The Mad Magician **½ (1954, Vincent Price, Mary Murphy, Eva Gabor, John Emery, Patrick O’Neal) – Classic Movie Review 3586

Director John Brahm’s modestly engaging and entertaining 1954 horror movie finds the right star in Vincent Price, who puts in his usual enjoyably manic and camp performance as The Mad Magician Don Gallico, the creator of magic tricks.

But he becomes jealous of the magicians who use them and decides to murder the stars and take their place in the limelight. Directing this intriguing set-up from Crane Wilbur’s original story and screenplay very conscientiously, the talented Brahm takes it all rather too sedately, and perhaps too seriously.

However, he provides enough ghoulish moments, as well as an eerie atmosphere and a colourful 1880s background. And, of course, Price’s priceless performance alone is worth the price of admission. Shot by Bert Glennon in black and white, it is filmed in 3D, like the previous year’s better House of Wax, which featured Price in a similar role.

Also in the cast are Mary Murphy, Eva Gabor, John Emery, Patrick O’Neal, Lenita Lane, Donald Randolph, Jay Novello, Corey Allen, Conrad Brooks, George Eldredge, Roy Engel, Al Haskell, Jack Kenny, Tom Powers, Keith Richards, Lyle Talbot, Roland Varno and Robert Williams.

It went into the history books as the first movie to be broadcast on TV in 3D.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3586

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