Ligeia

Starring:Ligeia
Studio: Film Threat
Product Type: DVD

Customer Reviews:

Allan Poe's Best.......2007-01-07

I have to teach Edgar A. Poe and Vincent Price bring Poe to life. The movies are old but the adaptations of the master of terror are very well adapted.

"I will always be your wife. Your ONLY wife...".......2005-05-07

"The Tomb of Ligeia" was the last of Roger Corman's eight Edgar Allen Poe adaptations, and he went all out. Instead of the usual cheap studio setting (although these were used for all the interior scenes), this movie had breathtaking photography of the English countryside, as well as a creepy graveyard. I consider "The Tomb of Ligeia" to be one of Corman's very best, if not his finest, Poe adaptation. It has wonderful performances from the entire cast, great cinematography, and haunting music composed and conducted by Kenneth V. Jones.

Vincent Price is Verdan Fell, a depressed man who's wife Ligeia has recently died and been buried. But at the funeral he remembers her final words: "Man need not kneel before the angels, nor lie in death forever save for the weakness of his feeble will." She was so strongwilled, in fact, that her spirit still lives, and Verdan is still controlled by her. But when he meets beautiful Rowena (Elizabeth Shephard), his life is forever changed. She feels sorry for Verdan but also loves him and over time she teaches him how to smile and be happy again. They marry, but as soon as they arrive at his castle for the honeymoon, Rowena senses evil in the place.

Over time Verdan drifts further and further away from his new bride, as his dead wife's control over him becomes stronger and more frightening. Ligeia seems to manifest herself as a black cat which always seems to be attacking poor Rowena. Eventually, Rowena discovers a secret room in the castle and finds Ligeia's body, but she may already be too late to break her control over Verdan...

I didn't realize until the ending that Elizabeth Shephard actually had a dual role, playing both Ligeia and Rowena. Now that is talent! Once again, Vincent Price gave another outstanding performance, taking his character from depressed to happy and then to homicidal! If ever there was a Poe adaptation by Corman that would make Poe rise up from his grave an cheer, "The Tomb of Ligeia" is it. The dvd has a sharp and clear image quality and the sound quality is awesome. Bonus features include the original theatrical trailer and two commentaries, one by Corman and the other by Elizabeth Shephard.

On the other side of the dvd is "An Evening of Edgar Allen Poe", a made-for-tv movie where Vincent Price gives a one-man show, narrating and acting in four different adaptations (no other actors were involved!): "The Tell Tale Heart" (one of my favorites from Poe), "The Sphinx", "The Cask of Amontillado", and "The Pit and the Pendulum". Price was a bit stagey but you can tell he loved being the center of attention. Roger Corman had little or nothing to do with "An Evening of Edgar Allen Poe", and it shows. I think it'd be best enjoyed by "hardcore" fans of Edgar Allen Poe. No bonus features are included for "An Evening of Edgar Allen Poe" except for subtitles, which come in handy as the sound quality is rather poor. Overall, this dvd is highly recommended just for adding "The Tomb of Ligeia" to your collection.

The Enduring Power of CORMAN, POE and VINCENT PRICE.......2005-01-27

THE TOMB OF LIGEIA is the definitive of Roger Corman's eight Edgar Allan Poe film adaptations. This is the best. The first thing that impresses the viewer is the innovative cinematography by Arthur Grant. It is stark yet hauntingly beautiful. The opening scene at Ligeia's burial is an impressive piece of filmmaking. It immediately draws the viewer into this tale of obsession where images are presented in such a way leaving one uncertain as to what was actually observed. Roger Corman directs these scenes with an emotional fervor entirely different from his other Poe tales juxtaposing quick editing, insightfully ambiguous dialog and penetrating camera movements creating a truly unique experience. There is something very erotic in a more mature sense about this whole film. There is no notion of carnal lust present in any of the images yet the viewer can feel a sense of stirring of the passionate emotions between the two principal characters, Verden Fell and Lady Rowena Trevanion. Vincent Price is truly brilliant as Verden Fell, husband of the late Lady Ligeia Fell. He plays this elusive and enigmatic character with complete conviction and confidence. Elizabeth Shepherd is equally brilliant as the curious and interested Lady Rowena as she exudes an aura of repressed burning sexuality. This is all conveyed by a mere hand gesture, a look or the ever-slightest touch or just the utterance of some seemingly unimportant words. Price tends to be oblivious to these very subtle advances in an almost asexual trance of consciousness yet he still conveys a sense of yearning for a passion perhaps lost or just lying dormant. Corman's directorial abilities are so acute in this film that the viewer really has no direct insight to where he is going with this intriguing and engaging story, yet when the tale concludes it all becomes apparent and quite logical. Equally important is Roger Corman, the producer. Robert Towne's screenplay is filled with incredibly intelligent, witty, amusing and crisp dialogue. Vincent Price and Elizabeth Shepherd did wonders with Towne's use of language making the characters' eccentricities and frailties startlingly real. Editor Alfred Cox made use of well timed and trimmed cuts to heighten and enhance certain plot elements putting the viewer off balance yet increasing the viewer's awareness of the narrative. Cinematographer Arthur Grant and art designer Colin Southcott combined to make indelible images that are so simple and economic in design yet convey a strange and beautifully haunting setting that entices the viewers' intellectual curiosity in an emotional response. Even composer Ken Jones' score is economical in its construction yet it is very effective. It just seems to flow with the images waiting for the viewer to make an intellectual connection that again elicits an emotional response. I waited patiently for a DVD widescreen version of THE TOMB OF LIGEIA and I was not disappointed. Roger Corman's audio commentary is a bit sparse but still insightful as to how he approached this film. AN EVENING OF EDGAR ALLEN POE, looking as though it was probably shot on videotape, is a tour de force for Vincent Price as he single handedly gives very dramatic and theatrical renditions of Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart," "The Cask of Amontillado," "The Pit and the Pendulum" and "The Sphinx." Vincent Price is riveting and demonstrates his unique presence and prowess for presenting these versions of Poe's stories with compelling histrionics. I had never seen AN EVENING OF EDGAR ALLEN POE and was quite surprised to see just how talented Vincent Price really was.

More for fans of Poe than fans of Corman.......2004-12-19

This review is for 'An Evening of Edgar Allan Poe.' If you're a Price fan, it will add to your collection, but if you're a Poe fan who felt that the Corman/Price movies failed to do the master justice, this is one gem that stands out as an exception. It's the only Poe-worthy adaptation I've seen. What a voice, what a presence! Price is associated with campy, tongue-in-cheek 'horror' movies that amuse more than frighten, but you can't watch this without wishing he could have done more serious work. This isn't satirical or or self-conscious, and doesn't poke fun at Poe's morbidity at all. It's a fantastic piece. I haven't watched the Tomb of Ligeia yet, but the DVD is worth the price for 'An Evening of Edgar Allan Poe' alone. The picture quality and sound are lacking--it obviously wasn't considered the main attraction, but it should have been. I've bought every Price/Poe movie on DVD that I know of, and this one was the best, without a doubt. It's the only one I felt strongly enough about to review.

A Very Creepy Rendtion of A Poe Story: Tomb of Ligeia.......2004-08-25

This movie is surprisingly enough, a rather faithful adaptation of the Edgar Allen Poe story: Ligeia. Ligeia is one of the most haunting and shadowy stories Poe ever wrote. I rate it as the best story he ever wrote. His description of the Lady Ligeia still haunts me still. She is the ideal woman, and the most frightening of engenues!
This film captures all of the ambience of the story. A little bit of the Poe story: The Black Cat is thrown in for good measure (it adds to the plot nicely); and you basically have a man desperately trying to divorce his dead wife! Enter the Lady Rowena, and the fun begins. The whole endeavor reeks of Gothic decay. There are no flimsy sets and the dialogue is sparse and mysterious until the end. I always enjoy a movie better when it is shot in actual locations and houses. It transports you to a place of shadowy reality from which you may or may not wish to escape.
I shant give away the ending; but needless to say, it is one of the most macabre of film history. If you find the powers and mysteries of the mortal will intriguing, you shall be genuinely entranced and horrified by this film. Read the story first, by Poe, then be horrified by twists and turns of the movie version. You'll be glad you did.

IN CHRIST JESUS: THE LIVING GOD INCARNATE,

w.
*Gospel John Ch. 1*

Average customer rating:

Disappointing DVD
Look out Blair Witch...
Fantastic Indy Film

Ligeia
Starring: Ligeia
Manufacturer: Film Threat
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Description

In this audacious update of the classic Edgar Allen Poe story, director Dave Lawler explores the extremes of sexuality in marriage. "An interesting little indie flick filled with softcore, sex, hot naked chicks and a twisted plot of cheatin' hearts, murder and weirdness..buried.com.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing DVD.......2007-01-01

This looks like one of those horrible student films I remember from the 70's. Mediocre acting and writing, a lot of boring interior scenes in L.A. apartments, an implausible trans-sexual, silly sadomasochistic sex, etc. This movie couldn't hold my interest for 20 minutes.

Look out Blair Witch..........2004-07-02

Look out Blair Witch cause this Indy film rocks! I came across this little gem strictly by accident and thank God for it. This little Indy flick is directed by Dave Lawler and though there is an apparent lack of money (as with most Indy's), he is brilliant in capturing the mood of the film through lighting, flashbacks and the excellent movement of his actors.

Leigia is a modern-day film version of Edgar Allen Poe's classic novel. Lawler's version focuses on the relationships of Kieran and Rowena. Keiran is a man who hasn't gotten over the loss of his first wife, Leigia. Though he is now remarried to Rowena, he still dreams of his first love at night. Meanwhile, Rowena has troubles of her own. By seeking to create a little excitement in her life, she rekindles a relationship with an old flame with the exception of a few "minor" changes. Adding a little extra spice to the film is the next door neighbor, Kelly, who at times is dressed as a sexy kitty and happens to be having a comically kinky affair with Kieran.

I strongly recommend this black comedy for anyone who would like to kick-back and enjoy a good film for a couple hours and lose themselves in the masterful genius of Dave Lawler and his film Leigia.

Fantastic Indy Film.......2004-07-02

If you enjoy the raw sometimes random noir of Indy films, then plop down your milk money for Ligeia. Lawler takes from Edgar Allen Poe and presents it in a warped yet focused way. Where Lawler's budget lacked his choice of Actors easily makes up for it.
As stated above where all Indy fall short is the budget, yet Lawler gets his priorities straight with smart camera shots, and exceptional sound recording.
Buy Ligeia, you'll thank me a couple years from now, because Lawler and his crew are going to go big.

Average customer rating:

Ligeia
Starring: Ligeia
Manufacturer: Victor Multimedia-05
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000CQQI5I
Release Date: 2006-01-17

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