THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES (1971)

• Director: Robert Fuest
• Starring: Vincent Price, Joseph Cotten, Virginia North, Terry-Thomas
• Film: 94mins | UK | No Subtitles | Intermission
• Doors: 6pm | Intro + Film : 6:30pm – 9pm [18+]
• Event takes place in the Members’ Bar (membership not required)

Doctor, scientist, organist, and biblical scholar Anton Phibes seeks revenge on the nine doctors he considers responsible for the death of his wife.

Cult film night BAR TRASH continues with CELLULOID JAM, an unofficial celebration of 50 years of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW (1975). As part of this epic season (30 films across three venues!), Finsbury Park Picturehouse will be hosting a programme of British Horror Classics, starting with the camp monstrosity of THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES (1971).

Having created ROCKY HORROR role of Dr. Frank N Furter — a scientist — on stage and screen, Tim Curry was often asked about the inspirations behind his performance:

“When I first did the show, one of the games that the critics played was trying to decide what Frank N Furter was a combination of. The favourite one was Joan Crawford and Vincent Price.”

Tim Curry

Known affectionately as ‘The Master Of Menace’, Vincent Price is a much-loved star of the BAR TRASH programme, having previously featured in THE TINGLER and HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL, which were both presented with 4D effects inspired by the showmanship of William Castle.

There won’t be any 4D tonight, but revenger’s tragedy THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES creates its own macabre mayhem with an imaginative series of highly theatrical kills, fantastic sets (director Robert Fuest was also a production designer), Vincent Price performing through an electrolarynx, and a creepy house band of musical automata… THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES comes highly recommended by Stephen King (Dance Macabre) and takes its worthy place in the celluloid cannon of operatic phantoms.

“Grotesquely gorgeous — a sterling array of British actors, perfectly dreadful jokes, glowing ’20s kitsch, a clever use of romantic music, and relishable grue to delight all.”

Ian Nathan, Empire

Polite notice: We are showing THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES without subtitles from the best available digital source.

// Part of BAR TRASH Season 9 — CELLULOID JAM, an unofficial celebration of 50 years of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW (1975). Hosted by queer film fanatic Token Homo (creator of BAR TRASH and QUEER HORROR NIGHTS), all films screen with an introduction, intermission, and subtitles/captions (where possible!). Tickets £8 / £5 for PH members. Adults 18+ only. Follow @tokenhomo on Instagram for news and updates. //