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Sunday, December 23, 2007
 Vincent Price. I don't know why, but I've been thinking about him today. I think he was, no is, our most beloved bogeyman.
Growing up, I relished watching Vincent in any film he was in. He made being scared so much fun. The Dr. Phibes movies were probably my youthful favorites, but I loved 'em all. The AIP Poe films, Theater of Blood, House on Haunted Hill and so many others.
Vincent Price was handsome, erudite, and was classically trained, but when Marlon Brando ushered in the era of 'the mumblers', high society movies fell out of fashion and Price found himself an unlikely horror star. It suited him well and he took to sinister roles like a duck to water.
He had a long and busy career, earning him generations of fans. Maintaining dignity, even while many of his roles were rather silly. But even the most insignificant films were vastly improved by his presence.
Edward Scissorhands wasn't Vincent Price's final role, but it serves as a warm and touching capstone to his life and profession. I never fail to get choked up by his performance in it.
So let's drink a toast to The Gentleman of Horror! How many of us would be the horror fans we are today without his influence?
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