Second viewing; first viewed in 1983.
Three segments loosely based on the short stories Morella (1835, rev. 1939) (1st segment), The Black Cat (1843) and The Cask of Amontillado (1846) (2nd segment) and The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar (1845) (3rd segment), all by Edgar Allan Poe.
(1) A young woman visits her estranged widower father, who has a grudge on her on account of her mother's death. (2) An alcoholic man befriends a wine specialist and introduces him to his wife. (3) A hypnotist proposes to apply his technique on a dying man.
Only the second segment, a study in alcoholism, is really good; furthermore, it has wonderful performances by Lorre and Price (who is in the three episodes and excels in all of them). The last segment has some interesting aspects and also some not so interesting ones. The first segment is just bad. This film has one of the stupidest pieces of dialogue ever (probably concocted purely as a plot advancer), in the last segment:
"-- However, I will make a bargain with you, Mr. Carmichael. I'll marry you upon the stipulation that you will set my husband free.
-- I need make no bargains with you, madam.
-- What?
-- You will marry me in any case.
-- No, Mr. Carmichael. Not unless you end his torment.
-- Edicts, madam? Orders from you? Allow me to enlighten you. I'm in command here. You will do as I say, or I will leave Mr. Valdemar exactly as he is, and never -- do you understand me, madam? -- never let him go."
Rating: 55 (unchanged)
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