House of Wax
Directed by Andre de Toth
Written by Crane Wilbur from a story by Charles Belden
1953/USA
Brian Foy Productions/Warner Bros.
Repeat viewing?/Netflix rental
[box] Prof. Henry Jarrod: Everything I ever loved has been taken away from me but not you, my Marie Antoinette, for I will give you eternal life.[/box]
This is a practically perfect example of the ’50’s horror genre with 3-D and Vincent Price to add to the fun.
Professor Henry Jerrod (Price) is an eccentric sculptor with a genius at creating lifelike wax images of historical figures. He considers these pieces to be his “children” and thinks of his work as art. In contrast, his greedy partner Matthew Burke wants him to install a Chamber of Horrors and other spectacular content to draw crowds. Jerrod is hopeful of attracting an investor to buy Burke out. Burke is not content to wait however and sets fire to the premises for the insurance money with Jerrod still inside. His body is never found.
Time passes. Cathy Gray (Carolyn Jones) excitedly tells her friend Sue Allen (Phyllis Kirk) about her new boyfriend, an older man who is lavish with attentions and money. She goes out to the theater with the man. Later that evening, Sue is threatened with eviction if she does not come up with the rent. Sue goes to Cathy room to beg a loan. She finds only a corpse with the horribly disfigured murderer still in the room. He flees. Cathy’s body disappears from the morgue.
Soon after, Jerrod appeals again to his investor for help in recreating the museum. He is successful. Bodies do not stop disappearing. I will stop here. With Charles Bronson as deaf-mute assistant Igor.
I found this totally enjoyable. The production is lavish and Price is scary as always. The color was outstanding and I thought the effects were very good for the time. It is interesting to look at the various 3-D gimmicks inserted in this early example of the technique from paddle-ball demonstrations to the kicks of some can-can dancers. Recommended.
House of Wax is a remake of Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933) with Lionel Atwood and Faye Wray. That one is good but this is the definitive version.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2Du3nrKXHo
Trailer
How 3-D was demonstrated in 1953
