Shenanigans ensue when the proprietor of a wax museum gets double crossed by his partner, who burns the museum down for the insurance money. Unfortunately for the jerk, the artist is played by Vincent Price.
House of Wax is a 1953 Horror movie from director Andre De Toth. The movie was shot in both 3D and regular D, and unfortunately there is the odd bit of object being tossed at the camera because it’s a 3D movie. However, the director was blind in one eye, so the 3D effects wouldn’t work for him. I leave it to you to decide if that’s a good or bad thing. Vincent Price steals the show as always. Mister Price had a close call while making this movie. In the scene where the wax museum burns down, the director and some of the crew set small fires around the set. However, the fires quickly got out of control, burning a hole in the roof of the studio and burning off Mister Price’s eyebrows before he could get clear. The movie also features Charles Bronson in one of his first credited film roles as Igor. Also, 1953 Charles Bronson was hecking jacked. Just thought I’d throw that out there.
The makeup effects on Vincent Price’s character are actually pretty astonishing, even under today’s standards. Apparently they were so good that the girl working the register at the studio canteen ‘turned green and nearly fainted’ when she got a look at Mister Price when he went to buy lunch. Vincent Price was also in the habit of going to see his movies, but he’d sit in the back, so nobody would notice him. When he went to see House of Wax, there happened to be a pair of teenage girls sitting in front of him. Unable to resist, when the picture ended, he leaned forward and whispered in their ears “Did you like it?” At which point the girls shrieked and nearly leaped right out of their skins.
I don’t want to give any spoilers, but one last bit of trivia. Yes, that’s a real blade on the guillotine in the final scene. Yes, that’s really the actor sticking his head in it. And yes, it did cause a shouting match between the actor, the stuntmen and the director. I imagine that the guy nearly burning down the studio with everyone in it didn’t exactly inspire a lot of confidence in everyone on set.
I love these old movies. This is actually one of the few Vincent Price movies that I hadn’t seen all the way through before I sat down to do this review. It’s great old time fun and an outstanding choice if you’re looking for something to watch with the kids this Spooky Season. Check it out!
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