Cry of the Banshee
Celebrated as the 100th film of Vincent Price's career. The cast attended a party to celebrate this, according to an interview with Sally Geeson given on Talking Pictures TV.,One of the characters sees a piebald rabbit, which turns into a gray rabbit when it is picked up. When it is returned to the ground and it runs away it has reverted to the original rabbit.,Roderick: Winter's coming in and the wolves coming with it.,The end credits are divided into "The Establishment, "Witches", and "Villagers".,The original US release from AIP was a re edited and cut version. AIP created a new title sequence (dumping the Terry Gilliam animated titles) and removed some violence and nudity, as well as shuffling a few scenes around. This version was rated PG and was also released on VHS on the HBO / Thorn label as well as to TV in a version with even more cuts. In 1995, Orion released an EP speed VHS tape and went back to the original negative, releasing the original UK version, seen for the first time in the US. The DVD version is also uncut and has been rated R by the MPAA.,Featured in Deadly Earnest's Nightmare Theatre: Cry of the Banshee (1978),The setting is 16th century England, where obsessions with superstition and sorcery rule the day. Lord Edward Whitman (Vincent Price) is a harsh magistrate punishing any and all people who come under scrutiny for being witches. After a mass killing, he earns the wrath of a witch named Oona (Elisabeth Bergner). You guessed it: she places a curse on him and his whole family, summoning a sadistic demon.

Cult director Gordon Hessler takes a so-so script by Christopher Wicking and Tim Kelly and gives it plenty of flavorful period atmosphere. The story may not be that strong, but all the bells and whistles of this A.I.P. production help to make up for that. One can hardly fail to notice that it's not entirely unsympathetic to the witches, and portrays "the establishment" as a crass and foul bunch of people. Whitman and his entourage will amuse themselves by manipulating and embarrassing their victims in their opulent castle. The pacing is mostly effective, and the "banshee" of the title is appreciably kept as mysterious as possible; it's never very well lit. It also builds up a decent body count, and dishes out some pretty gory violence.

Price delivers a solid performance, refraining from becoming overly theatrical for the most part. Essy Persson is very good playing the unfortunate, ill-fated wife. Hilary Heath, Carl Rigg, Stephan Chase, Marshall Jones, Andrew McCulloch, Michael Elphick, and Patrick Mower comprise an excellent supporting cast. Bergner is good, if also unmemorable, as the antagonist, and Hugh Griffith makes the most of his regrettably minor role, as a grave digger and corpse robber.

"Cry of the Banshee" is not a great horror film, but it is good fun. Trivia item: the opening title sequence was animated by Terry Gilliam.

Available in both an A.I.P. theatrical version and a director's cut.

Seven out of 10.,