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The Raven (1963 film)

1963 film directed by Roger Corman

The Raven is a 1963 American film about a magician who has been turned into a raven who turns to a former sorcerer for help.

Directed by Roger Corman. Written by Richard Matheson, based on the poem "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe.
The supreme adventure in terror!  taglines

Dr. Craven

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  • [quoting from Poe's poem] Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
    Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore.
    While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
    As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
    "'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door.
    Only this and nothing more."

Dialogue

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Dr. Craven: You'll need something to protect you from the cold.
[Dr. Bedlo reaches for a glass of wine]
Dr. Craven: No, I meant clothes!
Dr. Bedlo: Oh.
Rexford Bedlo: I am Dr. Bedlo's son!
Dr. Bedlo: I am sorry...
[Estelle enters her room. Rexford is hiding behind the door and covers her mouth to prevent her from screaming]
Rexford Bedlo: Shhhhhh.
[Estell struggles with a muffled scream]
Rexford Bedlo: I was afraid you would scream.
[he uncovers her mouth and releases his grip on her]
Estelle Craven: Is anything wrong?
Rexford Bedlo: Don't be alarmed but I'm afraid Dr. Scarabus killed my father.
Estelle Craven: Killed him?
Rexford Bedlo: Yes, during the dueling I observed Dr. Scarabus making furtive gestures with his fingers. Now we must speak to your father.
Estelle Craven: But I already have. He trusts Dr. Scarabus.
Rexford Bedlo: We'll have to try.
[they return to the door but it won't open]
Rexford Bedlo: It's locked!
Estelle Craven: What'll we do?
[Rexford looks around the room and goes to the window, opens it and looks out]
Estelle Craven: What are you doing?
Rexford Bedlo: This ledge leads to your father's room.
Estelle Craven: But you might be killed!
Rexford Bedlo: I hope not!
[he exits through the window]
Estelle Craven: [Estelle, Dr. Craven, Dr. Bedlo and Rexford are all bound to columns in the dungeon] Can't you get your hands free father?
Dr. Craven: I'm afraid not, my dear. What with Dr. Scarabus having turned me into a statue and then binding me like this.
Dr. Bedlo: I know, I-I know, I'm a disgrace.
Rexford Bedlo: I had a somewhat stronger word in mind.
Dr. Bedlo: But son, you know that-that everything I tried in life I was a failure. Only-only the day I joined the Brotherhood of Magicians. Oh I-I was the happiest man on earth. I still remember how happy I was. And then when-when Dr. Scarabus offered to teach me superior magical knowledge for luring Dr. Craven here, I just couldn't resist that magnificent award. But Erasamus, believe me with all my heart I regret what I have done to you.
Dr. Craven: You are not alone in guilt, sir. I, too, have failed at the task of living.
Dr. Bedlo: Oh, no.
Dr. Craven: Oh yes, yes. Instead of facing life I turned my back on it. I know now why my father resisted Dr. Scarabus. Because he knew that one cannot fight evil by hiding from it. Men like Scarabus thrive on the apathy of others. He thrived on mine and that offends me. By avoiding contact with the brotherhood I've given him freedom to commit his atrocities, unopposed.
Dr. Bedlo: You sure have!
Dr. Craven: I'm sorry.
Dr. Craven: [to the raven] Are you some dark-winged messenger from beyond? Answer me, monster, tell me truly! Shall I ever hold again the radiant maiden whom the angels call Lenore?
Dr. Bedlo: [as the raven] How the hell should I know? What am I, a fortune teller?, Ooh, I'm chilled to the bones, why don't you get me some wine... well just don't stand there gaping at me!
Dr. Craven: That voice... I
Dr. Bedlo: [Interrupting him] Will you give me some wine?
Dr. Craven: Yes, yes. [offering him a chalice] Here's some nice hot milk.
Dr. Bedlo: Milk? How vomitable!
Dr. Craven: Surely this is a dream.
Dr. Bedlo: Hurry up, will you! flies onto the table]
Dr. Craven: There you are
Dr. Bedlo: What do you expect me to do hold it? With what? Oh, never mind!
[flies onto his shoulder and drinks from the chalice]
Dr. Bedlo: Mmm. I like that. Mmmm! [burps]
Dr. Craven: [watching Dr. Bedloe as a raven drinking from the chalice] Why pardon my soul!
Dr. Bedlo: Never mind your soul. Start concentrating on getting me back to my rightful form!
Dr. Craven: Your rightful form?
Dr. Bedlo: Well, what do you think, I was born this way?
Dr. Craven: Well, I-I have it you are under an enchantment!
Dr. Bedlo: Took you long enough to find that out! [flies onto a chair] Let's get to work. Well, go ahead, do something!
Dr. Craven: But what?
Dr. Bedlo: Restore me to my rightful form.
Dr. Craven: But I just don't know how.
Dr. Bedlo: Oh no. Well, have you got some dried blood of a bat in the house?
Dr. Craven: I beg your pardon.
Dr. Bedlo: Bat's blood! Dried or evaporated bat's blood.
Dr. Craven: No.
Dr. Bedlo: How about some chain links from a gallow's burg? Jellied spiders, rabbit's blood, dead man's hair?
Dr. Craven: No, we don't keep those things in this house. We're vegetarians
Dr. Bedlo: And he calls himself a magician. Honestly this is too much!
[Craven and Bedlo toast each other with wine after Bedlo's complete transformation back to human]
Dr. Bedlo: A little unexpected what happened down there, huh?
Dr. Craven: Yes, it was most unexpected. I-I just don't understand why should my father return from the dead and then tell me to beware... of what?
Dr. Bedlo: I wish I knew, I-I-I-I wish I knew.
[Bedlo mistakenly picks up a glass of milk and drinks]
Dr. Bedlo: Uh, that milk!
Dr. Craven: Oh I am sorry.
Dr. Bedlo: In any case I have to return to the castle of Dr. Scarabus tonight.
Dr. Craven: Oh no, sir, please, I beg you, I implore you. Don't go back there.
Dr. Bedlo: But he has confiscated all my magical equipment and I want revenge.
Dr. Craven: But he is too powerful.
Dr. Bedlo: Then come with me.
Dr. Craven: No. No I want nothing to do with him. Nothing at all.
Lenore Craven: You sly old thing you. [she caresses Scarabus' jaw] And what was his price?
Dr. Bedlo: Who, mine? A double value. Superior magical knowledge and through my death by lightning, freedom from overbearing women.
Lenore Craven: Well worth the cost of being turned into an insignificant bird.
Dr. Scarabus: To say nothing of luring Dr. Craven to me, don't forget that, my love.
Lenore Craven: I can't imagine why you want him here.
Dr. Scarabus: It's not Craven I want, it's his magic.
Dr. Bedlo: [as the raven] Erasamus, now that Dr. Scarabus is out of the way, we've got to make immediate plans for your assumption of the grand mastership. I'll gladly act as your liaison so-so you won't be bothered having to present your case personally to the brotherhood. Later on I'll be happy to assume the post of super numeri secretary dispenser.
Dr. Craven: Dr. Bedlo.
Dr. Bedlo: Yes?
Dr. Craven: Do you really think such treachery can be so easily forgiven and forgotten?
Dr. Bedlo: Treachery! I saved all your lives!
Dr. Craven: After having put them in jeopardy in the first place.
Dr. Bedlo: That's beside the point. Very well, if that's the way you feel about it, kindly return me to my rightful form and I'll leave.
Dr. Craven: Well, I'll, uh, I'll take it under advisement.
Dr. Bedlo: Take it under advisement? Well really! Who do you think you are talking to anyway?
Dr. Craven: Up.
[Craven points a finger upwards]
Dr. Bedlo: What's that?
Dr. Craven: Up!
Dr. Bedlo: Now wait a minute Erasamus!
Dr. Craven: Up!
Dr. Bedlo: Really?!
[Dr. Bedlo flies to the head of a bust]
Dr. Bedlo: I never heard of such ingratitude in my entire life. It's getting so you can't trust anybody anymore. I'm just too sweet and gentle, that's my problem!
Dr. Craven: Dr. Bedlo.
Dr. Bedlo: What is it?
Dr. Craven: Shut your beak! Quoth the raven, nevermore.

Cast

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About The Raven

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  • There was no battle of egos, just a little discussion about technique. Peter loved to improvise, but Boris did not. Boris pointed out he was a classically trained actor who learned his lines from the script and came prepared to deliver them as written. "It puts me off," he told me of Peter's improvisations.
  • I told Peter I loved what he did, but that we needed to stay a bit closer to the script. Vincent was cool with it either way.

Taglines

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  • The supreme adventure in terror!
  • THE TERROR BEGINS AT MIDNIGHT!
  • The Macabre Masterpiece of Terror!
  • Wits and wizardry run a-fowl!
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