The Raven is a 1963 American motion picture produced and directed by Roger Corman. It was written by Richard Matheson very loosely based on the poem, "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe. It stars Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, and Boris Karloff as a trio of rival sorcerers. A young Jack Nicholson plays a small role. The movie was part of series of Poe adaptions produced by Corman through American International Pictures. Nominally in the horror genre, it is more appropriately classified as a B movie horror-comedy. The movie is frequently confused with the 1935 film The Raven, which also featured Karloff. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Roger Corman Roger William Corman (born April 5, 1926), sometimes nicknamed King of the Bs for his output of B-movies (though he himself rejects this appelation as inaccurate), is a prolific American producer and director of low-budget exploitation movies. ... Roger Corman Roger William Corman (born April 5, 1926), sometimes nicknamed King of the Bs for his output of B-movies (though he himself rejects this appelation as inaccurate), is a prolific American producer and director of low-budget exploitation movies. ... Edgar Allan Poe (January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American poet, short story writer, playwright, editor, literary critic, essayist and one of the leaders of the American Romantic Movement. ... Richard Burton Matheson (born February 20, 1926) is an American author and screenwriter, typically of fantasy, horror or science fiction. ... Vincent Leonard Price Jr. ... Peter Lorre (June 26, 1904 – March 23, 1964), born László Löwenstein, was an Hungarian[1] - Austrian - American actor frequently typecast as a sinister foreigner. ... Boris Karloff (born William Henry Pratt) (London, November 23, 1887 – February 2, 1969) was an English actor, who immigrated to Canada in the 1910s, best known for his roles in horror films and the creation of Frankensteins monster in 1931s Frankenstein. ... Hazel Court (born February 10, 1926 in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, England) is a green-eyed, redheaded British actress who is known for her roles in horror films during the 1950s. ... The year 1963 in film involved some significant events. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... The year 1963 in film involved some significant events. ... This article is about motion pictures. ... The film director, on the right, gives last minute direction to the cast and crew, whilst filming a costume drama on location in London. ... Roger Corman Roger William Corman (born April 5, 1926), sometimes nicknamed King of the Bs for his output of B-movies (though he himself rejects this appelation as inaccurate), is a prolific American producer and director of low-budget exploitation movies. ... Richard Burton Matheson (born February 20, 1926) is an American author and screenwriter, typically of fantasy, horror or science fiction. ... For other uses, see The Raven (disambiguation). ... Edgar Allan Poe (January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American poet, short story writer, playwright, editor, literary critic, essayist and one of the leaders of the American Romantic Movement. ... Vincent Leonard Price Jr. ... Peter Lorre (June 26, 1904 – March 23, 1964), born László Löwenstein, was an Hungarian[1] - Austrian - American actor frequently typecast as a sinister foreigner. ... Boris Karloff (born William Henry Pratt) (London, November 23, 1887 – February 2, 1969) was an English actor, who immigrated to Canada in the 1910s, best known for his roles in horror films and the creation of Frankensteins monster in 1931s Frankenstein. ... Not to be confused with Magic (illusion). ... John Joseph Nicholson (born April 22, 1937), known as Jack Nicholson, is a three time Academy Award-winning American actor internationally renowned for his often dark-themed portrayals of neurotic characters. ... The early AIP logo. ... The King of the Bs, Roger Corman, produced and directed The Raven (1963) for American International Pictures. ... The Raven (1935) is a horror film revolving around Edgar Allan Poes famous poem, featuring Bela Lugosi as a Poe-obsessed mad surgeon with a torture chamber in his basement and Boris Karloff as a fugitive murderer desperately on the run from the police. ...

Plot

"The Raven" is about Dr. Erasmus Craven (Price) who is a failed sorcerer who has been mourning the death of his wife Lenore (Hazel Court) for over two years, much to the chagrin of his daughter Estelle. One night he is visited by a raven, who happens to be a transformed wizard, Dr. Bedlo (Lorre). Together they brew a potion that restores Bedlo to his old self. Bedlo explains he had been transformed by the evil Dr. Scarabus (Karloff) in an unfair duel, and both set out to pay a visit to him: Bedlo wants to exact revenge, and Craven wants to look for his wife's soul, who has been reportedly seen at Scarabus' castle.

Before they can set out they are attacked by Grimes, Craven's coach, who is under the influence of Scarabus. After defeating him and restoring him, Craven, Bedlo and Estelle team up with Bedlo's son, Rexford (Nicholson), who is in turn possessed by Scarabus as they drive to his castle, and tries to crash the coach before coming to his senses.

At the castle, Scarabus greets his guests with false friendship, and Bedlo is apparently killed as he conjures a storm in a last act of defiance against his nemesis. At night, Rexford finds him alive and well, hiding in the castle. Craven, meanwhile, is visited and tormented by Lenore, who is revealed to be alive and well too, having faked her death two years before to move away with Scarabus.

As Craven, Estelle, Rexford and Bedlo try to escape the castle, Scarabus stops them, and they are tied and locked up. Bedlo panicks and flees away in raven form, having convinced Scarabus to turn him back into bird form rather than facing torture. As Craven is confronted with the choice of Estelle's torture of him giving away the secrets of his "hand magic", Bedlo flies back in, frees Rexford, and together aid Craven.

Craven and Scarabus then seat facing each other and engage in a magic duel. After a lengthy performance of narrow escapes and derision, Craven defeats Scarabus, and escapes with his friends after rejecting Lenore, who tries to get back with him after alleging she had been "under a spell". The castle then tumbles down on Scarabus and his mistress, but they are shown to survive, though Scarabus has been stripped of his magic.

Rexford and Estelle retreat alone, and the final scene has Bedlo trying to convince Craven to turn him back to human form. Craven and Bedlo end the movie reciting the last lines of Edgar Allan Poe's poem - "Quoth the raven - nevermore".

Credits

Production

• Roger Corman — producer and director
• Samuel Z. Arkoff — executive producer
• James H. Nicholson — executive producer
• Richard Matheson and Edgar Allan Poe — screenplay

Roger Corman Roger William Corman (born April 5, 1926), sometimes nicknamed King of the Bs for his output of B-movies (though he himself rejects this appelation as inaccurate), is a prolific American producer and director of low-budget exploitation movies. ... Samuel Zachary Arkoff (June 12, 1918–September 16, 2001) was an American producer of B-movies. ... James Harvey Nicholson (September 14, 1916–December 10, 1972) was an American film producer. ... Richard Burton Matheson (born February 20, 1926) is an American author and screenwriter, typically of fantasy, horror or science fiction. ... Edgar Allan Poe (January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American poet, short story writer, playwright, editor, literary critic, essayist and one of the leaders of the American Romantic Movement. ...

Cast

• Vincent Price — Dr. Erasmus Craven
• Peter Lorre — Dr. Adolphus Bedlo
• Boris Karloff — Dr. Scarabus
• Hazel Court — Lenore Craven
• Olive Sturgess — Estelle Craven
• Jack Nicholson — Rexford Bedlo
• Connie Wallace — Maid
• William Baskin — Grimes, Craven's servant
• Aaron Saxon — Gort

Vincent Leonard Price Jr. ... Peter Lorre (June 26, 1904 – March 23, 1964), born László Löwenstein, was an Hungarian[1] - Austrian - American actor frequently typecast as a sinister foreigner. ... Boris Karloff (born William Henry Pratt) (London, November 23, 1887 – February 2, 1969) was an English actor, who immigrated to Canada in the 1910s, best known for his roles in horror films and the creation of Frankensteins monster in 1931s Frankenstein. ... Hazel Court (born February 10, 1926 in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, England) is a green-eyed, redheaded British actress who is known for her roles in horror films during the 1950s. ... John Joseph Nicholson (born April 22, 1937), known as Jack Nicholson, is a three time Academy Award-winning American actor internationally renowned for his often dark-themed portrayals of neurotic characters. ...

Trivia

The Raven is the first film in which the legendary "Triumvirate of Terror" all appear on screen together. The triumvirate consists of actors, Vincent Price, Peter Lorre and Boris Karloff.

See also

• List of films based on poems

This is a list of movies based on poems. ...

External links

• The Raven at the Internet Movie Database

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