ONCE UPON A MIDNIGHT DREARY…
Although The Raven is one of Edgar Allan Poe’s most famous poems, the lack of a narrative hook initially stumped screenwriting legend Richard Matheson (I Am Legend, The Incredible Shrinking Man, Duel) until he realised that the idea of adapting the poem was so ridiculous that he might as well make it a comedy.
And what a comedy! Vincent Price, Peter Lorre and Boris Karloff play rival magicians whose paths cross when Dr Craven (Price) hears Dr Bedlo tap-tap-tapping on his windowpane. For Bedlo has been turned into a raven by Dr Scarabus (Karloff), and when transformed back into his old self he naturally vows revenge. But the scripted rivalry is as nothing compared to three great horror masters relentlessly upstaging each other – even a young Jack Nicholson, as Bedlo’s son, barely gets a look-in.
If there’s not much authentic Poe in these sorcery shenanigans, the sets and cinematography more than compensate: director Roger Corman was by then a master of conjuring Gothic atmosphere on a very modest budget.
High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation of the feature, transferred from original film elements by MGM
Original uncompressed Mono PCM Audio
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
Peter Lorre: The Double Face, Harun Farocki’s 1984 documentary, subtitled in English for the first time
Richard Matheson: Storyteller, an interview with the legendary novelist and screenwriter
Corman’s Comedy of Poe, an interview with Roger Corman about making The Raven
The Trick, a short film about rival magicians by Rob Green (The Bunker)
Promotional Record
Stills and Poster Gallery
Original Theatrical Trailer
Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Vladimir Zimakov
