Monday, May 22, 2017

Confessions of an Opium Eater (1962)

Director: Albert Zugsmith

Writers: Robert Hill, Thomas De Quincey

Composer: Albert Glasser

Starring: Vincent Price, Linda Ho, Richard Loo, June Kyoto Lu, Philip Ahn, Yvonne Moray, Caroline Kido

More info: IMDb

Tagline: Take One Daring Step Beyond the Threshold of Your Imagination!

Plot: In 19th century San Francisco's Chinatown, American adventurer Gilbert De Quincey is saving slave girls owned by the Chinese Tong factions.



My rating:7/10

Will I watch it again? Maybe.

Here's an unusual film that seems like a sure-fire winner.  You've got a GREAT title and you can't go wrong with Vincent Price...ever.  Albert Glasser's score is lively and fun.   The cinematography is really nice and I love the B&W photography.  On top of that the camera angles are nifty, it's nicely edited and Gilbert's (Price) 7 minute drug trip is friggin' wild, creative and fun.  The use of slow motion during it sells it, helping put you in his shoes.  There's a lot to like in this picture and I do recommend it but there's one thing and it's slow, sometimes it's really slow and hard to get through.  It doesn't help that at times it's too talky.  Price's narration tends to ramble.  Don't watch this late at night when you're sleepy, that's for sure, but do make a point to see it.  Despite some drowsy moments it's still an unusual, interesting and entertaining movie.  Price fans just need to know he's in it.

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