Touches You

A lot of fun.

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

This movie is strangely good... something about it I liked quite a bit. There was very little about it I did not like. Lady Rowena (Shepherd) in the beginning of the film seemed a bit to pushy to me. She takes off Verden Fell's (Price) glasses as he carries her and she knows why he wears them for he has already told her. I know she liked him when she first saw him but she did push herself to him quite hard I felt. This I did not like about her. BUT Verden Fell did blatantly tell Lady Rowena that she knew nothing about willpower. He is right - she knew how to be pushy but not anything about willpower. Lady Rowena in the beginning of the film did not exert self-control instead basically flung herself at Verden. From Dictionary.com: Pushy - obnoxiously forward or self-assertive. Willpower - the ability to control oneself and determine one's actions. Now later on, I began to like Lady Rowena a felt sorry for her - she did fall in love with Verden (maybe why she acted a bit silly with him in the beginning - love at first sight?). The things she went threw I felt so bad for her. I quite like her after she and Verden married.Verden is an odd fellow no doubt about it and still loved is first wife Lady Ligeia (Shepherd) very much - yet he did move forward in his life to marry Lady Rowena. His strangeness is the sway that Lady Ligeia holds over him even after her death. ***************Spoiler*************** As far a Verden struggling with the flashing back and forth of the two women - we are witnessing what Verden saw as Ligeia's spirit was entering into Rowena's body remember that Ligeia's body was burned. In the end it IS Ligeia in the body of Rowena traveling away with Christopher. It is obvious when you hear the voice and the look on her face. That is what is suppose to happen: Ligeia's spirit/ghost is suppose to enter into Rowena's body in the end. When it comes to that creepy cat - that is a reference to The Black Cat I believe. I've noticed references to other Poe's work in the other Price/Poe as well. I loved this added touch -- I also think that maybe it was Ligeia's spirit in the cat - why do you think that cat was so mean to Rowena? She even gouged out Verden's eyes before entering into Rowena's body. ***************************************All in all a good Poe film adaption - I enjoyed it! OH and that dream sequence with Rowena is haunting!! 8/10

Vincent Price plays Verden Fell, a reclusive man who is still mourning his wife Ligea. He one day meets and marries the Lady Rowena(Elizabeth Shepherd) in hopes of putting the past behind him, but finds that her memory is too strong and goes back to his old ways, staying in an old ruined abbey by her tomb, much to his new wife's regret. Events will soon spiral out-of-control as it seems a supernatural menace has indeed taken hold...Last of the Roger Corman directed Edgar Allan Poe adaptations is well-produced but too slow and overly familiar to succeed, since this just seems like a rehash of earlier plot elements from various Poe stories.

In my opinion, Corman's best Poe adaptation is Masque of the Red Death with Tales of Terror being his weakest(still an interesting film though). The Tomb of Ligeia does have some draggy padding and an ending that doesn't feel as complete as it could've been, however it is perhaps the most visually beautiful Roger Corman Edgar Allen Poe adaptation. Because it really is beautifully shot, and the locations and costumes are gorgeous. There is a haunting undertone to the score as well, and there is a great distinctly chilling atmosphere throughout. The slow pacing mostly did add to that. There is a very intelligent and I think flawlessly written script, and the story(reminding me slightly of Vertigo in its theme) delivers the creepy moments effectively. The fact that it does depart from the Poe story didn't bother me and I don't think it hindered the film much either. Corman directs splendidly, and the two leads are wonderful. Vincent Price is sinister but in a more subtle way than usual, while Elizabeth Sheppard really makes the most of her dual role. Overall, a very good film though I am not entirely sure whether it is the best of the Corman-Poe-Price films. 8/10 Bethany Cox

"Tomb of Ligeia" was the last of Corman's popular Edgar Allan Poe adaptations of the 60's. Because of how it's totally different in style from the previous entries in the series, many have deemed it as an inferior effort, though I personally think it's the total opposite. There's no doubt in my view that "Ligeia" is Corman's finest Poe adaptation. All the flaws present in his earlier films (even in the more well praised "Masque of the Red Death"), that have become even more visible with aging, have served as a lesson as to what not to do, and are thankfully not present here. The most effective change was the change of setting. Instead of using painted backdrops posing and excessive sound stage interiors posing as European settings, this one was actually filmed on-location in the British countryside, with studio indoors scenes kept to a minimum. The gorgeously photographed exterior locations, with the dark and imposing ruins clashing against the peaceful, idyllic nature surroundings, add immensely to the film's brooding Gothic atmosphere, and it's a real shame it wasn't used more often in other films of the same period. Not since Jean Epstein's haunting "Fall of the House of Usher" in 1928, has Poe's style been so faithfully adapted to the silver screen. This is mostly due to Corman's stylish and original direction, an intelligent script by Robert Towne (of "Chinatown" fame) and to Vincent Price's acting. Without resorting to over-the-top melodramatic gestures (as seen in 1961's "Pit and the Pendulum"), Price plays to perfection a suave, mysterious, eerily seductive and haunted lead - the ultimate Poe lead, and one of his best performances, up there with his work in "Witchfinder General". Elizabeth Sheppard, whom you might remember as the doomed journalist from "Damien: Omen II", is equally effective as the female lead, both as Ligeia and Lady Rowena. As Rowena, Sheppard doesn't go for your typical 'damsel in distress' performance as it could've been, and plays as a much stronger willed, not so innocent, independent, yet likable character. Though her role as creepy raven-haired Ligeia has less screen time, she does manage to leave an impression, and manages to be genuinely creepy. Another bonus is the surreal dream sequence that happens somewhere in the middle of the film. A trademark Corman treat, this scene is filled with vivid colors, brilliantly otherworldly camera-work and bizarre, nightmarish imagery, it's one of the film's scariest moments, and also one of the director's most memorable set pieces. Also, I love the subtly creepy and disturbingly poetic approach Towne and Corman take at the controversial necrophilia subplot. This subject matter would get an equally elegant treatment 10 years later in Mario Bava's "Lisa and the Devil". The film's flaws come basically from the final confrontation between Price and Sheppard, which comes back as a more typical Corman-ending-to-a-Poe-film, coming off as a bit anti-climatic, considering how much build up there was it. Nevertheless, it's fun and stylish, even if it's slightly campy tone doesn't match the otherwise seriousness of all that came after. Overall, an exquisite Gothic gem from the 60's, and essential viewing for fans of the genre. Even if you're not a fan of the director's work, do check it out, as it might as well come off as a pleasant surprise. 9.5/10