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The Comedy of Terrors

  • 1963
  • Approved
  • 1h 24m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
7.2K
YOUR RATING
Peter Lorre, Vincent Price, Basil Rathbone, and Joyce Jameson in The Comedy of Terrors (1963)
Dishonest undertaker Waldo Trumbull and his sidekick Felix Gillie are creating their own customers when they cannot find willing ones.
Play trailer2:30
1 Video
42 Photos
Dark ComedyScrewball ComedyComedyHorror

Dishonest undertaker Waldo Trumbull and his sidekick Felix Gillie are creating their own customers when they cannot find willing ones.Dishonest undertaker Waldo Trumbull and his sidekick Felix Gillie are creating their own customers when they cannot find willing ones.Dishonest undertaker Waldo Trumbull and his sidekick Felix Gillie are creating their own customers when they cannot find willing ones.

  • Director
    • Jacques Tourneur
  • Writers
    • Richard Matheson
    • Elsie Lee
  • Stars
    • Vincent Price
    • Peter Lorre
    • Boris Karloff
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    6.5/10
    7.2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Jacques Tourneur
    • Writers
      • Richard Matheson
      • Elsie Lee
    • Stars
      • Vincent Price
      • Peter Lorre
      • Boris Karloff
    • 94User reviews
    • 64Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro

    • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:30
    Trailer

    Photos42

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    Top cast18

    Edit
    Vincent Price
    Vincent Price
    • Trumbull
    Peter Lorre
    Peter Lorre
    • Felix Gillie
    Boris Karloff
    Boris Karloff
    • Hinchley
    Joyce Jameson
    Joyce Jameson
    • Amaryllis
    Joe E. Brown
    Joe E. Brown
    • Cemetery Keeper
    Beverly Powers
    • Mrs. Phipps
    • (as Beverly Hills)
    Basil Rathbone
    Basil Rathbone
    • Mr. Black
    Orangey
    Orangey
    • Cleopatra
    • (as Rhubarb)
    Alan DeWitt
    • Riggs
    • (as Alan De Witt)
    Buddy Mason
    • Mr. Phipps
    Douglas Williams
    • Doctor
    Linda Rogers
    • Phipps' Maid
    Luree Holmes
    • Black's Servant
    Paul Barselou
    • Riggs
    • (uncredited)
    Lovyss Bradley
    Lovyss Bradley
    • Mourner
    • (uncredited)
    Harvey Parry
    Harvey Parry
    • Man Knocked Down on Street
    • (uncredited)
    Charles Soldani
    Charles Soldani
    • Mourner
    • (uncredited)
    Fred Walton
    • Mourner
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Jacques Tourneur
    • Writers
      • Richard Matheson
      • Elsie Lee
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Boris Karloff was originally hired to play John F. Black, but it soon became clear that his severe arthritis would not permit him to undertake such a strenuous role. As such Karloff was switched to the part of Mr. Hinchley and Basil Rathbone was brought in to play Black.
    • Goofs
      After his murder of Mr. Phipps, Trumbull waits inside the horse-drawn hearse. He is shown lying width-wise with his knees drawn up, with black or purple draperies completely covering the inside, while the top half of Gillie can be seen sitting in the driver's seat through a large square opening in the front of the hearse. However, in all other shots of the hearse, no draperies can be, seen through the frosted glass, the hearse itself is not wide enough to accommodate a person lying that way, and there is no window in the front behind the driver; the roof of the hearse reaches up only to the middle of the driver's back.
    • Quotes

      Felix Gillie: And what if I tell them the truth and say it was all your idea in the first place?

      Trumbull: Mr. Gillie... Felix... friend... I put it to you, who in your discerning estimation are the police most likely to believe, hm? Mr. W. Trumble, respected local citizen and entrepreneur of death, or Mr. Felix Gillie... wanted fugitive and confessed bank robber?

      Felix Gillie: I never confessed!

      [pause, then]

      Felix Gillie: They just proved it.

    • Connections
      Featured in Hollywood and the Stars: Monsters We've Known and Loved (1964)

    User reviews94

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10

    Vincent Price is in great form in this fun and underrated classic!

    French born Jacques Tourneur, is the director behind stylish horror-classics like "Cat People", "I walked with a zombie" and "Night of the demon"! He made "The comedy of terrors" 20 years after "Cat People", and shows a director with great sense of comedic timing! The cast is wonderful, with a devilishly funny Vincent Price, in maybe a career best, as the drunken scrupulous undertaker! Boris Karlof is great fun as his aging father in law, and Peter Lorre equally funny as Prices partner! Also starring is the wonderful Basil Rathbone as the rich landlord who never dies, and Joyce Jameson as the undertakers neglected wife.

    This is maybe the greatest gothic comedy ever! Perfect casting, directing, cinematogrophy and editing! A great classic, and a must see!!!
    • jarlebheggelu50
    • Apr 18, 2004
    • Permalink

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    FAQ13

    • How long is The Comedy of Terrors?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 15, 1964 (West Germany)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
      • Italian
    • Also known as
      • The Graveside Story
    • Filming locations
      • Producers Studio - 5300 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA(Studio)
    • Production company
      • Alta Vista Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 24 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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    Peter Lorre, Vincent Price, Basil Rathbone, and Joyce Jameson in The Comedy of Terrors (1963)
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