The Masque of the Red Death (1964) in the PNW

Details: Written by: Mortado; Category: The 1960s in Northwest Cinemas

This is a collection of media from the initial runs of "The Masque of the Red Death" (1964) in the Pacific Northwest. Seattle got Bava's "The Evil Eye" (1963) for a second feature while Portland got "The Brain That Wouldn't Die" from 1962.

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The Masque of the Red Death (1964)
“The Masque of the Red Death,” a 1964 horror film directed by Roger Corman, is a vivid adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s classic story. The film stars Vincent Price as Prince Prospero, a cruel and debauched nobleman who retreats to his opulent castle to escape the deadly plague known as the Red Death. Inside, he hosts decadent feasts and perverse entertainments for his fellow aristocrats, all while the peasantry outside suffers from the merciless disease.

As the plague ravages the land, Prospero’s castle becomes a sanctuary for the elite, indulging in excesses and mocking the suffering of the less fortunate. The prince’s consort, Juliana, seeks deeper communion with the dark forces Prospero worships, while the innocent Francesca, brought from the village, becomes a pawn in Prospero’s cruel games.

The film culminates in a grand masquerade ball, a twisted celebration of life in the face of death. However, the revelry turns to horror as an uninvited guest arrives, cloaked in a costume that personifies the Red Death itself. This spectral figure brings a chilling revelation that not even Prospero’s wealth and power can protect him from the inevitable grasp of mortality.

Corman’s “The Masque of the Red Death” is a haunting tale of hubris and doom, a reflection on the futility of trying to escape the universal fate that death holds for all.
Director: Roger Corman
Writers: Charles Beaumont, R. Wright Campbell
Stars: Vincent Price, Hazel Court, Jane Asher
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Buy "The Masque of the Red Death" (1964) DVD on Amazon (SPONSORED)

The Evil Eye (1963)
“The Evil Eye,” also known as “La ragazza che sapeva troppo” (The Girl Who Knew Too Much), is a 1963 Italian film directed by Mario Bava. It is often considered the first “giallo” film, combining elements of horror, mystery, and romance.

The story follows Nora Davis, an American tourist in Rome who enjoys mystery novels. Her vacation turns dark when she witnesses a murder, plunging her into a real-life mystery. As the killings continue, Nora and her suitor find themselves entangled in the dangerous pursuit of a serial killer known as the Alphabet Murderer.

With its blend of suspense, stylish cinematography, and a plot that pays homage to Alfred Hitchcock, “The Evil Eye” is a seminal work that influenced the thriller genre.
DirectorL Mario Bava
Writers: Ennio De Concini, Sergio Corbucci, Eliana de Sabata
Stars: John Saxon, Letícia Román, Valentina Cortese
Buy "The Evil Eye" (1964) bluray on Amazon (SPONSORED)
Buy "The Evil Eye" (1964) DVD on Amazon (SPONSORED)

The Brain That Wouldn't Die (1962)
“The Brain That Wouldn’t Die” is a 1962 American science fiction horror film delving into scientific ambition's dark side. Directed by Joseph Green, the film tells the story of Dr. Bill Cortner, a surgeon with radical ideas about human transplantation. After his fiancée, Jan Compton, is tragically decapitated in a car accident, Dr. Cortner manages to keep her head alive in a laboratory setting.

Obsessed with finding a new body for Jan, Dr. Cortner scours various places, including a burlesque nightclub and a beauty contest, in search of a suitable “donor.” Meanwhile, Jan, now a disembodied head, experiences agony in her new existence and develops telepathic abilities, which she uses to communicate with a monstrous being locked away in the lab—a failed experiment of Dr. Cortner’s.

The film reaches its climax when Jan’s pleas to be allowed to die are ignored, and she calls upon the creature to help her. In a gruesome turn of events, the creature breaks free, leading to a violent confrontation that underscores the perils of playing God. “The Brain That Wouldn’t Die” is a cautionary tale of science without ethics, exploring themes of identity, consciousness, and the limits of human power.
Director: Joseph Green
Writers: Doris Brent, Joseph Green, Rex Carlton
Stars: Jason Evers, Virginia Leith, Anthony La Penna
Buy "The Brain That Wouldn't Die" (1964) DVD on Amazon (SPONSORED)

July 7, 1964 ad (Seattle)