The 1953 version, unlike the 1933 version starring Glenda Farrell, is set in Victorian times. With the motion picture code in full force, you have nothing to lose by taking the story out of modern times. Again, the catalyst of the plot is an artist's greedy partner deciding to set fire to the wax museum that has become a real money loser and collect the insurance money. The artist (Vincent Price) wrestles with partner as he goes around setting fire to the place and ultimately is knocked unconscious, presumed dead by the greedy partner. He'd be wrong about that. I'm not spoiling anything here for you because this is revealed early on in the film.
Here the protagonists in the film are an apprentice sculptor and his girlfriend. From the beginning they suspect something fishy is going on when the wax figure of Joan of Arc seems to bear an uncanny resemblance to our heroine's murdered roommate, played by Carolyn Jones, who was last seen saying she was going out with a wealthy debonair man she had just met, and then she just disappeared. Also, this version uses a gimmick that was popular with audiences of the 1950's - 3D. It was the two-strip technicolor of its day.
The main attraction in this film is the charismatic Vincent Price. In the 40's he played a series of supporting roles in some noirish Fox films, and here he is just getting started in the horror genre. He breathes real life and brings range to the role of the mad murderous sculptor that Lionel Atwill didn't seem capable of delivering in the earlier version. Also, I like the fact that in this later version we actually get to see Price confront the former partner who left him to perish in his burning museum.
Here the protagonists in the film are an apprentice sculptor and his girlfriend. From the beginning they suspect something fishy is going on when the wax figure of Joan of Arc seems to bear an uncanny resemblance to our heroine's murdered roommate, played by Carolyn Jones, who was last seen saying she was going out with a wealthy debonair man she had just met, and then she just disappeared. Also, this version uses a gimmick that was popular with audiences of the 1950's - 3D. It was the two-strip technicolor of its day.
The main attraction in this film is the charismatic Vincent Price. In the 40's he played a series of supporting roles in some noirish Fox films, and here he is just getting started in the horror genre. He breathes real life and brings range to the role of the mad murderous sculptor that Lionel Atwill didn't seem capable of delivering in the earlier version. Also, I like the fact that in this later version we actually get to see Price confront the former partner who left him to perish in his burning museum.