LURE OF THE SWAMP

Joan Vohs and Marshall Thompson

LURE OF THE SWAMP (1957). Director: Hubert Cornfield.

Simon Lewt (Marshall Thompson), who takes people out for boat rides in the swamp, is suddenly meeting all sorts of strangers. There's Lister (Willard Parker), who takes a suitcase into the swamp with him and later turns up dead; Steggins (Leo Gordon), who is looking for Lister; Henry Bliss (Jack Elam), a creepy type who wants Simon to help him find loot from a robbery; and Cora (Joan Vohs), who claims to be a photographer doing a story on the swamp. Then we've got Simon's nutty gal pal, Evie (Joan Lora), who is fond of taking shots at him when she's upset -- no wonder he wants to get out of the swamp! Lure of the Swamp is an odd low-budget affair (in Regalscope) that seems to exist in another universe. The performances are professional, with a vivid and interesting Jack Elam [The Girl in Lover's Lane] and Willard Parker [What a Woman] taking top honors. Former model Vohs mostly did television work; ditto for Lora. As usual, Thompson [Fiend without a Face] is an appealing performer.

Verdict: Ersatz film noir set in a swamp. **1/2.

TOWER OF LONDON (1962)

TOWER OF LONDON (1962). Director: Roger Corman.

The second Tower of London, directed by Vincent Price’s frequent collaborator Roger Corman, is definitely part of Price’s latter-day horror cycle. (The screenplay was co-written by Leo Gordon, who also wrote Attack of the Giant Leeches.) The remake (also in black and white like the original, if wide screen) is not as good as the original film, but it has its moments. The film cuts out much of the first picture’s storyline by beginning with the death of the older King Edward. The murder of Clarence by Richard occurs almost immediately afterward, sans the wine-drinking competition. Richard III (Vincent Price) cuts an outrageous swath through the court, eliminating anyone who gets in his way. Naturally there is more emphasis on the torture scenes, with one poor gal being placed on the rack and stretched until her death – a not bad sadistic fillip. Price looks more like a hunchback than Rathbone did, and manages the incredible feat of creating some sympathy for the monstrous Richard. Surprisingly, he gives a rather good performance as Richard, one that may seem "hammy" due to Price’s natural floridness (and identification with outrageous horror roles) but is actually a fine, serious performance. It’s a shame Price didn’t have a better picture to showcase his thesping. Despite Price’s performance, Tower of London is one of the lesser Corman horror films – the irony is that Price is far better in the movie than in, say, The Pit and the Pendulum, which he also did with Corman. Of course, Richard III is quite a role for any actor!

Verdict: Horrors! -- Price is rather good! **1/2.