House of Wax

Synopsis of Movie
Vincent Price had years of sophisticated straight man roles before this, but House of Wax let him take off the white gloves, raise the eyebrows, and chew a little horror flick scenery. And in 3-D, no less.
He plays Professor Henry Jarrod, a wax sculptor whose investment partner burns down their museum for the insurance money. Jarrod is presumed dead, but years later, he’s back in action (though disfigured and wheelchair-bound), re-creating all the beloved figures he lost in the fire at a new and improved (though still dank and creepy), gas-lit museum in 1900’s old New York.
Coincidentally, as his new joint fills out with new sculptures, there is a rash of local murders and body-snatchings from the local morgue. Sue, a visitor on the museum’s opening day, notices a striking resemblance between her recently-deceased friend (Carolyn Jones, pre-Addams Family) and the Joan of Arc display. Jarrod ducks Sue’s questions, but does tell her that she would be the perfect Marie Antoinette. He promptly captures the pesky girl and makes his plan to encase her body in a wax replica of the history’s favorite cake-advocate.
This was Warner Brothers' first big-budget 3-D film, based on 1933’s Mystery of the Wax Museum. It was the most financially successful 3-D production of the 1950's, and enjoyed a second wind during the 3-D revival in the 1980’s. Among the most-loved effects here were the vociferous paddleball man (rumored to make a viewer cross-eyed if he watched long enough!), the can-can dancer’s... well, her very "in-your-face" can-can, and the Charles Bronson leaping gag. Good old Chuck plays Igor, Jarrod’s mute henchman assistant (and billed with real name Charles Buchinsky), who scuffles with a policeman and seems to leap out into the audience.
Director André De Toth had only one good eye, incidentally, and frequently had to ask his cast and crew if the various 3-D effects had come off properly. Ask the faked-out theater patrons who were known to shout “down in front!” during the Igor gag because they thought that someone was actually moving around in the front rows, and they’ll tell you that De Toth’s effects were more than convincing.
Movie Release History
1953 - House of WaxMovie Sub Categories
live-actionhorror
Movie Studio
Warner Bros.Cast
Professor Henry Jarrod Vincent PriceLieutenant Tom Brennan Frank Lovejoy
Sue Allen Phyllis Kirk
Cathy Gray Carolyn Jones
Scott Andrews Paul Picerni
Matthew Burke Roy Roberts
Mrs. Andrews Angela Clarke
Sidney Wallace Paul Cavanagh
Sergeant Jim Shane Dabbs Greer
Igor Charles Bronson
Barker Reggie Rymal
Pompous Man Oliver Blake
Girlfriend Joanne Brown
Portly Man Leo Curley
Medical Examiner Frank Ferguson
Lodger Darwin Greenfield
Milie Mary Lou Holloway
Lodger Jack Kenney
Waiter Lyle Latell
Detective Richard Lightner
Bit Part Terry Mitchell
Detective Jack Mower
Morgue Attendant Eddie Parkes
Surgeon Grandon Rhodes
Ma Flanagan Riza Royce
Bruce Allison Philip Tonge
Ticket Taker Merry Townsend
Scrubwoman Ruth Warren
Bit Part Ruth Whitney
Bit Part Trude Wyler
Leon Averill Nedrick Young