13. Edward Kendal Sheridan Lionheart (Vincent Price) - Theatre Of Blood (1973)
With his stentorian roar, youd think Vincent Price would be a natural to bring Shakespeare to the screen, but the closest he ever came was Edward Kendal Sheridan Lionheart, a hammy thespian who committed suicide after being passed over for an award by the Critics Circle. Or did he? When the critics start dying in ways inspired by the Bards plays, including one unfortunate who loses more than a pound of flesh, the police think otherwise, so they question his daughter Edwina (Diana Rigg), who seems to know more than she admits. As it turns out, Lionheart was rescued from a watery grave by a troop of drunken tramps, and is using his skill as a master of disguise to allow him and Edwina to take revenge. Those disguises include a London policeman, a French chef (who feeds one character his pet poodles), a surgeon, a fencing instructor and, most hilariously, a gay hairdresser. Never mind an award, give that man a Knighthood.
Ian Watson is the author of 'Midnight Movie Madness', a 600+ page guide to "bad" movies from 'Reefer Madness' to 'Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead.'
