Simply A Masterpiece

Awesome Movie

Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

What begins as a feel-good-human-interest story turns into a mystery, then a tragedy, and ultimately an outrage.

A married couple, Stephen (George Nader of "Robot Monster"), and Maria (Ann Smyrner, "Reptilicus") run into their old friend Fernando (Sancho Gracia, "800 Bullets") in Tangiers. He's searching for his vanished girlfriend, and has tracked her there. Her disappearance has everything to do with a novelty act, consisting of a man who calls himself an illusionist, Felix Manderville (Vincent Price), and his supposedly psychic wife, Rebecca (Martha Hyer, "Pyro"). It's up to Stephen to save the day, and although he has little to no use for police, the local Inspector (Wolfgang Kieling, "Torn Curtain") always manages to make his presence known."House of 1000 Dolls" has an agreeably ridiculous plot revolving around white slavery, credited (on the American release version) to producer Harry Alan Towers' pseudonym "Peter Welbeck". A great film it's not, but it's a striking, visually appealing diversion just the same, shot in Technicolor and Techniscope. You just have to put your brain in neutral. The laughs are there, and it's not overtly violent. A substantial portion of the attraction lies in the exotic setting and the assortment of international young beauties.Prices' role and performance aren't among his best, or most interesting, but it's still fun to watch him in action. Nader is a stiff hero, but Maria Rohm ("Count Dracula" '70) is enticing as Diane, the love of Fernandos' life. Yelena Samarina ("The Werewolf vs. Vampire Woman") is a hilarious standout with her portrayal of Madame Viera. Herbert Fux ("Mark of the Devil") quickly wears out his welcome as the character Abdu.Enjoyable enough to watch for people who love European trash.Six out of 10.

If Tangiers was meant to be an exotic and mysterious location, heaven help the rest of the world. Based on the write up on the DVD sleeve, I found no evidence that Vincent was a hypnotist, but a one trick illusionist. His knowledge of Tangiers nightlife comprises of tame femme mud wrasslin', hokey belly dancing dives, and upper class brothel placement (about 100 feet from a car wreck yard). (I won't mention the dilapidated train carriages and the rusted engine hulk, the site for a running fight) Vincent's world famous and money spinning act is 2 minutes of his assistant reading minds culminating with a disappearing act, which must cost all night-clubbers a total of some $23 a head.In the mean-time, George Nader goes around brow beating the local police, repeatedly beating up on the same 2 thugs, shrugging off an annoying photographer (what's with his bed friend?), and ......and what's with the night turning into day turning into night scenes? And the cane that fires 3 rounds of gunfire, when I thought it was a sword? And the 'slave' girls out numbering the house madame? And who was the judo girl? The story? Just read the 10 line summary on the DVD cover. Campy. Worth a second look, just to pick on the loopyness.

This Spanish/British/German co-production was on AIP's back-burner for quite a while. Eventually, Vincent Price did the film as part of his contractual obligations to the company. Producer/Director Harry Allan Towers specialized in sleazy European thrillers and this one is no exception. When a vacationing couple (George Nader and Anne Smyrner) in Tangiers run into an old friend there, they discover that he is searching for his missing girlfriend (Maria Rohm, Tower's real-life wife) who has been kidnapped by an international gang of white slavers. Nader investigates but before he can come up with anything, his friend is murdered. Meanwhile, nightclub magician Price and his mentalist partner (Martha Hyer), continue their nefarious activities--they hypnotize and kidnap young women for the 'White Slavers', and spirit them to the "House of 1000 Dolls." Yep, that's the plot outline folks, at least in the American cut of the film. Price and Ms. Hyer (who had just married producer Hal Wallis) shared a great interest in art, and in their spare time, they visited local museums together. Years later, when asked about this film, Price had this to say: "What she (Ms. Hyer) and I didn't know was, at the same time, they were making a 'dirty' version of the film. Every day we had off, they'd make a 'dirty version'. We went visiting on the set one day, and there was everyone naked! and they weren't even the same girls!" This explains why the American print of the film runs 78 minutes and the one seen in Europe is various lengths, from 90 to 98 minutes. Thanks to some atmospheric photography,an attractive musical score by Charles Camilleri and good performances from Price, Hyer and Nader, the film is watchable, and the girls are beautiful. This movie played most places with another Towers/Nader potboiler, "The Million Eyes Of Su- Muru" which isn't even as entertaining as this one.

If you like Price, this is an offbeat roll for him as this is not straight classic horror, but a mystery thriller with some sexed up 60's kittens and a brothel.. The film takes place in Tangiers and it is basically a clever and tame way to present a plot involving the white slavery trade. The films promo makes one think this is a very prevalent and serious issue, and perhaps it ws then? who knows? Price is a magician of sorts who gets beautiful women to get into his live stage act and then they disappear to the house of 1000 dolls. No one close to them ever sees them again, until a couple gets curious about this phenomena. The ending is a twist that you would not expect.. Perhaps the most memorable thing about this film is the theme song which gets cut off in the VHS version but exemplifies 60's groove with some cheesy pop rifts.. I mean when my ex husband an I saw this in like 1990, we laughed and sang this song for years! Then we recently turned on a few friends to it who were equally amused! don't take it so seriously, get a Pizza on a rainy weekend night and cuddle up for some excitement and intrigue with House Of 1000 DollS!