The Vault of Horror, 1973.
What a silly film.
But I liked it enormously.
A positive galaxy of British stars lined up to give excellent performances. Especially Tom Baker and Terry-Thomas.
Each of the stories were memorable on account of not only the appalling sets but for the first rate acting ability of its stars. The scariest story was the first one, it was also the bloodiest in more ways than one.
The enigmatic Daniel Massey arrived in town to find his (on and off screen) sister the extraordinarily creepy Anna Massey. He found her and gave her the bad news about their father. Cut to a dire restaurant where the 'diners' looked thoroughly washed out and fed up. So Mr Massey left only to foolishly return later that night. Silly boy.
The restaurant was a place where the local vampire community hung out, so supper that dark chilly night, was Mr Massey.
You know what the blighters did, they, that's Dracula's cousins, only hung him up by his feet and attached a tap to his jugular.
I loved that bit.
No Bloody Mary's for me tonight if you don't mind. Make mine a Pimm's sweetie...
The other stories verged on the ridiculous but I lapped it up.
There was the one about the manic husband (Terry-Thomas) who wanted his home kept ship shape but whose new wife the very cute Glynis Johns was disaster on two legs. However hard she tried she messed up big time. In the merciful end she stuck a hammer in his head, then chopped the moaner into bite sized pieces and stuffed and pressed them into Kilner Jars. (see great pic above)
Neat now eh Terry darling?
The whole film was delightful nonsense from start to finish, and was just the thing for a sleepy Sunday afternoon on the settee. The excellent Milton Subotsky wrote the script along with Al Feldstein and William Gains.
Dependable Roy Ward Baker directed no doubt with a wry grin.
Great British stuff.
On the menu tonight:
Chicken Pie
Alright darling......?
