House Of Wax

[blacksnake]

House Of Wax, is set in the early 1900's and is about a wax museum artist named Henry Jarrod, who has done many wax sculptures such as Joan Of Arc and Abraham Lincoln. Henry's business partner named Matthew Burke, no longer wants anything to do with the wax museum and suggests burning it down to get the insurance money. Henry, disagrees but Matthew, sets the place on fire and leaves Henry inside. Several years pass and soon Matthew, is murdered. Henry, is now in a wheelchair due to the fire and also can not sculpt anymore due to the ocndition of his hands but has helpers make him wax sculptures and soon opens a new wax museum. An art student named Sue Allen, visits the wax museum one day and notices how much the Joan Of Arc statue looks like her former roommate Cathy Gray, who was killed a week or so before. Soon, Henry asks Sue, if he will model for her because he thinks she is the perfect model for a statue but soon the likeness of the Joan Of Arc statue bothers Sue more and more that she gets detectives looking into it and perhaps the statues are more realistic than they seem. House Of Wax, has good direction, a good script, good performances by everyone involved (especially Vincent Price, who plays Henry Jarrod), good cinematography and good film editing. When, House Of Wax came out in 1953, it was filmed in 3-D making it a big hit because it was the first 3-D movie ever made. The film's director Andre De Toth, was blind in one eye so he would often ask the cast and crew if certain shots looked like they are in 3-D or not. The home video and DVD versions of House Of Wax, are not in 3-D. House Of Wax, is interesting, entertaining, very slick and atmospheric, has very good sets and costumes and is very well made and is overall a good classic horror film. This year Warner Bros. is releasing House Of Wax 3D in theaters which from the sounds of it borrows a lot from this film and is in 3D. I doubt however it will be as good or as slick.

[Cushing]

A very nice review there for one of my favourite Price movies . I heard that a remake was on the cards but did'nt know it was coming so soon .

[blacksnake]

Thanks for the good words on my review. I appreciate it. I'm glad you liked the film as well. The more and more I read up on the remake it doesn't sound very similar at all. But even if they were the same I still wouldn't see it.

[Ronin22K9]

I first saw this movie when my mom rented it for me when I was a Young'in. I just bought the DVD the other and day and its GREAT!

I absolutely love this move, the wax figures are quite creepy when the assistant is stalking Sue's male friend.

I can't get enough of this movie, buy it now!

[blacksnake]

I'm glad you liked the film.

[Ronin22K9]

have you watched "The Mystery of the House of Wax" or whatever its called on the other side of the disc yet? I haven't yet, just wondering if its any good

[Cushing]

The Mystery Of The Wax museum , as it's called , is the original version starring Fay Wray .
It's every bit as good as the Price version . It was one of the first colour films ( two tone technicolor ) and is marvelously creepy .
One of the best " extras" on any disc .

[blacksnake]

Thanks for the info. I never got a chance to view the other side of the disc.

[Cabrini Green]

One of the best Price vehicles. He can carry a movie all by himself. The fire in the Wax Museum was well shot and the figures were well made. They sure went up like candles. :) (Bad Joke). The way Henry Jarrod’s character has many sides was all Price. You really thought he could be so distraught to resort to rebuilding his museum with bodies.
The DVD is excellent.

[blacksnake]

I agree with what you said and I'm glad you liked the film as well.

[miceland1]

I think I saw this on TV the first time I saw it. I don't remember all that much. Though I do remember Price was great in it.

I remember there is a scene where a performaer smacks a paddle ball at the screen to use the 3-D effect to startle the audience. Also Isn;'t there a scene where a skelleton pops out at you? Or is that The Tingler?

-mice

[blacksnake]

Yes, there are several scenes with a performer outside of the museum promoting it and he is using a paddle ball. I don't remember the skeleton scene though.

[ParileseMonster]

I read that they are going to make a remake of this.:rolleyes:

I would watch the original instead over and over again. Great film!

[blacksnake]

Yes, there is a House Of Wx remake currently in the works. However the plot isn't too similar to this version. I read that the current version is about a group of friends on their way to a college football game falls prey to a pair of murderous brothers in an abandoned small town. They discover that the brothers have expanded upon the area’s main attraction – the House of Wax – and created an entire town filled with the wax-coated corpses of unlucky visitors. Now the group must find a way out before they too become permanent exhibits in the House of Wax.

[Thiago]

I just came across the DVD at some store and remembered there's going to be a 2004 remake of it. Thought of buying but didn't know if it was any good. Well, I'll trust you guys. It's not that expensive anyway.

[Ferriman's Girl]

A group of friends are on their way to a college football game, but soon fall prey to a pair of murdering brothers who live in a desolute small town. The friends discover that the brothers have featured a main attraction, the House of Wax, and created an entire museum filled with the wax-coated corpses of the town folk and unlucky visitors. The group must now find a way to escaped before they too become the brother's main feature!

http://www.upcominghorrormovies.com/movies/houseofwax.php

[blacksnake]

Yeah, the remake sounds nothing like the original except for the fact that dead bodies are covered in wax. And for those wondering the original with Vincent Price, is worth a look.