The Tomb of Ligeia 1964 123movies

Watch: The Tomb of Ligeia 1964 123movies, Full Movie Online – Some years after having buried his beloved wife Ligea, Verden Fell meets and eventually marries the lovely Lady Rowena. Fell is something of a recluse, living in a small part of a now ruined Abbey with his manservant Kenrick as the only other occupant. He remains infatuated with his late wife and is convinced that she will return to him. While all goes well when first married, he returns to his odd behavior when they return to the Abbey from their honeymoon. The memories of Ligea continue to haunt him as well as her promise that she would never die..
Plot: Verden Fell is shattered after the death of his lovely wife. But, after an unexpected encounter with Lady Rowena Trevanion, Fell soon finds himself married again. Nevertheless, his late wife’s spirit seems to hang over the dilapidated abbey that Fell shares with his new bride. Lady Rowena senses that something is amiss and, when she investigates, makes a horrifying discovery — learning that Fell’s dead wife is closer than she ever imagined possible.
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Ratings:

	6.4/10 Votes: 6,288
	85% | RottenTomatoes
	N/A | MetaCritic
	N/A Votes: 127 Popularity: 7.025 | TMDB

Reviews:

This movie got love, death, and marriage.
This movie also plays heavy into hypnosis.
The cat is the true star of the movie, getting more screen time than Vincent almost.

The pace is great and so is the unfolding of this story. Nothing gore and bloody, but it does keep suspense and the macabre in tact throughout.

Although not the strongest in the Poe series that Corman did, it is still a movie that can entertain.

Also if Disney wasn’t using the title, I feel they could’ve used “That darn cat!” as a movie title. But it wouldn’t pack a punch like Tomb of the Cat or the one it has now.

_**The black cat from hell at a manor in Victorian Britain**_

Amidst a crumbling castle in 19th century England, a widowed aristocrat (Vincent Price) mourns his wife, but quickly develops a new romantic relationship after meeting the forceful Rowena (Elizabeth Shepherd). Yet the soul of Ligeia seems to be haunting the estate and the apparently mesmerized Baron is hiding something.

Released in late 1964, “The Tomb of Ligeia” is Gothic horror based on the Edgar Allan Poe story from 1838 (which was revised in 1845 with the addition of his 1843 poem “The Conqueror Worm,” written by the character Ligeia). This was the last of Roger Corman’s eight Poe films from 1960-1964, which all made money but this one made the least, possibly because the quasi-series had run its course and the story was overly complicated. Nevertheless, Corman considered it one of the best of the lot.

Since the original tale was so short, scriptwriter Robert Towne incorporated elements from other Poe stories, such as the black cat, mesmerism and a hint of necrophilia. The talky story isn’t as compelling as Corman’s “The Terror” (1963) or even “The Masque of the Red Death” (1964). It’s rather boring for the first hour, but there’s an effectively creepy payoff in the last act, which ties everything together. Like those previous two films, the sumptuous Gothic ambiance is worth the price of admission and the inclusion of Stonehenge is a highlight. You just have to acclimate to the dated drama-focused goings-on.

The movie runs 1 hour, 22 minutes and was shot at Shepperton Studios, just west of London, and Castle Acre Priory north of Swaffham, as well as other spots in England, such as Stonehenge, Polesden Lacey and Polzeath, Cornwall, at the southwest tip of Britain (the beach scene).

GRADE: B-/C+

Haunting Tale of Mystery
“The Tomb of Ligeia” was one of a cycle of films made by Roger Corman in the sixties based on the works of Edgar Allen Poe. Verden Fell, an English country gentleman of the 1820s has become obsessed with his dead wife Ligeia. Indeed, although she has been buried in a tomb he built for her, he believes that she is not dead but has, as she promised she would, survived death in some form and will return to him. This obsession survives Fell’s remarriage to Rowena, the daughter of a neighbouring landowner. Indeed, his obsession worsens, as he comes to believe that Rowena is possessed by Ligeia’s spirit.

This is an unusual horror film in that much of it takes place not only outdoors but also in daylight. The sort of images of ruin and decay traditional in horror films- Fell lives in a gloomy, crumbling, cobwebbed manor house close to the ruins of a mediaeval abbey- are contrasted with sunlit scenes of the beautiful, verdant English countryside. The difference between life and death is the central idea of the film- which ends with a quote from Poe himself: “The boundaries which divide life from death are at best shadowy and vague. Who shall say where the one ends and where the other begins”- so this contrast is possibly symbolic, with the outdoor scenes symbolising life and the indoor ones death. The two main female characters (both played by the same actress, Elizabeth Shepherd) are differentiated in a similar manner. Rowena is a healthy-looking, “English Rose” type blonde with a love of outdoor pursuits, especially hunting. Ligeia is dark haired and gaunt with an unhealthy pallor.

Like many films of this period, and unlike later films such as “The Exorcist”, this is an example of an understated horror film, with the horror mostly being implied rather than shown directly. Ligeia makes an appearance in the film, but we are never sure whether this is really her ghost returning from the grave or a hallucination conjured up by Fell’s distraught mind. Although it is understated, however, it is genuinely frightening, not because of Exorcist-style special effects, but because of the eerie mood that Corman is able to create. Apart from the atmospheric setting, various objects take on a sinister significance- a bunch of flowers, a dead fox and, most of all, a mysterious, malevolent black cat which may be the reincarnation of Ligeia’s soul, or may be just a cat.

The acting is also very good, especially from Shepherd in the dual role of Rowena/Ligeia and from Vincent Price as Fell. In a way this is also a dual role, as there are two separate aspects to Fell’s character. On the one hand he is sinister and frightening, the man who threatens Rowena’s happiness, her sanity and even her life. (The adjective “fell” significantly means cruel or fierce). On the other hand he is a pitiable character, a victim of his own obsessions and (possibly) also of his late wife’s ghost. This duality is very much in keeping with the mood of the film, which is one of ambiguity and doubt. As befits one based upon the work of Poe, it is a tale of mystery and imagination. 7/10

Corman at his most POEtic and stylish best
“Tomb of Ligeia” was the last of Corman’s popular Edgar Allan Poe adaptations of the 60’s. Because of how it’s totally different in style from the previous entries in the series, many have deemed it as an inferior effort, though I personally think it’s the total opposite. There’s no doubt in my view that “Ligeia” is Corman’s finest Poe adaptation. All the flaws present in his earlier films (even in the more well praised “Masque of the Red Death”), that have become even more visible with aging, have served as a lesson as to what not to do, and are thankfully not present here. The most effective change was the change of setting. Instead of using painted backdrops posing and excessive sound stage interiors posing as European settings, this one was actually filmed on-location in the British countryside, with studio indoors scenes kept to a minimum. The gorgeously photographed exterior locations, with the dark and imposing ruins clashing against the peaceful, idyllic nature surroundings, add immensely to the film’s brooding Gothic atmosphere, and it’s a real shame it wasn’t used more often in other films of the same period. Not since Jean Epstein’s haunting “Fall of the House of Usher” in 1928, has Poe’s style been so faithfully adapted to the silver screen. This is mostly due to Corman’s stylish and original direction, an intelligent script by Robert Towne (of “Chinatown” fame) and to Vincent Price’s acting. Without resorting to over-the-top melodramatic gestures (as seen in 1961’s “Pit and the Pendulum”), Price plays to perfection a suave, mysterious, eerily seductive and haunted lead – the ultimate Poe lead, and one of his best performances, up there with his work in “Witchfinder General”. Elizabeth Sheppard, whom you might remember as the doomed journalist from “Damien: Omen II”, is equally effective as the female lead, both as Ligeia and Lady Rowena. As Rowena, Sheppard doesn’t go for your typical ‘damsel in distress’ performance as it could’ve been, and plays as a much stronger willed, not so innocent, independent, yet likable character. Though her role as creepy raven-haired Ligeia has less screen time, she does manage to leave an impression, and manages to be genuinely creepy. Another bonus is the surreal dream sequence that happens somewhere in the middle of the film. A trademark Corman treat, this scene is filled with vivid colors, brilliantly otherworldly camera-work and bizarre, nightmarish imagery, it’s one of the film’s scariest moments, and also one of the director’s most memorable set pieces. Also, I love the subtly creepy and disturbingly poetic approach Towne and Corman take at the controversial necrophilia subplot. This subject matter would get an equally elegant treatment 10 years later in Mario Bava’s “Lisa and the Devil”. The film’s flaws come basically from the final confrontation between Price and Sheppard, which comes back as a more typical Corman-ending-to-a-Poe-film, coming off as a bit anti-climatic, considering how much build up there was it. Nevertheless, it’s fun and stylish, even if it’s slightly campy tone doesn’t match the otherwise seriousness of all that came after. Overall, an exquisite Gothic gem from the 60’s, and essential viewing for fans of the genre. Even if you’re not a fan of the director’s work, do check it out, as it might as well come off as a pleasant surprise. 9.5/10

Other Information:

Original Language en
Runtime 1 hr 22 min (82 min) (USA), 1 hr 21 min (81 min) (UK)
Budget 0
Revenue 0
Status Released
Rated Not Rated
Genre Drama, Horror, Thriller
Director Roger Corman
Writer Edgar Allan Poe, Robert Towne, Paul Mayersberg
Actors Vincent Price, Elizabeth Shepherd, John Westbrook
Country United States, United Kingdom
Awards N/A
Production Company N/A
Website N/A

Technical Information:

Sound Mix Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Aspect Ratio 2.35 : 1
Camera N/A
Laboratory N/A
Film Length N/A
Negative Format 35 mm
Cinematographic Process Colorscope
Printed Film Format 35 mm