A restored version (by the Lucas Foundation) of a nutty movie inspired by two Edgar Allen Poe stories, written by Charles Beaumont and R. Wright Campbell. Actually Corman was inspired by The Seventh Seal, which he loved. Vincent Price is an Italian Prince who's a Satanist who holds a masqued ball while the Red Death ravages the countryside. It's pretty nuts and you have to commend Hazel Court in particular for mouthing such balderdash with a completely straight face. Her death by raven - sorry, bird of prey - is the most gruesome bit in it, the actual plague make-up is unremarkable. The end dance scene is quite wet but the decision for Death to take the victim's face a good one.
Shot in England, by Nic Roeg, using leftover sets from Becket. Daniel Haller was the designer, who has produced a memorable succession of coloured rooms.
Corman was going out with Jane Asher, who was also going out with Paul McCartney, and she introduced the two of them the day before The Beatles first ever London gig. (That must have been an odd meeting.) Paul was interested to know what went on on a film set.
With David Weston, Patrick Magee, Nigel Green, Skip Martin ('Hop Toad') and eight year old Verina Greenlaw as the 'midget woman' dancer! Death is played (uncredited) by John Westbrook.
It's quite funny.
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