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So much average

Memorable, crazy movie

It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

Cunning, deranged and sophisticated wealthy aristocrat Jason Cravatte (superbly played with lip-smacking wicked aplomb by Patrick O'Neal) gets apprehended by the authorities for murder. Jason escapes by cutting off his own hand and replacing it with a hook. He then goes on a grisly killing spree, specifically bumping off those folks responsible for his arrest. Suave wax museum curator Anthony Draco (a fine and charming performance by Cesare Donova) and his jolly partner Harold Blount (delightfully played by Wilfrid Hyde-White) investigate the case. Director Hy Averback, working from a sharp and clever script by Stephen Kandel, relates the engrossing story at a steady pace, ably creates a flavorsome misty and spooky 19th century period atmosphere, stages the shock set pieces with considerable flair, and further spices things up with a few amusing moments of witty humor. The sound acting from a tip-top cast qualifies as a significant plus: O'Neal positively shines as the delectably sick and sadistic villain, Donova and Hyde-White make for a very engaging amateur sleuthing duo, plus are are praiseworthy contributions by Laura Devon as Cravatte's unwitting fair damsel accomplice Marie Champlain, Patrice Wymore as alluring restaurant hostess Vivian, Suzy Parker as ravishing rich lass Barbara Dixon, Tun Tun as Blount and Draco's loyal midget assistant Senor Pepe De Reyes, a pre-"M.A.S.H." Wayne Rogers as the amiable Sergeant Jim Albertson, Philip Bourneuf as the bumbling Inspector Matthew Strudwick, Jeanette Nolan as brash, gossipy old shrew Ms. Ewing Perryman, and Marie Windsor as classy brothel Madame Corona. Robert H. Kline's vibrant color cinematography gives the picture an attractive polished look while William Lava's graceful and melodic orchestral score hits the shivery spot. Better still, this film offers a few nicely perverse touches: Cravatte marries the corpse of his freshly strangled fiancé at the movie's beginning and plans on making a composite person out of the severed body parts of his victims. Why, we even get a lovably hokey William Castle-style "horror horn" and "fear flasher" gimmick kicking in every time something particularly horrific is about to happen. Good, ghoulish fun.

This comes across as a superb vehicle for O'Neal, Hyde-White and the rest of the cast. Casting Tun Tun as the assistant was inspired. It's well staged, has good set decoration and it's a worthy addition to the various House of Wax films - possibly the best of the bunch. The ending has a surprise twist when Jason is killed by being impaled on his own wax figure in the was museum. The only weakness from a cinematic point of view is the kooky Fear Flasher and Horror Horn gimmick. The film survives even that, though. Best line in the dialog - after being thought dead, Jason returns to wreak vengeance on the judge who sentenced him and the judge says "But you're dead". Jason's response - "Yes. Won't you join me?".

This is what other horror movies want to be. It might even be classified best under "cult classic". It isn't surreal, but it does start with carbon copy looking characters and manifest them into deeper beings. The central character becomes the murderer, a man of noble birth who just has evil inside of him. He escapes execution by diving into a river in chains, so he is dead now. Or is he? You know better than that. But unlike the goofy ogres of later movies who just can't die, he engineers a way out of his dilemma which makes him very easy to identify later, but which also gives him an idea for building an arsenal of weapons. He continues his killings, but this time he's out for revenge. The good guys are a true delight. In the manner of most great camp science fiction (and unfortunately true to life in the case of law enforcement), the police are bumbling fools, and the real heroes are a trio of wax museum owners. Great atmosphere make this a great movie, and the casting of Hyde-White (My Fair Lady), is inspirational. One wonders why this super talent wasn't in more films. He gives the film an extra point or two in the rating. Trapper John also appears, as a policeman. Some day, this film will come out again to show what a great horror movie should be.

Expecting a low-grade and low budget chiller (you know: good ol' Tony Curtis has a cameo in it...), knowing that it was originally made for TV, and having seen vintage ads of it, announcing gimmicks like the "fear flasher" and the "horror horn" to protect rabbit-hearted viewers from being shocked without warning, this one's a real surprise to watch. Sure, the gimmicks are quite ridiculous, but the rest of the movie -and that is quite a lot- provides tense and moody atmosphere, above average camerawork, gorgeous colour compositions and probably the most gripping performance Mr. Patrick O'Neal -as the demented killer- has ever delivered (well, sure, there have not been many...). It's great fun watching him do scary things with his special wooden hand stump, fitted with a variety of hooks, knives and cleavers. This almost forgotten pic can easily compete with the quality of the Vincent Price Classic "House of Wax" and it's a winner - especially considering the fun factor. The whole thing looks a bit like as if William Castle would have produced and re-edited a classic hammer movie directed by -say- Jacques Tourneur (forgive me, Jacques). Great fun to watch.