Watch The Raven

The Raven from 1963 is a horror-comedy movie directed by Roger Corman and starring Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, and Boris Karloff. It is inspired by the poem of the same name by Edgar Allan Poe, but instead of a serious and gloomy adaptation, it takes a lighthearted and playful approach. Vincent Price plays Dr. Erasmus Craven, a sorcerer who lives in a castle with his daughter Estelle (Olive Sturgess). He is still mourning the death of his wife Lenore, who was taken from him by the evil sorcerer Dr. Scarabus (Boris Karloff). One night, a black magic practitioner named Bedlo (Peter Lorre) crashes into his window, transformed into a raven by Scarabus. Bedlo, who is seeking revenge against Scarabus for the same reason as Craven, is turned back into a human but is now indebted to Craven.

Craven and Bedlo then embark on a journey to Scarabus' castle, joined by Estelle, who is under the impression that they are going to find her missing fiancé. Along the way, they encounter a series of funny and spooky adventures, such as encountering a talking raven (voiced by Jack Nicholson in one of his earliest film roles) or being captured by gypsies.

Once they arrive at Scarabus' castle, they are welcomed with open arms by Scarabus himself, who offers them hospitality and a seat at his table. However, it soon becomes clear that Scarabus is not to be trusted, and that he has something up his sleeve. What follows is a battle of wits, spells, and humor between the two sorcerers, which culminates in a climactic duel.

The Raven is a fun and tongue-in-cheek movie, which doesn't take itself too seriously. It is full of references and nods to Edgar Allan Poe's work, such as the famous line "Quoth the Raven, 'Nevermore'", which is uttered by Vincent Price at one point. The three main actors are all excellent in their roles, particularly Vincent Price, who brings a sense of melancholy and gravitas to the movie. Peter Lorre, as always, steals the show with his silly and over-the-top performance. And Boris Karloff, who had previously worked with Corman on a series of Poe adaptations, is a perfect fit for the role of Scarabus, the villainous sorcerer.

The movie is also visually impressive, with its Gothic sets and costumes. The cinematography, by Floyd Crosby, creates a dreamlike and surreal atmosphere, which suits the movie's tone perfectly. And the special effects, though dated by today's standards, are still charming and effective.

All in all, The Raven is a delightful and entertaining movie, which manages to balance horror and humor in a way that few movies do. It is a must-see for fans of Edgar Allan Poe, Vincent Price, or horror-comedies in general.

The Raven is a 1963 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 26 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5.