Theatre of Blood (1973)

Country of Origin: UK
Year of Production: 1973
Running Times: 104 mins
Format: colour     35mm
Ratio: 1.66:1
Sound:

PRODUCTION
Production Company: Sam Jaffe / Harbour Productions / Cineman Films
Executive Producers: Gustave Berne, Sam Jaffe
Producers: John Kohn, Stanley Mann
Production Manager: David Anderson

SCRIPT
Script: Anthony Greville-Bell
Idea: Stanley Mann, John Kohn

DIRECTION
Director: Douglas Hickox
Assistant Director: Dominic Fulford

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: Wolfgang Suschitzky
Camera Operator: Ronnie Taylor
Lighting and Grip Package: Lee Lighting Ltd
Colour: DeLuxe

EDITING AND POST-PRODUCTION
Editor: Malcolm Cooke
Assistant Editor: Chris Kelly

MUSIC
Music: Michael J. Lewis

SOUND
Sound Mixer: Simon Kaye
Sound Editor: Les Wiggins
Dubbing Mixer: Douglas Turner

MAKE UP AND COSTUMES
Make Up: George Blackler
Hair: Pearl Tipaldi
Costume Designer: Michael Baldwin
Wardrobe Assistant: Terry Smith

SPECIAL EFFECTS
Special Effects: John Stears

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Production Designer: Michael Seymour
Set Decorator: Ann Mollo
Construction Manager: Peter Verrard

MISCELLANEOUS
Continuity: Angela Allen
Assistant to the Producers: Sara Romilly
Choreographer of Meths Drinkers: Tutte Lemkow

LOCATIONS
Locations: Kensall Green Cemetary, London, England, UK; London, England, UK; 93 Albert Embankment, Vauxhall, London, England, UK

STUNTS
Stunt Arranger: Terry York

CAST
Vincent Price (Edward Lionheart)
Diana Rigg (Edwina Lionheart)
Ian Hendry (Peregrine Devlin)
Harry Andrews (Trevor Dickman)
Coral Browne (Miss Chloe Moon)
Robert Coote (Oliver Larding)
Jack Hawkins (Solomon Psaltery)
Michael Hordern (George Maxwell)
Arthur Lowe (Horace Sprout)
Robert Morley (Meredith Merridew)
Dennis Price (Hector Snipe)
Milo O'Shea (Inspector Boot)
Eric Sykes (Sergeant Dogge)
Madeline Smith (Rosemary)
Diana Dors (Maisie Psaltry)
Joan Hickson (Mrs Sprout)
Renee Asherson (Mrs Maxwell)
Bunny Reed, Peter Thornton (policemen)
Charles Sinnickson (vicar)
Brigid Erin Bates (Maid)
Tutte Lemkow, Stanley Bates, Eric Francis, Sally Gilmore, John Gilpin, Joyce Graeme, Jack Maguire, Declan Mulholland (meths drinkers)
Tony Calvin (police photographer - uncredited)

PLOT SUMMARY

After being snubbed by a prestigious theatrical Critics Circle, Shakespearian actor Edward Lionheart attempts to take his own life by leaping from their offices into the Thames. But he's rescued by a gang of meths drinking tramps and, teaming up with his adoring daughter Edwina, starts to plot a suitable revenge - soon, members of the Circle are dying in decidedly Shakespearian manner...

With Price at the peak of his powers, a once-in-a-lifetime supporting cast of reliable British character actors and a script that is both screamingly funny and darkly disturbing, Theatre of Death is one of the finest British horror movies ever. The inventiveness of the grisly deaths is often hilarious and Price has simply never been better as the Shakespeare quoting Edward Lionheart. Price always maintained that this was his favourite film and it's easy to see why. A masterpiece.

Australia
Rating: PG

Finland
Rating: K-16

Sweden
Rating: 15

USA
Rating: R

1973
August
Day Unknown: France - theatrical release

November
15: Sweden - theatrical release

1974
March
22: Finland - theatrical release

At your own risk

Much Ado About Murder - working title
Theater of Blood - US title

SEE ALSO
The Abominable Dr Phibes (1971)
House of Wax (1953)
Se7en (1995)
Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? (1978)

FOOTAGE INCLUDED IN
Vincent Price (1988)

REFERENCES

OTHER SOURCES

screen
credits

KEYWORDS

serial killers, theatres, actors, critics, homosexuality, revenge, decapitation, dogs, shakespeare, police

Last Updated: 1 January, 2009