THEATRE OF BLOOD (1973)

With special guest Ben Viccellio

Intro, Debate Society, Hot for Teacher (spoiler-free): 00:00-26:10
Honor Roll and Detention (spoiler-heavy): 26:11-1:07:38
Superlatives (spoiler-heavier): 1:07:39-1:28:17

Director Douglas Hickox
Screenplay Anthony Greville-Bell, based on an idea by Stanley Mann and John Kohn
Featuring Harry Andrews, Coral Browne, Robert Coote, Diana Dors, Jack Hawkins, Ian Hendry, Joan Hickson, Michael Hordern, Arthur Lowe, Robert Morley, Milo O’Shea, Dennis Price, Vincent Price, Diana Rigg, Eric Sykes

Released April 5, 1973 (US)

SPOILER-FREE SYNOPSIS

Behold – the late, great Edward Lionheart, a Shakespearean actor whose performances in Julius Caesar, Troilus and Cressida, Othello, Cymbeline, and others left him the laughingstock of London theatre critics, is dead.  And yet somehow, someone is knocking off said critics one at a time in truly Shakespearean fashion… albeit with slight alterations to the text.  Shylock may have wanted his pound his flesh – this killer takes the heart.  Joan of Arc might have burned at the stake – this killer fries his victims in a hair salon.  Peregrine Devlin, head of the London Critics Circle, is baffled, as are the police.  And yet – the order of the killings bear a striking resemblance to Lionheart’s last repertory season.  What’s going on with the Thames-side meths drinkers that have taken up residence in the crumbling Burbage Theatre?  And what might Edward’s daughter, Edwina, have to do with everything?  Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend us your ears – for herein lies the tale of the deceased actor who set out to exact revenge, and succeeded, and the rest – is silence.

SPOILER-FREE GUEST BIO

Ben Viccellio is an actor, writer and Associate Professor of Drama & Film at Kenyon College. His acting credits include the role of Oedipus in Frank Galati's Oedipus Complex at The Goodman Theatre; Cherry Orchard, Theatrical Essays, and the world premiere of Men of Tortuga at Steppenwolf; the role of Petruchio in Short Shakespeare: Taming of the Shrew, Macbeth in Short Shakespeare: Macbeth, and Guildenstern in Hamlet at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre.  Ben has also also acted for film and television, as well as in the odd commercial... some of them, he claims, very odd. His writing for the stage has been produced in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Aspen. Recess snack: Slim Jim.

EPISODE NOTE

Music from Theatre of Blood by Michael J. Lewis.

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TRAILER

SUPERLATIVES

The Gaspar Noe Award for Most Disturbing Scene
Ben: The Merchant of Venice-inspired killing of Trevor Dickman
Eric: The Titus Andronicus-inspired force-feeding death of Meredith Merridew
Bradford: The Julius Caesar-inspired killing of George Maxwell

The Ellen Ripley Award for Character Who Most Deserves to Live
Ben: Edward Lionheart
Eric: Peregrine Devlin
Bradford: Maisie Psaltery

The Michael Myers Award for Character Who Most Deserves to Die
Ben: Solomon Psaltery
Eric: Trevor Dickman
Bradford: Oliver Larding

The Ken Russell Award for Most Baroque Screen Moment
Ben: Titus Andronicus sequence with Merridew and his murdered dogs
Eric: King Lear sequence with Devlin in the theater through the fire that engulfs it
Bradford: Titus Andronicus sequence with Merridew and his murdered dogs

The Brad Dourif Award for Character Who Could (or Should) Have Been Played by Brad Dourif
Ben: The stage manager character (who turns out to be Edwina)
Eric: Meredith Merridew (Robert Morley)
Bradford: Inspector Boot (Milo O’Shea)

FINAL LETTER GRADE

Ben: A-
Eric: C-
Bradford: A-