Review #478: 'House of Wax' (1953)

Professor Henry Jarrod (Vincent Price) is a wax sculptor who prides himself of making pure artistic creations of historical figures such as John Wilkes Booth and Marie Antoinette. His business partner and main investor, Matthew Burke (Roy Roberts), pushes Jarrod for a more gruesome 'Chamber of Horrors' display, but when Jarrod refuses to be drawn into such exploitative tactics to lure an audience, Burke sets his workshop alight to claim the insurance. Leaving Jarrod for dead, Burke receives the payout but is murdered by a strange disfigured man, and made to look like a suicide. Jarrod turns up eighteen months later with a new exhibit, and thinks he has found his perfect Marie Antoinette in Sue Allen (Phyllis Kirk). But Sue thinks she recognises some of the faces on the displays, namely her recently murdered best friend Cathy Gray (Carolyn Jones).

House of Wax was the first major studio release in 3-D, after the success of Bwana Devil (1952), and really kicked off what is now known as the 'golden age' of 3-D cinema. Of course, 3-D would enjoy revivals in both the 1980's and the modern day, with the release of James Cameron's Avatar (2009) really re-inventing the medium. Watching it in regular 2-D, the film does raise a lot of unintentional laughs in scenes where 3-D is obviously being used, but playing no real part in the narrative. Just before the opening night of Jarrod's new display, an entertainer stands outside with two paddleballs, batting the balls at the screen and even talking to the audience ("Hey, look, there's someone with popcorn!"). It is really a cheap trick in order to add a niche to a horror movie that adds relatively nothing new to the genre, but it also gives the film an irresistible charm, and a nice window into one of many little crazes that pop up in cinema from time to time.

The film itself is thoroughly enjoyable, regardless of being pretty run-of-the-mill. Remaking the marvellous pre-code horror Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933), Andre de Toth's re-imagining has the benefit of being able to be a little more sinister, and with the added luxury of Vincent Price. Price is pretty much the same character here as he is in most of his other horror appearances - charming, softly-spoken, but subtly menacing - playing a man who had to witness his prized possessions go up in smoke in front of his eyes - an experience that seems to have twisted his outlook on humanity. This is pure old-school horror, complete with lavish Technicolor (the '50's horror films commonly had a polished studio look), supporting ladies with aggravating screams, and a restraint on the gore. This is a key example of how the horror genre can produce an average, methodical film, that maintains the ability to charm, and most importantly, entertain. Also, watch out for an early performance from Charles Bronson, playing one of Jarrod's assistant Igor.


Directed by: André De Toth
Starring: Vincent Price, Frank Lovejoy, Phyllis Kirk, Carolyn Jones, Paul Picerni
Country: USA

Rating: ***

Tom Gillespie