The Raven

An American gothic comedy horror film from 1963, directed in the USA by Roger Corman and written by Richard Matheson, inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's poem "The Raven." The story is set in 1506 and follows the powerful magician Dr. Erasmus Craven (Vincent Price), who lives reclusively in his castle, mourning the death of his wife Lenore (Hazel Court). One night, he is visited by a talking raven, who turns out to be the transformed wizard Dr. Adolphus Bedlo (Peter Lorre), turned into a bird by the evil sorcerer Dr. Scarabus (Boris Karloff). Craven helps Bedlo regain his human form, and together with his daughter Estelle (Olive Sturgess) and Bedlo's son Rexford (Jack Nicholson), they journey to Scarabus's castle to uncover the truth about Lenore, whom Bedlo claims to have seen alive. A magical duel ensues between Craven and Scarabus, filled with humor and enchantment. The film is the fifth installment in Corman's series of Poe adaptations and is noted for its blend of horror and comedy elements.