The Comedy of Terrors (1963)

Richard Matheson’s The Comedy of Terrors (1963) is a darkly comedic gothic tale with a powerhouse cast of horror legends. Directed by Jacques Tourneur, it mixes slapstick humor with morbid themes, delivering both chills and laughs. Let’s dig into this cult classic.

Detailed Summary

Introduction: An Undertaker with No Shame

The story follows Waldo Trumbull (Vincent Price), a greedy and unscrupulous undertaker who runs a funeral home with his bumbling assistant Felix Gillie (Peter Lorre). Instead of waiting for business, Waldo and Felix “create” it by murdering people to secure paying customers.

The Miserly Landlord Problem

Their situation worsens when their landlord, Mr. Black (Basil Rathbone), demands immediate rent. Waldo, desperate for money, decides to speed up Black’s funeral arrangements by killing him prematurely. But there’s a catch—Mr. Black has a habit of falling into deep cataleptic states, making him appear dead when he’s actually alive.

A Family at Odds

Adding to the chaos, Waldo is constantly berating his wife Amaryllis (Joyce Jameson), a failed opera singer whose loud, off-key practice sessions drive him mad. Their household dysfunction provides an undercurrent of domestic comedy against the macabre plot.

Black Won’t Stay Dead

Waldo and Felix successfully “dispatch” Mr. Black, but every time they try to bury him, he wakes up in a cataleptic state, much to their shock. The running gag becomes the heart of the film: a corpse that refuses to stay in the coffin.

Movie Ending

In the climax, Mr. Black revives once again and sets out for revenge. Felix, overwhelmed by Waldo’s cruelty, finally stands up to him. Waldo, in his typical greedy fashion, tries to manipulate the situation but ends up falling victim to his own scheming.

The final showdown occurs in the funeral home, where misunderstandings, revived corpses, and slapstick chaos collide. Ultimately, Mr. Black dies for real (this time), and Felix, fed up with Waldo’s cruelty, strikes out on his own. Waldo, meanwhile, is left in a karmic twist of fate: trapped by the very greed and arrogance that drove his actions from the start. The film closes with a note of both grim irony and humor, perfectly in tune with its title.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, The Comedy of Terrors does not feature any post-credits scenes. The movie ends with its final gag, typical of its era—neat, complete, and without Marvel-style stingers.

Type of Movie

This is a horror comedy, specifically a gothic farce. It plays with horror tropes—undertakers, corpses, poison, catalepsy—but presents them with over-the-top humor. Think Abbott and Costello meet Poe.

Cast

• Vincent Price as Waldo Trumbull
• Peter Lorre as Felix Gillie
• Boris Karloff as Amos Hinchley
• Basil Rathbone as John F. Black
• Joyce Jameson as Amaryllis Trumbull

This lineup is basically an all-star roster of mid-20th-century horror icons.

Film Music and Composer

The score was composed by Les Baxter, who specialized in atmospheric yet playful music. His score enhances the film’s mixture of eerie gothic tones and comic absurdity.

Filming Locations

The movie was shot on sets at American International Pictures (AIP) studios, reusing gothic interiors from Roger Corman’s Edgar Allan Poe films. The recycled sets give the movie a familiar but effective haunted-house atmosphere, saving money while boosting style.

Awards and Nominations

The film was not a major awards contender, but it has since been recognized by cult film communities for its campy charm and ensemble cast. Its legacy lies more in fandom than in trophies.

Behind the Scenes Insights

• The film reunited several horror icons—Vincent Price, Boris Karloff, Basil Rathbone, and Peter Lorre—for a rare ensemble performance.
• Boris Karloff, aging and physically frail, was originally considered for the landlord role but was given a smaller part (Amos) due to health concerns.
• Richard Matheson, who wrote the screenplay, was also famous for I Am Legend and The Twilight Zone.
• Vincent Price reportedly had a blast playing against type as a comic villain.

Inspirations and References

The film was inspired by the gothic horror trend of the 1960s, especially Roger Corman’s Poe adaptations. However, it leans more toward parody than straight horror, using familiar tropes (haunted houses, corpses, melodrama) and turning them into farce.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

There are no known alternate endings or deleted scenes. The movie was tightly scripted and designed to wrap up its gags without extra material.

Book Adaptations and Differences

The film is an original screenplay by Richard Matheson. It’s not based on a novel, though it borrows atmosphere and tone from Poe and other gothic sources.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• Waldo poisoning victims to drum up “business.”
• The repeated revival of Mr. Black, each time shocking the would-be undertakers.
• Amaryllis’s tone-deaf singing, which provides comic relief throughout the film.

Iconic Quotes

• Waldo Trumbull: “What manner of fiend is this, that comes to torment me in my hour of joy?”
• Felix Gillie: “Every time we put him in the coffin, he gets out again!”
• Amaryllis: “You never let me sing, Waldo!”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• The sets were reused from Roger Corman’s Poe cycle, creating visual continuity with films like The Raven and The Pit and the Pendulum.
• Basil Rathbone’s character repeatedly quoting Shakespeare while “dead” is both a gag and a nod to his background as a stage actor.
• The title itself parodies the trend of serious gothic horror, promising laughter instead of fright.

Trivia

• This was Peter Lorre’s final American film before his death in 1964.
• Karloff was so frail that stunt doubles were used for some of his scenes.
• The movie was marketed as part of a double bill with The Raven (1963).
• Despite being a horror comedy, it was popular among kids at matinees.

Why Watch?

Because it’s a rare chance to see Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, Boris Karloff, and Basil Rathbone in the same film—playing off each other with campy brilliance. It’s macabre but playful, the kind of movie that makes death funny without losing its gothic charm.

Director’s Other Movies

• Cat People (1942)
• I Walked with a Zombie (1943)
• Out of the Past (1947)
• Night of the Demon (1957)

Recommended Films for Fans

• The Raven (1963)
• Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)
• The Fearless Vampire Killers (1967)
• House of Usher (1960)
• Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)