Twice-Told Tales

Twice-Told Tales is a trio of horror stories based on the writings of Nathaniel Hawthorne. Each story stars horror maestro Vincent Price, and this allows the man to show his range in a series of different roles throughout the film. All of Price's roles allow him to show his dark side, but it's the way that he is allowed to show this that makes each one stand out. Vincent Price is my favourite horror actor, and he's arguably the best ever. The fact that he stars in each segment of this film is reason enough alone to see it. The fact that every tale is good is another one. In true omnibus style, the first story is the least memorable; but it's still well worth seeing. We follow two friends who discover a virgin spring in the crypt of one of their loves. This story is good because it follows the ever-present dream of ever-lasting life. The way that the plot builds is somewhat predictable, but still good as we get to see the great horror master turn his performance around from do-gooder to something more sinister. Not the best opener to an omnibus film; but a long way from the worst.

The second story is by far the best and, in a way, it's a shame that this story was a part of the omnibus. The second tale is a fairytale horror story of love, protection and madness and follows the tale of an overbearing father that takes steps to ensure that his daughter doesn't sin like her mother did. This story is a variation on the classic 'Romero and Julliet' story, and takes in all the tragedy of that tale by its conclusion. Tale number two is highly original and would make this film worth viewing even if the other two tales were absolute rubbish (which, of course, they're not). The third and final segment is the weakest of the trio, but still manages an excellent Gothic style and a solid story. The reason it's the weakest is mainly because it's really slow; but once it gets started, this tale of greed, witchcraft and murder provides a satisfying end to this trio of stories. With a running time of two hours, Twice-Told Tales is a very long omnibus; and it could have done with being a bit shorter. However, this doesn't harm it too much, and if you're a fan of sixties horror, and/or Vincent Price, this will be a must see.

Nathaniel Hawthorne is not Edgar Allan Poe. His stories do contain elements of horror and terror, but much of it is fodder for the religious symbolism that tears through much of his work. That being said, some will find the three tales used in Twice-Told Tales comparitively slow to those of Poe. What they lack in speed, however, they more than make up for in thematic exploration, symbolic meanings, and suspenseful pacing. The first story is Dr. Heidegger's experiment. Vincent Price and Sebastion Cabot play two very old friends that get together on the good doctor's birthday. Both men talk about the harsh realities of growing old, but Cabot talks of his growing old more as a means to be with the one he loved so many years ago, the woman who died on their day to be wed, and now reposes in a crypt nearby outside. A storm opens the crypt, the two men investigate and find that the body of the girl has not aged at all thanks to some trickling water that seems to keep it in its natural state upon death. The doctor takes the water and experiments with its powers on himself, his friend, and the corpse. The end result becomes Hawthorne's look at human beings...given a second chance. Would they change or do the things that brought them unhappiness any different? The story, although changed greatly from the original Hawthorne story, is visualized very nicely with Price turning in one of his more subtle performances and Cabot doing a splendid job. The second story is Rappicinni's Daughter. It tells of a girl that has been altered by her scientist father to not touch any living thing. This way she will always be pure....innocent of the evils of men and, in particular, unknown to the touch of men. The story is highly symbolic and beautifully directed. Price plays the scientist who specializes in plants of unknown origins. A well-crafted selection to be sure. The third story is easily the weakest because it tries cramming a novel into an anthology sized space. The House of the Seven Gables tells of sins of a past family against another and how these sins have been borne by the family manse. Some of the special effects here are rather good, but the acting by Richard Denning and Beverly Garland is not so good. Price carries the segment with his slightly over-the-top performance and a real acting gem is given by Jacqueline de Wit as his sister. All in all, the three tales are very representative of Hawthorne's unique vision, his religious background, and taut narration. This is a good film, but it's not a Poe film...once that is realized maybe some viewers can appreciate it on its own merits rather than a constant intentional or unintentional comparison to the king of horror.

TWICE-TOLD TALES is an anthology of three Gothic horror stories, loosely based on the stories of Nathaniel Hawthorne. Each stars Vincent Price.

DR. HEIDEGGER'S EXPERIMENT- The title doctor (Sebastian Cabot) finds his decades-long mourning of his late "new bride" interrupted by his discovery of what appears to be the fountain of youth. Ironically discovered in her tomb, Heidegger and his friend (Price) are both astonished and frightened by their good fortune. What seems like a blessing soon becomes a curse. Filled with treachery and betrayal, this is a nice fear fable.

RAPPACCINI'S DAUGHTER- Beatrice Rappaccini (Joyce Taylor) lives an oddly secluded life with her father (Price), until falling in love with a man (Brett Halsey) who lives nearby. Love blooms, but there's a deadly catch. This one shows the cost of love in a whole new light.

THE HOUSE OF THE SEVEN GABLES- Gerald Pyncheon (Price) returns to his ancestral home to search for a fortune hidden somewhere on the grounds. Meanwhile, his wife (Beverly Garland) uncovers a ghostly secret to augment the family curse. Greed and death ensue. Mr. Price is particularly good here. Co-stars Richard Denning. A very brisk, entertaining trio of tales. Everyone is great. Price is, as always, amazing!...

"Twice-Told Tales" is a movie composed of three timeless shorts based on horror tales by Nathaniel Hawthorne with Vincent Price.

(1) "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment": In 1859, Alex Medbourne (Vincent Price) and Dr. Carl Heidigger (Sebastian Cabot) have been best friends for decades. Carl has been grieving the loss of his beloved bride Sylvia Ward (Mari Blanchard) for thirty-eight years, on the eve of their wedding, and misses her. In a stormy night, her crypt opens and Carl and Alex find her corpse preserved. Carl notes a drop of liquid on her coffin and he collects a sample. Carl discovers that the water is a virgin spring and he restores his and Alex's youths. Further, he resurrects Sylvia with the water and plans to immediately marry her. However, he discovers a dark secret about Alex and his beloved Sylvia.

This is a tragic and dramatic story about the dream of the fountain of youth and restoration of the eternal youth, obsession and betrayal, with great special effects for a 1963 movie.

(2) "Rappaccini's Daughter": In Padua, the young Giovanni Guasconti (Brett Halsey) meets the gorgeous Beatrice Rappaccini (Joyce Taylor) in the garden and they immediately fall in love for each other. However, Giovanni learns that Beatrice is cursed, poisoning everyone and everything that she touches with her hands. Further, she was inoculated with a potion of poisonous plants by her insane father, the brilliant scientist Dr. Giacomo Rappaccini (Vincent Price) that wants to avoid that she makes the same mistakes her mother did, abandoning him. Giovanni meets Dr. Giacomo and opens his heart about his love for Beatrice, and the scientist promises to let him be closed to Beatrice forever.

This is another tragic and dramatic story about impossible love and madness visibly inspired in "Romeo and Juliet".

(3) "The House of the Seven Gables": In 1841, Gerald Pyncheon (Vincent Price) arrives with his wife Alice Pyncheon (Beverly Garland) to The House of the Seven Gables, where Gerald's sister Hannah Pyncheon (Jacqueline deWit) lives. The Pyncheon family has been cursed for one hundred and fifty years, when the blacksmith Mathew Maulle (Floyd Simmons) was murdered and buried below the house. Gerald comes to the house to seek a vault with the family fortune, and Alice is haunted by ghosts in the moment that she arrives in the house.

This is another tragic story of greed, injustice and curse, with an ambitious man returning to the family house and awaking powerful forces from the past.

My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Nos Domínios do Terror" ("In the Domain of the Terror")

Note: On 12 April 2015, I saw this movie again.

This is a stately, intelligent, three part horror omnibus feature adapted from stories by Nathaniel Hawthorne. It's good enough to compare favourably with the best films in the Price / Roger Corman / A.I.P. series of Edgar Allan Poe adaptations. The slow pacing and length of the film may not sit well for some people, but others will take delight in the atmosphere, the performances, the story telling, and all the trappings of the genre. This also benefits from some decent special effects and capable direction by Sidney Salkow (who also guided star Vincent Price in "The Last Man on Earth").

In "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment", Price stars with Sebastian Cabot as they play elderly friends Alex Medbourne and Dr. Carl Heidegger. One dark and stormy night, they enter the crypt of Carls' long dead wife Sylvia Ward (Mari Blanchard), who is restored to life and youth by some miraculous, strange liquid seeping into the crypt. It also restores youth to Alex and Carl when they sample the liquid, but there are consequences for their actions - as well as some secrets that will be exposed. The single most enjoyable aspect of this segment is Cabots' wonderful, heartfelt performance.

Price plays Giacomo Rappaccini in "Rappaccini's Daughter". In addition to his lovely daughter Beatrice (Joyce Taylor), Giacomo has a rather lush garden - and Beatrice has something in common with the dangerous plants and flowers in this garden. Well intentioned young Giovanni Guasconti (Brett Halsey) yearns to be her suitor, but Giacomo seeks to interfere. This portion of the picture can boast a clever and interesting premise.

Price is the villain, Gerald Pyncheon, in an abbreviated version of "The House of the Seven Gables". (23 years earlier, he'd played the hero in a feature length adaptation of this story.) Gerald and his younger wife Alice (Beverly Garland) arrive at the family home so he can search for the treasures hidden on the premises. Alice is witness to supernatural phenomena and learns of a feud between the Pyncheon and Maulle clans. Handsome Richard Denning co-stars as the heroic Jonathan Maulle. Garland is very appealing, and Price has fun just as he always did with his villainous roles.

Fans of old school horror, anthologies, and the actors involved will likely have a good time with "Twice-Told Tales". While Salkow and company dare to take their time with the pacing, patient viewers will be pleased with the results.

Eight out of 10.