Above: Gene Tierney and Vincent Price in Laura (1944)
Above: Vincent Price, Basil Rathbone, and Ian Hunter in Tower of London (1939)
Very few Hollywood stars have had as long and varied a career as Vincent Price. A fine actor, he has made his mark in everything from Film Noir to period drama and of course horror. The type casting began early in his career though–after making, The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939), and Tower of London (1939) in which he co-starred with Boris Karloff, he was already on his way to becoming one of the foremost of the infamous monsters of film. In The Invisible Man Returns (1940) his unmistakable voice continued the terror in the sequel to the Universal film that starred Claude Raines. As in the original film, it is the actor’s voice that powers the performance.
Nan Gray & Vincent Price in The Invisible Man Returns (1940)
The Doctor goes to visit him in prison and after the Doctor leaves, Geoffrey is gone. The problem is that the Police inspector is aware that Doctor Griffin’s brother was the scientist that was the original Invisible Man. So Geoffrey not only has to prove his innocence but also evade the police while doing so. Price’s voice, like Raines’ in the original, is unmistakable and even more suited to mystery and suspense. Coming out as it did right after The Tower of London which starred Basil Rathbone and Boris Karloff with Price in a supporting role only added to the expectation of audiences.
Vincent Price & Gene Tierney in Dragonwyck (1946)
His appearance in Dragonwyck (1946) further ensconced Price into a figure of fright and mystery; unlike most actors, he embraced the genre and became one of its most enduring stars.
Price’s next film title sounded like a horror film, but was not even though its director was known for horror. Green Hell (1940) was directed by James Whale (Frankenstein, The Invisible Man, Bride of Frankenstein), and had a cast of stars including Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Joan Bennett, George Sanders, and Alan Hale. The product of this assembly of talent was a muddled, often unintentionally comic, and tedious tale. Fortunately for Price, his character is killed early in the film.
In his next film, he’s reunited with Nan Grey (Invisible Man Returns) and George Sanders (Green Hell). Hawthorn’s novel, The House of the Seven Gables is brought to the screen successfully thanks in no small part to Price’s performance.
Nan Grey & Vincent Price in The House of the Seven Gables
In 1944 Price was in the classic noir, Laura with the beautiful Gene Tierney. This film was one of the most successful of the genre. It also played an pivotal part in Vincent Price’s career, showcasing his versatility.
Gene Tierney & Vincent Price in Laura (1944)
In 1945 he again appeared with Gene Tierney in the horrifying film noir, Leave Her to Heaven where Tierney was the monster. She plays a woman so cold that she can do the unspeakable without any sign of remorse. Another classic Noir and Price gives a poignant performance.
Cornell Wilde, Gene Tierney & Vincent Price in Leave Her to Heaven (1945)
In the 1947 Film Noir, The Web which starred Ella Raines and Edmond O’Brien, Price once again turned in a classic performance.
Vincent Price & Ella Raines in The Web (1947)
It wasn’t until 1953 that his career as the master of horror would begin with the 3D classic, House of Wax. NEXT: House on Haunted Hill, The Tingler, and House of Usher.
Phyllis Kirk & Vincent Price in House of Wax (1953)
Facts, Rumors & Hearsay
Laura
Vincent Price considers Laura to be the best of his films.
This movie is famous for the haunting Laura Theme. When asked why she had turned down the part of Laura, Hedy Lamar responded, “They sent me the script, not the score.”
Tower of London
The film was released on VHS through the Universal Monsters Classic Collection in September of 1992 even though it is not a horror film.
Price later admitted the wine he drank to drunkenness in the film was Coca Cola.
House of Wax
Vincent Price enjoyed attending screenings of the film incognito. As the actor once told biographer Joel Eisner, he’d regularly go out and see House of Wax during its run. The requisite 3D glasses usually concealed his identity as he sat back of a dimly lit theater. But one night, he decided to make his presence known. At a showing in New York City, Price quietly took a seat behind two teenagers. Right after a particularly frightening scene, he leaned forward and asked “Did you like it?” In Price’s words, “They went right into orbit!”
Phyllis Kirk tried to turn the film down. Since she was under contract with Warner Bros, she had no choice but to appear in this picture. That didn’t stop her from complaining about the gig. “I bitched and moaned .., and said that I wasn’t interested in becoming the Fay Wray of my time,” Kirk confessed. The other thing was the 3-D format, which she regarded as a gimmick. In the end she decided that making the film would be preferable to being suspended. She later said that she had a good deal of fun making House of Wax.