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From Amazon.co.uk
One of the most sublimely silly products to emanate from Roger Corman's studio, The Raven has the very loosest of connections with the Edgar Allen Poe poem that gives it its title and which Vincent Price intones sepulchrally at the beginning. A retiring magician, Craven (Price) has opted out of the power struggles of peers such as Dr Scarabus (Boris Karloff) to brood on his dead wife and bring up his daughter. The arrival of Bledlo (Peter Lorre), an incompetent drunk whom Scarabus has turned into the raven of the title, involves him in everything he had renounced--life is complicated further by the arrival of Bledlo's son Rexford, played by a staggeringly young Jack Nicholson. The special effects are almost perfunctory, yet the culminating magical duel between Price and Karloff is inventive and charming; this is one of those films that looks as if the actors enjoyed making it; while the script by Richard Matheson has a blithe awareness of its own shortcomings that makes it hard to dislike.
On the DVD: The Raven comes to DVD with very boxy remastered mono sound, but is presented in its original widescreen 2.35:1 ratio, formatted for 16:9 TVs. The only extra is the original theatrical trailer. --Roz Kaveney
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), French ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), German ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), Italian ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), Dutch ( Subtitles ), English ( Subtitles ), French ( Subtitles ), German ( Subtitles ), Italian ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Interactive Menu, Scene Access, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: In this tongue-in-cheek movie inspired by Poe's poem, Dr. Craven is the son of a great sorcerer (now dead) who was once himself quite skilled at that profession, but has since abandoned it. One evening, a cowardly fool of a magician named Bedlo comes to Craven for help- the evil Scarabus has turned him into a raven and he needs someone to change him back. He also tells the reluctant wizard that Craven's long-lost wife Lenore, whom he loved greatly and thought dead, is living with the despised Scarabus. ...The Raven
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
35 of 35 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I have a great deal of affection for this film, which I first saw as a teenager when it came out. Not the typical Corman adaptation of Poe, but I very tongue in cheek (and very nearly camp) version. Vincent Price, Peter Lorre and Boris Karloff shamelessly ham it up and spoof their own images and careers. A very young Jack Nicholson is as wooden as he is straight and never stands a chance against three veteran scene-stealers. There are also a couple of forgotten starlets who were hired more for their cleavages than any other talent. The budget is low, the effects prehistoric, but the performances, script and direction more than make up for it. This film could only have been made in the Sixties. If the three stars were slightly past their peak, they are still full of fun and mischief. Vincent Price in particular seems to be forever saying to the audience: "I know it's nonsense and you know it's nonsense, but it's fun, isn't it?" Even so, it is Peter Lorre who gets some of the best lines. When entering a crypt, he looks around at the dust and decay and cobwebs and comments dryly: "Hard place to keep clean, huh?" Not a horror film (unless you count Nicholson's horrible acting), not one for Poe purists, but much more a very offbeat entertainment. Get out the popcorn and enjoy.
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:DVD
If you've never seen this film, you must. If you like Roger Corman/1950-1960's schlock horror, you must see this film. I've always been a fan of Vincent Price, Boris Karloff and Peter Lorre. What a bonus, a film with all three! And to top it all, it's based on an Edgar Allan Poe tale (okay, so it is very loosely based). The film tells the tale of 3 wizards, Peter Lorre is sort of the bait, with Vincent Price and Boris Karloff pitting their magical knowledge against each other - yes, the good guy does win! Also appearing in one of his very early roles, is a very young Jack Nicholson (as he did quite often in early l960's Corman films) as Peter Lorre's son. Great viewing - a pleasant time is guaranteed for all.
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I first saw this film about 8 years ago it wasn't a great copy,one we had taped from the tele but i loved it.At the time i thought it was really scary and being only 10 could not work out how they do all the (special effects) and i do use this term loosely. However i really enjoyed the film and it became one of OUR regular saturday night in movie.Untill our video player blew up ruining the film. Since then i have been searching everywhere for it, with no luck untill now. I reccomend this film to anyone who doesnt mind ancient effects and a bit of gore.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic
They don't make movies like they used to and this is a classic. I have been waiting for the price to come down, so when it was reasonable I bought it. Read more
Published 16 days ago by Mrs. P. A. Wheatley
1.0 out of 5 stars
Rubbish
Forget it, its one of those films that looks good on the tin, but throughout, you just want it to end.
Published 22 days ago by LOTTO WIZARD
5.0 out of 5 stars
Never more!!!
Being a Fan of Rodger Corman Movies, Loving Vincent Price, Boris Karloff and Jack Nicholson, plus a Reader of Edger Allan Poe, this Movie for me is a No Brainer full stop! Read more
Published 28 days ago by Darren
5.0 out of 5 stars
DVD
Have been meaning to purchase this for years. Fantastically fun film, noteable for first performance by Jack Nicholson! Give it a go.
Published 2 months ago by Mr John Gardiner
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mad ~ Just MAD!
This is a dreadful film. A very small cast (10? all told) but the acting is absolutely delightful with the 3½ "stars" really sending themselves up. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Gina Sergent
3.0 out of 5 stars
Funny Poe?
Vincent Price, Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre and Jack Nicholson unite in Poe's Raven-inspired, horror-comedy. Read more
Published 3 months ago by tzynamoon
4.0 out of 5 stars
A lot of unadultered fun...
Following "Tales of Terror", Roger Corman pursued the resolutely humorous trend of the latter movie with "The Raven". Read more
Published 5 months ago by Autonome
5.0 out of 5 stars
An amusing piece of vintage Vincent Price
An hilarious adaption of the book by Poe. Vincent Price hams it up splendidly.
the DVD was well packaged by the seller and dispatched superfast.
I am glad to own it.
the DVD was well packaged by the seller and dispatched superfast.
I am glad to own it.
Published 12 months ago by keely comet
4.0 out of 5 stars
An amusing tale
I bought this as I collect films starring Jack Nicholson. In this film he appears as a very young man, in contrast to some of the others stars. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Sd Smyth
5.0 out of 5 stars
The raven
Very good viewing! special type film from 1960 or so, especially for fans of Boris Karloff and Vincent Price!
Published on 30 Oct 2010 by Mr. S. C. Wilde
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