MovieChat Forums > Theatre of Blood (1973) Discussion > Best Moments of Humor

Best Moments of Humor

posted 17 years ago by jrpelt
23 replies | jump to latest

One of the things about Vincent Price's movies were often the moments of quiet humor, many of which we see here:

--Inspector Boot finds the box of matches empty

--Merridew distresses that one of his dogs is going to faint; Chloe Moon takes a step back from him

--Lionheart as "Butch" with the cop

--Nuances shared between Lionheart and Edwina during Sprout's "surgery"

--Sergeant Dogge gets hit by a train over the radio

--Devlin critiques Lionheart's death at the end of the movie

Do you have any to add?

P.S. A serious, quiet moment was also Lionheart posing as the gravedigger at Maxwell's funeral.

[–] jaloquisimo 17 years ago

He most certainly was.

Top comedy moment, which you mentioned, is Lionheart's roll of the eyes due to Edwina's incompetence during the, er, "surgery". But then the whole thing is full of comedy genius. Vincent Price (apparently) fencing ON A TRAMPOLINE, anyone? And swapping adjoining trampolines (as does Devlin) mid-bounce? Pardon the pun, even if it is correct, but that scene is priceless.

[–] RipCity 17 years ago

One I like, as a bit of foreshadowing, is a brief moment at the graveyard. After Snape's body is dragged by the horse, and the police announced that the critics are being targeted, look at Sprout's reaction. He hand goes straight to his neck!

Veni, vidi, vermicelli
I came, I saw, I had pasta

[–] xylonian-1 17 years ago

"Edward Lionheart: [as Butch] Oh, I wish you'd let me do something camp with the colour, darling. Like flame with ash highlights."

Great line....

Read My Lips!!!!

[–] Bloody_Wonder 17 years ago

I agree, the Butch scene was the one that had me hysterically laughing. Vincent is a genius. I would have NEVER expected something of him like that. And I love him for it. Fencing on a trampoline? Brilliant scene, Vincent can surely fence! I was surprised. Overall, I love the entire movie. Brilliantly camp.

"Him? Oh my good man think nothing of it. I'm just about through with that cheap ham anyway"

[–] whostercogburn 11 years ago

Yes, the pre-decapitation roll of the eyes from Lionheart to Edwina is just fantastic. There's endless funny moments - both obvious and unobvious.

I love George Maxwell's annoyance at having 'the best part of his review' edited out - and his sheer pomposity when uttering to his wife, "...the bit where I said, "the leading lady grabbed the role with both hands - and strangled it to death."

The look on Lionheart's face as he recalls a damning line from Meredith Merridew that ended, "...one is irrestitably reminded of a ham sandwich!"

Devlin's look of anguished realisation when saying "...only Lionheart would have the temerity to rewrite Shakespeare."

A scene I found particularly funny was Dickman's leching at the restaurant. Love the bit where he takes a stiff gulp of brandy and answers to Edwina, "His head cut awf?"

Truly magnificent film!

[–] moonrayman 17 years ago

well.. I really laughed my head of when Vincent VERY THEATRICALLY starts to stirr the egg shortly before Titus Andronicus is about to be re-enacted.

It's really not THAT funny, but Vincents melodrama acting makes it unforgettable...

[–] matt-282 17 years ago

For me personally, one of the most funniest (or most bizarre) scenes is of Lionheard in disguise as a hairdresser in the salon with wearing a giant, blond, afro wig is one of the high points of the movie.

[–] hawkblue_inaz 17 years ago

i agree with you matt. there are plenty of funny parts, but when he says "Names Butch". i cannot stop laughing for a good five minutes. excellent movie!

----------------------------------------
Sometimes, nothing is a real cool hand.-Luke,1967.

[–] Pythe 17 years ago

Vincent as Butch was certainly hilarious. I think the moment that made me laugh the hardest, though, was when they receive that one critic's heart in a box. Devlin, rather than acting disgusted or shocked, simply shrugs it off and says wryly, "Lionheart's alive, all right. Only he would have the temerity to rewrite Shakespeare."

Oh, no, I'm not tired. But my finger is!

[–] laustcawz-789-925423 14 years ago

Pythe--That's my favorite line in the movie, too.
I wonder if the posters here who are surprised by Price's penchant for comedy recall that, just the previous year,
he'd guest starred on "The Brady Bunch"! Not that that show was an elaborate satire like "Theatre Of Blood",
but it certainly shows that he was always up for a laugh.

[–] ldziub 17 years ago

I always crack up when he picks up his robes like a skirt right before the wine drowning scene inspired by Richard III. He looks and sounds so menacing immediately beforehand, then all of a sudden, completely drops character as he gathers up the draping of his robes to make his way to the scene.

[–] g-of-warks2 16 years ago

When he introduces himself as Butch is hilarious. Another funny bit is where he is pretending to be that tv cook in Robert Morley's house ("This is your dish") and that crappy, 1970's organ music plays when he first appears. Also whenever he was about to do something deranged to one of his victims he would chuckle contemplatively to himself.

[–] g-of-warks2 16 years ago

Also whenever he had just murdered someone how he would come out with a witty one liner. Eg. After he puts that bloke in a barrel of wine, "I wonder if he'll travel well.". After he has those winos bump off Michael Horden. Michael Horden, in his dying breath says, "Lionheart! But you're dead!" To which Vincent Price casually tosses the police helmet he is wearing to one side, chuckles to himself and says, "Another critcal miscalculation. I am quite well. It is YOU who are dead."

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] scribe1270 16 years ago

My favorite funny scene is right after Mr. Price dispatches Robert Morley's character via a cooking show (This is your dish). There Mr. Morley is lying with the funnel in his mouth and everyone takes off their hats and bows heads as if in respect to his passing and then Mr. Price says, "he didn't have the stomach for it." lol. Oddly appropriate as both Mr. Price and Mr. Morley loved to cook. (Mr. Price put together a cookbook and Mr. Morley did a cooking show).

[–] Kraal718 15 years ago

What I find totally hilarious is the Horace Sprout/surgery scene,when Lionheart sticks his head slightly out so that Edwina can gently mop his sweaty brow.Black humour in abundance here!Not an eminent surgeon saving a life,but a very horrific murder!

[–] Woodyanders 14 years ago

Price as "Butch" was simply sidesplitting. The swordfight on the trampolines was likewise downright hilarious.

"We're all part Shatner/And part James Dean/Part Warren Oates/And Steven McQueen"