of the beasts, Phibes rigs a catapult with a heavy brass head of a unicorn which, when triggered, zips across a London street to impale his victim on a door. Aiming the curse of the frogs at another gentleman, he attends a masked ball where he fits a seemingly harmless head of a frog on his unsuspecting prey. But machinery in the grotesque helmet shrinks its sides until the wearer's skull is crushed. Thus, each rides to his own Valhalla in grand style with full attention to biblical symbolism and scientific know-how. As Price puts it: "When they go they go first class!" As to Phibes himself, he is the most carefully manufactured aspect of all in the entire story . . . and literally so. Supposedly the victim of an automobile accident, his nose, ears and face are plastic replicas applied at a makeup table for decency's sake and his voice is created electronically via a plugged in electric socket in his neck and an amplifier. Vincent's voice is therefore never heard in its natural sound during the picture. Directed by Robert Fuest, who also directed American International's recent release, "Wuthering Heights," "Dr. Phibes" also stars Joseph Gotten, Hugh Griffith and Terry-Thomas. It was produced by Louis M. Heyward and Ronald S. Dunns from a story by James Whiten and William Goldstein. Executive producers for the film are Samuel Z. Arkoff and James H. Nicholson.

The film has the added appeal of being set emphatically in the 1930's. It was an elaborate production in which particular attention was given to designing sets that emphasize the period - tubular steel furniture, first attempts to streamline, frosted lighting, etc. a period that seemed to wish to obliterate itself of all save that which was functional. Director Robert Fuest, who directed "Wuthering Heights" for AlP, says the 1930's decor heightens the tensions "because it was so similar to our own, a tense age attempting to wipe away the past." Against such a background is set a story of a grandiose genius dedicating himself to killing the nine people he believes caused his wife to die, inventing for each of them a death of demoniac ingenuity. Dr. Phibes (pronounced Fibes) is Vincent Price's 100th film portrayal and is a character larger than life - and death - a monstrous sadsack playing out his gargantuan grief in grand guignol.