Tales Of Terror (1962)

Four short stories by Edgar Allan Poe adapted for the screen: (1) MORELLA: a dying young woman (Maggie Pierce) returns to visit her estranged father (Vincent Price). (2) THE BLACK CAT/THE CASK OF AMONTILLADO: an alcoholic (Peter Lorre) plots to murder his wife (Joyce Jameson) and her lover (Vincent Price). (3) FACTS IN THE CASE OF M. VALDEMAR: an unscrupulous hypnotist (Basil Rathbone) uses a dying man (Vincent Price) for his own ambition including getting the man's wife (Debra Paget). Directed by Roger Corman (LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS), who has his customary crew: cinematographer Floyd Crosby, production designer Daniel Heller, composer Les Baxter etc. As usual, Corman infuses the Poe stories with a rich atmosphere which compensates for the perfunctory telling. The second sequence is infused with a bit of humor which alleviates the heaviness of the horror. No doubt the Poe purists will be annoyed but horror fans should be satisfied. With David Frankham and Leona Cage.