The Vincent Price TV Special That’s A Halloween Treat, Stream For Free
There has yet to be a connoisseur of mystery and macabre who has made as profound an impact on the horror genre as Edgar Allan Poe. But if anyone could give Poe a run for his money, it would be Vincent Price, a renowned American actor celebrated for his exceptional portrayals in the horror genre, whose name has become just as synonymous with the eerie and morbid as The Raven himself. Throughout his illustrious career, Price delivered countless memorable performances, but it’s his renditions in An Evening with Edgar Allan Poe that truly brought these two horror masters together, and the production is currently available to stream for free on YouTube.
Price was to perform four Poe stories, all written in the first person and all portrayed by Price himself.
According to Bloody Disgusting, Vincent Price’s association with the literary master of the macabre, Edgar Allan Poe, is well-known, and his collaborations with director Roger Corman in the early 1960s produced a series of Poe adaptations that continue to be celebrated. However, it wasn’t until the 1970s that Vincent Price was able to fully explore his admiration for Poe’s legacy in a more personal and direct manner.
Kenneth Johnson, a young Executive Producer, recognized the potential of Vincent Price’s unique talents and suggested a groundbreaking idea during Price’s guest appearances on The Mike Douglas Show in the late 1960s. Instead of a casual conversation, Price was handed a copy of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart” and, without rehearsal, mesmerized the audience with his reading.
To prepare for the performance, Vincent Price and Kenneth Johnson spent two weeks rehearsing at Price’s home, ensuring that each reading was distinct, with richly developed characters and motivations.
Vincent Price and Kenneth Johnson collaborated on the concept of a Poe-centered feature, and the idea of a One Man Show was born. Price was to perform four Poe stories, all written in the first person and all portrayed by Price himself. Under contract with American International Pictures (AIP), the studio was brought in to produce the special. The selected stories were “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Sphinx,” “The Cask of Amontillado,” and “The Pit and the Pendulum.”
In “The Tell-Tale Heart,” Vincent Price embodies the unreliable narrator with unmatched intensity.
To prepare for the performance, Vincent Price and Kenneth Johnson spent two weeks rehearsing at Price’s home, ensuring that each reading was distinct, with richly developed characters and motivations. Price memorized every line of the four short stories, rendering cue cards unnecessary during filming.
The result was An Evening of Edgar Allan Poe, a 53-minute Halloween special. The presentation was replete with ornate, yellow lettering that divided the stories into “ACTS,” and transitions featured a cheesy blood-dripping effect. Despite the quaint presentation, the heart of the special was Vincent Price’s profound performance.
In “The Tell-Tale Heart,” Vincent Price embodies the unreliable narrator with unmatched intensity. His portrayal of a man consumed by mania and haunted by guilt is both urgent and emotionally charged, drawing viewers into the depths of his madness. The frenzy in Price’s eyes and his manic delivery captivate, making it a memorable rendition of a Poe classic.
“The Sphinx” offers a stark contrast, with Vincent Price portraying a well-educated and thoughtful man recounting a tale of a terrifying creature. Price’s quiet and careful portrayal conveys the character’s fear and growing unease, adding depth to the story.
In “The Cask of Amontillado,” Vincent Price becomes a confident and somewhat inebriated character relishing a dark revenge. His portrayal distinguishes between the doomed Fortunado and the self-assured Montresor.
“The Pit and the Pendulum” sees Vincent Price as a prisoner in the clutches of the Spanish Inquisition. His portrayal exudes agony and terror, with a manic urgency that places viewers in the character’s nightmarish predicament. The use of in-video effects adds charm to this segment.
Together, these stories explore the depths of human fear and the effects of terror on the human spirit. Vincent Price’s performances offer a diverse sampler of Edgar Allan Poe’s works, each brought to life with distinctive characters and nuances. Under Kenneth Johnson’s direction, An Evening of Edgar Allan Poe stands as a tribute to Price’s unwavering dedication to the horror genre. Price himself considered it the best work of his thirty-year career.
Vincent Price’s remarkable career produced numerous classics, but An Evening of Edgar Allan Poe captures the essence of his devotion to the macabre. This DIY TV special, presented in standard definition, embodies the heart and soul of one of horror’s most beloved icons. Its nostalgic charm, paired with Price’s exceptional performance, ensures that it will continue to cast a long shadow over the genre’s dusty, cobweb-encrusted halls for generations to come.
