The Tomb Of Ligeia (1964)

The death of his wife (Elizabeth Shepherd) causes a man (Vincent Price) to hide from the world. But when a headstrong young woman (Elizabeth Shepherd) enters the picture, he marries her. But the spirit of his dead wife, possibly in the form of a black cat, refuses to let him go and haunts his very existence as well as that of the new wife. The screenplay by Robert Towne (CHINATOWN) is based on the short story LIGEIA by Edgar Allan Poe and directed by Roger Corman. While not in the league of MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH or FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER, this is one of the better Poe adaptations directed by Corman and starring Vincent Price. Alas, it can't sustain itself and by the film's finale, it seems to have exhausted itself. The subject of necrophilia is tastefully handled (or as tastefully as a subject like that can be dealt with) but perhaps it might have worked better with a younger actor than Price. Once again, black cats are used as instruments of evil. Won't the poor creatures ever get a break? The film is rich in atmosphere thanks to cinematographer Arthur Grant (QUATERMASS AND THE PIT). With John Westbrook and Derek Francis.