Wuchak
Written on 10/14/2021
_**The origin of the āSorcerer Supremeā (no, not Dr. Strange)**_
In 1506, a former sorcerer (Vincent Price) aids a lesser magician who has been turned into a raven (Peter Lorre) by a great wizard (Boris Karloff). When he learns that the ghost of his beloved dead wife (Hazel Court) has been seen at the castle of the great wizard, they venture there to find out, along with the sorcererās daughter and magicianās son (Olive Sturgess & Jack Nicholson).
Directed by Roger Corman and written by Richard Matheson, āThe Ravenā (1963) is a horror comedy inspired by Edgar Allen Poeās poem, spoofing Cormanās Poe flicks that were popular at the time. Itās amusing in the manner of the future āYoung Frankensteinā (1974), yet in lush color. The trained raven is effective while the stunning Hazel Court is a highlight on the feminine front. Meanwhile thereās Nicholson as a strapping young lad.
Despite being a comedy, fans of Marvelās Dr. Strange might be interested in āThe Ravenā since some of the concepts clearly inspired Stan Lee & Steve Ditko in the creation of that comic book character. For instance, the idea of a sorcerer supreme and the look of Dr. Strange, who initially resembled Price, as well as the mystic mĆŖlĆ©e of the sorcerers at the close, which features not only bolts of magic energy but āshieldsā to thwart opposing energies. Dr. Strangeās debut in Strange Tales #110 was on the racks a few months following the release of āThe Raven.ā
After the film was shot in 15 days, the superbly eerie sets were still available for a few days before demolition. Thus Corman acted quickly to concoct a script via Leo Gordon and enlisted Karloff & Nicholson for the quickie project, which turned out to be āThe Terror,ā released five months after this one. Boris said it was amusing the way Roger dashed around with him & the other actors filming scenes just a couple of steps ahead of the wreckers.
Unlike the goofiness of this film, āThe Terrorā is a thoroughly serious Gothic Horror in the mold of spooky Hammer flicks, Ć la āDracula, Prince of Darknessā (1966). So if you want to see a serious early 60ās horror movie utilizing the same superb sets, check it out. Itās impossible to compare the two since theyāre so different in tone, but I favor āThe Terror,ā which features a young Francis Ford Coppolaās early directorial work in the formidable section shot in Big Sur, California.
The film is trim at 1 hour, 26 minutes, and was shot in Los Angeles.
GRADE: B-
tmdb76622195
Written on 7/15/2023
Welcome to one of the few negative reviews of this film. There is a fine line between cheesy, campy, crappy horror film, and funny horror film. This falls into the former category. The plot concerns three sorcerers who try to outdo each other after they visit the gothic castle home of one. The plot gives way to humor that makes Adam Sandler at his worst look like Oscar Wilde. So many people find this stuff hilarious, but the lack of laughs makes this painful to watch. Corman did one masterpiece film, "Frankenstein Unbound," but his penchant for no budget and little thought to scripts have resulted in films on the level of Ed Wood. No one dares speak of this, however, because Corman is revered for giving up-and-comers their starts and always making a dime. Anyone can make a dime off a celluloid pile that costs a nickel. "The Raven" features Boris Karloff, Vincent Price, and Peter Lorre, and they are all terrible. They mug for the camera, and do not deliver one laugh. Jack Nicholson, young and fit, shows up in time to give no proof he would ever win Oscars. Corman's direction is standard, and Richard Matheson's screenplay seems like it was composed as the film progressed. I would put "The Raven" out for the night.
