NARRATIVE OF ARTHUR GORDON PYM OF NANTUCKET (although he tried to do a second one called THE JOURNAL OF JULIUS RODMAN). Most of his writings are short stories, poetry, one play, and essays of criticism or philosophy. His best short stories are meant to be read within one hour or two at most. A great story, like THE TELL-TALE HEART, can be read with forty minutes, as it's story line is fairly concise and it is the choice and sound of words that carries it's best affects (i.e., the sound of the heart of the victim). So a filmed record of a Poe story should really be about thirty minutes tops, as visual effects replace (or enhance) the verbal ones.

Corman, therefore, had to expand the story line - good as Poe made it originally. First, he makes Prospero a Satan worshiper and sadist. Then, he adds a mild subplot involving one of Prospero's guests (Alfredo - Patrick Magee) and Prospero's dwarf jester Hop - Toad (Skip Martin), which is actually the plot of Poe's story HOP-FROG. There is also two expansions of the plot tied to the Prince: his kidnapping of Francesca (Jane Asher), Gino (David Weston) and Ludovico (Nigel Green) and the doomed hope of Juliana (Hazel Court) to achieve the goals of total acceptance by Satan in order to secure her hold on Prospero.

The end result is not bloated, phony-Poe, but a serious philosophical debate that the evil Prospero actually articulates: He explains to Francesca that he became a Satanist because of serious questions he had about the validity of Christianity. He sees the world as a mess, kept in order only by the powerful and wealthy. He feels that the God of Christianity (of "Love") is actually dead - killed centuries before. Whatever is running the world is not a God of Love. Francesca, of course, is a simpler type who keeps insisting that love and hope make life far more pleasant and bearable than Prospero's view implies. She is as set in her views as he is in his. This philosophical balance remains to the end, although until the end does come through, Francesca actually commits herself to trying to see it from Prospero's point of view (a very remarkable willingness to get a complete view of things - but she never does have to follow through with this offer).

Is there some truth to Prospero's viewpoint? Many viewers are turned off by his willingness to make sadistic tests and punishments (even sadistic "joke" games on his willing guests). But what do people like Francesca and Gino, despite their love, have to look forward to? The townspeople who die at the hands of the Red Death had very poor, awful lives (it's the Middle Ages folks), and at the end the Red Death and his fellow deaths comment that at least they brought peace to the people who died. But that hardly seems a worthwhile conclusion or goal. Die and you'll be peaceful and happy? While Satanism is no answer, certainly some way of pushing up living standards would be.

The film holds up very nicely, and leaves one thinking at the end - what is the point of balance that makes life more than mere temporary existence and actually worth living? It is certainly one of the most thought provoking horror films Corman created.

Death and Prospero

[Prismark10 · 7/10 · 19 September 2014]

Roger Corman is known for cheapo exploitation horror and producing more Oscar winning protégés than anyone else in film history.

Corman also has an eye for a bargain and when he shot The Masque of the Red Death in England the deal he had with the film studio was that he could use existing sets made for bigger budget films. So this movie recycles the existing sets given the movie grandeur even though its a low budget film.

However the film has more than an atmosphere provided by its scenery, its terrifically written giving it an eerie and cerebral quality, add some good acting led by Vincent Price who stays on the right side of ham as the local prince who worships Satan and who believe he and his wealthy friends are safely locked up in his castle while the Red Death sweeps the village.

This is a film adaptation of an Edgar Allan Poe novel that gives it justice.

Pretty engrossing non scary horror film.

[Fella_shibby · 8/10 · 19 April 2021]

I first saw this in the early 90s on a vhs n found it to be boring.

Revisited it recently n found it to be engrossing n a different horror film.

It has a lovely performance by Price, amazing cinematography n i feel this is Corman's best directorial effort.

Comparisons with The Seventh Seal n Salvador Dali's imagery is bound to crop up but like the artist Dali himself quoted, "Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing".

The hallucination scene aka the psychedelic dream sequence is top notch.

The plague infested villages, isolated castles, decked halls, sumptuous bathrooms, the altar-rooms, the dungeons, the torture chambers, etc are amazingly captured.

Another highlight is the character Hop Toad played wonderfully by Skip Martin.

a rare stab at quality from the king of the B-movies

[mjneu59 · 6/10 · 5 December 2010]

The decadent Prince Prospero takes a break from his assorted arcane Satanic incantations and rituals to throw an elaborate costume ball in defiance of the plague laying waste the countryside outside his castle walls, unaware that the festivities are soon to be crashed by an uninvited guest. The combination of Edgar Allen Poe's high-minded aspirations with a typically thrifty Roger Corman budget was something the writer himself might have approved of: a literate horror story with just enough camp appeal to give it box office clout among undiscriminating teenage moviegoers. Corman's expansion of the original story is suitably macabre and highly visual (Nicholas Roeg provided the striking cinematography), but his updated Death moves in mysterious ways, striking down high and low alike but sparing (why?) the pure at heart. The urbane malevolence of Vincent Price adds the perfect touch of evil; after twenty years in show business he made his reputation with Corman's adaptations of the work of the celebrated poet and manic-depressive.

Doesn't Age Well

[Zoopansick · 2/10 · 16 September 2003]

I just saw the Masque of the Red Death today in it's entirety and am baffled by all the positive reviews (10s??). The movie really shows its age and is very slow moving, and NEVER scary or suspenseful. I firmly believe that poe is a million times better when read and not seen, and I think that this helps my point (though I will concede that there are some decent adaptations of him). Consider all of the bright colors used in the movie and the painful 60s lighting effects. That isn't Poe at all. It isn't dark or murky, and the only winning aspect of the movie is Vincent Price. The pace of the movie is very slow (even for a 80 minute feature), and the characters are really flat and boring. If you are looking for a scary movie or even a thriller, don't look here. If you are looking for a good Vincent Price vehicle, don't look here. If you are looking to be bored look here.

Zoopansick