B-movie Mayhem...The Tomb of Ligeia, eighth of the Corman-Poe cycle

The Tomb of Ligeia is a 1964 British horror film directed by Roger Corman. Starring Vincent Price and Elizabeth Shepherd, it tells of a man haunted by the spirit of his dead wife and her effect on his second marriage. The screenplay by Robert Towne was based upon the short story "Ligeia" by American author Edgar Allan Poe and was the last in his series of films loosely based on the works of Poe. Tomb of Ligeia was filmed at Castle Acre Priory and other locations with a mostly English cast. (Wikipedia)

Synopsis from Wikipedia: Verden Fell (Vincent Price) is both mournful about and feels threatened by the death of his first wife, Ligeia. He sensed her reluctance to die and was concerned about her near-blasphemous statements about God (she was an atheist). Alone and troubled by an eye condition that requires him to wear dark glasses, Fell shuns the world.

Against his better judgement, he marries a headstrong young woman, Rowena (Elizabeth Shepherd), he meets by accident, who pursues him, even though she is apparently bethrothed to an old friend, Christopher Gough (John Westbrook). Ligeia's spirit seems to haunt their mansion, previously a medieval abbey, and nocturnal visions and the sinister presence of a cat (which may be inhabited by the spirit of Ligeia) distress Rowena. The cat, who first appears at Ligeia's burial, wounds and appears to attempt to kill Rowena several times and Fell unsuccessfully orders its destruction. Ultimately he must face the spirit of Ligeia and resist her or perish.

The climax of the film takes place when Fell has a showdown with Ligeia, now in the form of a cat. Fell is blinded by Ligeia, but gets the upper hand and strangles the cat, while the tomb around him burns down, due to an accident. Fell and Ligeia perish and Gough and Rowena start a new life together.

Odds and ends from the MGM Midnight Movies DVD:

Roger Corman referred to this movie as the biggest and most exciting of his eight Edgar Allan Poe Adaptations.

Vincent Price is said to have thought that his film was the best Poe production he had ever done.

Cast

• Vincent Price as Verden Fell
• Elizabeth Shepherd as Rowena Trevanion/Ligeia
• John Westbrook as Christopher Gough
• Derek Francis as Lord Trevanion
• Oliver Johnston as Kenrick
• Richard Vernon as Dr. Vivian
• Frank Thornton as Peperel
• Ronald Adam as Clergyman
• Denis Gilmore as Livery Boy
• Penelope Lee as Maid