The Masque of the Red Death

One of the most beautiful horror films (not only) by Roger Corman, set in 12th century Italy. Edgar Allan Poe's closing words set the tone: ‘And Darkness and Decay and the Red Death held illimitable dominion over all.’ Vincent Price enjoys playing the sadistic and satanic Prince Prospero, who has invited several other nobles to his castle for decadent feasts while the plague rages outside with devastating consequences. Corman's most atmospherically and metaphysically rich film owes its London location not only to the participation of many British character actors, but also to the atmospheric camera work of the later director Nicolas Roeg. The exquisite use of colour culminates in a series of differently coloured rooms, which are traversed several times in Prospero's castle until it says: ‘It's time for a new dance to begin.’ (Christoph Huber)

Photo: Austrian Film Museum

A rare Technicolor print from our collection will be shown, for which it is uncertain how often it can still be used in the future due to its rapidly increasing shrinkage.