Linbeymusol Wonderful character development!

Actuakers One of my all time favorites.

Konterr Brilliant and touching

Edwin The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

Leofwine_draca The credits for this film read like a role call of famous names. Samuel Z Arkoff, responsible for churning out billions of products in the '50s and '60s, is a producer while the screenplay was directed by none other than Richard Matheson, a famed horror writer. Roger Corman directed the film, and even non-horror fans will instantly recognise his infamous name. The story is loosely (very loosely) based on an Edgar Allan Poe poem, which Price reads over the credits at the beginning. With production values like this, as well as an excellent ensemble cast, you have on your hands a sure-fire hit. THE RAVEN doesn't disappoint.Those expecting straight Gothic horror, however, will be disappointed, as the horror is virtually non-existent, taking a back seat to the numerous laughs on display here. I found some of the humour to be a bit laboured but not overly so. Price hams it up in his usual style and the role is perfect for him, as he plays the noble count (what other title would suit him?). Peter Lorre is also perfectly cast as an unlikeable man who is turned into a raven, and his snivelling role is at times rather tragic (note his reliance on alcohol) yet amusing. Karloff brings a true sense of menace as the evil conjurer, showing us he hasn't lost the sinister magic, while Hazel Court is on hand for the glamour aspect, surprisingly playing a villain this time around. Jack Nicholson ironically has an under-played supporting role, and we can see that he is still learning the ropes here and there is none of his over-the-top excess so typical of him, in fact his wooden acting is somewhat laughable.The special effects are also amazing for the time this film was made. Animation features heavily, and doesn't even look as dated as some films of the 1980s (CHILDREN OF THE CORN for example), as well as strings, wires, pulleys, fire, and many over tricks. At one point it looks like some kind of prism was used to shine light across the film (when the magicians are shooting their 'rays'). The production values are typical, with most money being spent on lavish costumes and a fiery climax (again, what else?). If you want to see a superb cast playing out a Poe film for laughs, then look nowhere else.

tomgillespie2002 Roger Corman's Edgar Allan Poe adaptations always had a loose spirit about them, fleshing out the source material so it would flow nicely as a 90-minute feature. With The Raven, the tale of a tortured lover tormented by a bird rapping on his chamber door that was so hilariously lampooned in a Simpsons Treehouse of Horror episode ("Ever more! Ever more!"), Corman uses just a couple of Poe's 18 stanzas as inspiration to tell his own preposterous story of duelling wizards and a stolen love. The fifth in the so-called Corman-Poe cycle, Corman and script-writer Richard Matheson, bolstered by the success of Tales of Terror the year before, again opt for a comedic take on Poe's haunting text.In the 15th century, powerful sorcerer Dr. Erasmus Craven (Vincent Price) broods in his study, mourning the loss of his wife Lenore (Hazel Court) two years earlier. Much to his surprise, he is visited by a talking, wine-guzzling raven who turns out to be fellow wizard Dr. Adolphus Bedlo (Peter Lorre), transformed after an altercation with the evil Dr. Scarabus (Boris Karloff). After Craven turns the boozy spell-caster back to his normal self using a concoction of bizarre ingredients, Bedlo sees a painting of the apparently-dead Lenore and swears he saw her in Scarabus's castle. As curiosity gets the better of him, Craven, along with his daughter Estelle (Olive Sturgess) and Bedlo's goofy son Rexford (Jack Nicholson), journey to Scarabus's caste in the hope of finding answers.Although it is nowhere near the standards seen in the likes of The Fall of the House of Usher (1960), The Pit and the Pendulum (1961) and The Tomb of Ligeia (1964), The Raven has its moments, and the main strength is in the ingenious casting of Price, Lorre and Karloff, all legends of the genre. They are totally game and are bags of fun, particularly Karloff who, at the time, was being introduced to a whole new generation of horror fans. The comedy is hit-and-miss. Sometimes it's funny and charming, but often it is cringe-inducingly daft. The climax is well directed and impressive- looking, especially for such a low-budget feature, but it's also overwhelmingly silly, and not in a good way. While The Raven is a pleasant way to spend an afternoon, it feels like a 20-minute piece stretched out over 86 minutes, and may have worked better as part of a portmanteau piece.

Phil Hubbs A few films with this title now, which is the better you may ask, well it certainly isn't the one with John Cusack. An intriguing Corman take on the classic Poe poem, a horror comedy with his typical B-movie visuals and cheesy dialog. Of course this being a horror his style works and adds huge amounts of ghoulish charm to the proceedings.The fifth film Corman adapted from Poe's classic works and probably one of the best (and more well known). The cast is of course the main factor here, Vincent Price who stars in all but one of Corman's adaptations. Peter Lorre who stars in one other Corman/Poe adaptation, Boris Karloff and of course Jack Nicholson.The plot is based around the Poe poem but of course is very very loose. Obviously most of it has been made up to fill out an entire film and frankly its pretty hokey and childish. Basically Price's character (a good sorcerer) is mourning the loss of his 'Lenore', a talking raven comes into his life which turns out to be Lorre who was turned into the raven by an evil sorcerer (Karloff). Lorre explains that he has seen Lenore at Karloff's castle so off they go to find her. Turns out Lenore faked her death and ran off to the evil 'Dr. Scarabus' (Karloff) to lure 'Dr. Erasmus Craven' (Price) to the castle so they can take his powers.The plot is thinner than a supermodels waistline and merely serves to offer up some Price vs Karloff sorcery towards the end. Nothing really happens throughout the entire film other than a lot of silly dialog and some rather poor attempts at comedy, its very dated. Nicholson plays the part of a young lad and son of Lorre's character, who also falls for Dr. Erasmus Craven's daughter (she accompanies them all on their adventure to Karloff's castle). No real reason for him to be in this really, he does nothing other than serve up wooden deliveries.The visuals in the film are nice with that musky old haunted castle type atmosphere, plenty of old leather bound armchairs and dusty bookcases. Price fits the scene like a glove of course, Karloff seems a bit out of place being slightly too serious but he looks good, while Lorre's character is a real misery and quite unlikable, but its all about his voice isn't it. Some nice matte painting work on the outside castle shots, totally fake looking of course but I love that kinda stuff, nice cheesy storm too.Overall its rather lame really, yes I know its a cult classic with an ultra classic legendary cast but the film is pretty dull and uneventful. The highlight is easily the sorcery battle between Price and Karloff in the finale. A great fun and quite long continuous sequence with some nice ideas and nice effects too. The ending is very soft but what do you expect? this is soft core 1960's horror here, back in the day I'm sure it was deemed quite thrilling.I'm sure the hardcore fanboys of these silver screen stars will love this, I enjoyed it but must admit I was bored. The finale is cool but the rest is merely filler, still worth your time though purely for the cast.'Quoth the raven, Nevermore.'6/10

LeonLouisRicci Not Without Some Interest, this Overrated and Disappointing Horror-Comedy is Mostly Comedy and it's Not Very Funny. But it is Slightly Amusing. Vincent Price along with Boris Karloff and Peter Lorre, is the Only Actor that Manages to Click.Lorre is just Annoying and Whiny, Krarloff seems Bored and Tired, and Oh Yea, there He is a Young Jack Nicholson, Director Roger Corman's Discovery, and about the Only Thing He can do is Look Out of Place and Awkward.The Movie Looks Great, has Beautiful Color Work and the Sets are Magnificent. But as a Whole the Film Barely Works Considering all the Talent, Including a Screenplay by the Usually Excellent Richard Matheson, who here is just a Pedestrian looking for a Paycheck.Overall, it can be Recommended for Corman Completists, Star Watchers, and for the Fabulous Atmosphere, as a Bonus You can Ogle Hazel Court.