Random thoughts of Corman Poe Films

(I just rewatched them all)
1. Vincent Price’s performances are consistently varied and wonderful - he does enigmatic and strong (Usher), weak (Pendulum), comic (Raven), truly evil (Masque), Byronesque (Ligeia) - it’s wonderful
2. Usher is sometimes taken for granted but it really se the scene and holds up well
3. The juvenile male leads were generally terrible and wet eg Richard Ney, John Kerr - Jack Nicholson was the best in the Raven - I think Corman was uncomfortable around macho younger actors
4. The abilities of the women varied but at their best they were marvellous and gave career highlight performances eg Barbara Steele, Elizabeth Shepherd, Hazel Court
5. Yes Cormsan had a strong crew but he also brought a hell of a lot himself - just watch Comedy of Terrors which despite Matheson, Crosby, Haller, Price, Karloff, Rathbone and Lorre is a mess
6. Ray Milland is no Vincent Price but it’s actually nice to see a film in the cycle without Price and Milland does a good job
7. Lovely to see Lon Chaney in Haunted Palace
8. Script work consistently great from Matheson, Towne, Beaumont etc... shame Griffith wasn’t given a go
9. The final two British films reinvigorated the franchise