Semi OT: Vault of Horror (Amicus '73)

[Gothick]

Fans,

Looks as if Fox Studios continues to give new meaning to the phrase "blood-spattered screen" with this week's twofer release of the Amicus classics Tales from the Crypt (1971) and Vault of Horror (1973).  From patron reviews posted today on Amazon.com (I have not been able to find reviews of the disc elsewhere), I gather that my worst fears have been released and Fox have chosen to release the butchered 1974 US MPAA-approved theatrical print of Vault of Horror.  Genre specialists were scandalized by the state in which the film debuted in US theatres back in the day.  I've never seen but have read lurid descriptions of butchered segment finales replaced by clumsy freeze-frames for more than one of the episodes in this typical Amicus omnibus entry (if you've seen Dr Terror's House of Horrors, Torture Garden, From Beyond the Grave, or any number of other titles in the Amicus catalogue, you've basically seen Vault of Horror).  I am particularly upset by this news because I've been waiting for years to see this one in a restored print, as it includes pairings of some of my favorite British thespians; notably Daniel and Anna Massey cast as brother and sister in the first and Glynis Johns and Terry-Thomas as husband and wife in a later segment.

Fortunately, a Region 0 UK release of Vault of Horror is available from British dealers on eBay and Amazon.co.uk.  This is now my sole court of resort for finally getting to see this one, it would appear.

I recommend another entry in the new releases from Fox: Devils of Darkness (a completely forgotten, stylish little film from 1965) paired with Witchcraft, a 1964 release directed by Don Sharp that's circulated for years in low-quality bootleg prints.  Both films have story elements that fans will find reminiscent of Dark Shadows, and from what I can determine, both films have been released in decent quality prints by Fox.

G.

[Brian]

Sadly, G, I can confirm that this new DVD release of "Vault of Horror" is the "censored" version with the freeze frames...and I am not happy about it, either.  Whereas "Tales from the Crypt" has some images I've never seen before (the rather tame and unbloody intestines in the quasi-"Monkey's Paw" segemnt), I cannot figure out why VOH was not presented uncut.  Certainly the scenes as you describe them cannot have been so horrifying as to warrant an R rating nowadays.  For heavens' sake, they don't sound any more gory than the Carolyn and/or Barnabas staking scenes in HODS--and that was just GP!  Ah, well, those conservative MPAA ratings folks...and if you haven't yet seen it, check out "This Film is Not Yet Rated" on DVD for an eye-opening look at the MPAA.

[Gothick]

Hi Brian,

I read an account of the theatrical release print butchering of VOH from an old issue of Castle of Frankenstein back in the day and it seems as if the chopping of that film was pure politics by the MPAA.  From what I recall, the censors were at the breaking point of frustration due to their failure to curb the trend of graphic violence in films, as seen in such then-recent releases as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Exorcist, and the oeuvre of Sam Peckinpah.

It almost seems as if someone at the MPAA had it in for Amicus studios, as well--Amicus was then on their last legs.

Whenever I manage to get hold of the UK region 0 release of VOH, I'll post a short notice about it here.  Perhaps Tim Lucas will do an article about this in Video Watchdog--it seems like the perfect topic for that mag.

G.

[David]

The freeze frame shots are a shame & a disgrace, though I find Vault of Horror to be a weak film story wise, when compared to Torture Garden & Dr Terror's House of Horrors.

Though you're right on the money about
Daniel Massey's superb acting!

David

PS speaking of Amicus, ever see The Deadly Bees? Before I ever discovered Karloff, Lugosi, Hammer, Price & DS, The Deadly Bees was the first horror film I ever saw.
I'm still bee-phobic to this day because of the
death by 1,000 stings scene!
(though much of the film is rather campy!)

[ClaudeNorth]

PS speaking of Amicus, ever see The Deadly Bees? Before I ever discovered Karloff, Lugosi, Hammer, Price & DS, The Deadly Bees was the first horror film I ever saw.
I'm still bee-phobic to this day because of the
death by 1,000 stings scene!
(though much of the film is rather campy!)

Is this the film in which a woman appears on television, singing, "Stop the m-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-sic!" before collapsing from nervous exhaustion?

[Gothick]

Hi Claude, yes, that is the beginning of The Deadly Bees.  It's a wildly campy sequence!  The rest of it I found rather anti-climactic...

G.

[David]

In that song, befoe she lip syncs "stop the music"
she "sings" the line "My Baby Took Me To a Dance Last Night", a line spoofed to great effect
in the hilarious Mystery Science Theatre take on The Deadly Bees.

David 

[arashi]

LOL David! I love that MST!

I'd seen mentions of Tales from the Crypt on the Monsterama show about Bill Gaines' horror comics, but have yet to seek out a copy. If it's been released State side recently then I'll make sure to seek it out. Thanks for the heads-up Gothick!

[Gerard]

Ah, does The Deadly Bees ever bring back childhood memories!  I saw it in the theater the weekend before Halloween.  Back then, our local movie house would show two spooky flicks, free of charge, the Saturday afternoon before All Hallow's Even for us kiddies and the place was always packed.  Usually, one of the cinematic delights was a Godzilla outing.  At this particular movie experience, we got The Deadly Bees.  I recall the scene where the middle-aged lady was attacked and stung to death; afterwards, as her lifeless body was carried away, swollen and full of welts, all us kids started to scream in terror and fright.  Well, we were only about ten-or-so.

Gerard

[David]

Ah, does The Deadly Bees ever bring back childhood memories!  I saw it in the theater the weekend before Halloween.  Back then, our local movie house would show two spooky flicks, free of charge, the Saturday afternoon before All Hallow's Even for us kiddies and the place was always packed.  Usually, one of the cinematic delights was a Godzilla outing.  At this particular movie experience, we got The Deadly Bees.  I recall the scene where the middle-aged lady was attacked and stung to death; afterwards, as her lifeless body was carried away, swollen and full of welts, all us kids started to scream in terror and fright.  Well, we were only about ten-or-so.

The scene with poor, bee stung Mrs. Hargrove is the scene that made me bee-phobic! (see my above post)
It's the only scene in the film that works as true horror, and it's a doozy!
The close-ups of her bee covered face are unnerving, as are her screams!
She gave the only good performance in the film.
Years later, I found out that this actress, Catherine Finn, was the real life wife of Hammer character star Michael Ripper.

The rest of The Deadly Bees is a hoot!
Anyone recall the young, sexy housekeeper
parading around the farm in high heels?

David

[Gothick]

Just a line to any fans who may have been following this topic:  I checked reviews of the UK release of Vault of Horror, and although the movie is complete, it is described as a pan and scan digitzation of a scratchy, somewhat faded print that hasn't been cleaned up--sounds like a public domain print from a 16 mm collector may have been the source.

This makes me wonder whether the original source materials for the full length print before the cuts demanded by the MPAA (this was the theatrical print of the movie, not a print prepared for television as stated by a number of people on Amazon) may have gotten lost in the wash (once again...).

There are reports of a Japanese laser disc which is supposed to be pristine but it was awhile back (obviously) when I read about this.

G.