Any self respecting horror fan knows that Roger Corman adapted several Edgar Allen Poe tales to the big screen in the 1960', my own favourite being Masque of the Red Death. The Raven is the exception in that it is a horror comedy with the emphasis on the latter. A dream cast - Karloff, Price, Lorre and Hazel Court, plus a young Jack Nicholson - is good enough reason alone to watch this. There are lashings of Gothic horror and the film is very well made. On the downside I am not a huge fan of horror comedies and it does get a little silly at times, but it's a very entertaining movie, so long as the viewer is up for a laugh. Personally I prefer the 1935 version.

No real relation to the 1935 horror film of the same title (also starring Boris Karloff), this Roger Corman movie likewise purports to be inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's poem, but opening and closing scenes aside, this is a zany comedy of its own volition. The film gets off to a deliciously offbeat start as Vincent Price converses with a raven who insists on drinking his wine. The banter between the pair is fantastic and things only get funnier as Price changes the raven back to human form and it turns out to be a wisecracking Peter Lorre. The plot derails a bit as the pair set out to visit the sorcerer who turned Lorre into a bird, and the jokes in this middle section are extremely hit and miss. The sorcerer is played with much charisma by Karloff though and the climax has Price and Karloff battling each other with magic spells, much of which is funny even if the low budget special effects are hard to ignore. Similarly, the matte paintings of Karloff's castle look incredibly fake but the interiors are as spooky as ever. The film also gets some points for retaining some of Poe's poetic verses, even if they only ever feature sporadically. This certainly is not the scariest or deepest and most meaningful film that the three leads ever appeared in (neither is it their funniest) but as far as films inspired by Poe's Raven poem are concerned, this is arguably more amusing than its 1935 namesake.

In 1935, Boris Karloff starred in a movie called "The Raven" - a movie that had little to nothing to do with Edgar Allen Poe's poem. Fast forward 28 years. In 1963, Boris Karloff starred in a movie called "The Raven" - a movie that had little to nothing to do with Edgar Allen Poe's poem. Let's talk about the '63 version.Your first thought about a movie called "The Raven" (and that stars Vincent Price and Peter Lorre, along with Karloff) is that you're going to find a horror movie, or at least a decent mystery or suspense thriller. Those expectations are dashed quickly. This is, after all, directed by Roger Corman. There's nothing frightening or mysterious about this. Instead the movie goes for laughs, as two rival sorcerors/wizards/magicians (Price and Karloff) go head to head with each other, with Lorre stuck in the middle - sometimes a raven, sometimes a man, sometimes a bit of both. Yes, it's a rather silly movie, which unfortunately creates expectations by being named after Poe's poem. From time to time it works in that it brings forth a few chuckles - but it doesn't accomplish much else.To give them credit, the cast seemed to take this seriously enough and played their parts well, although I understand from what I've read that the three leads did recognize the sheer silliness of it all and had their share of fun while making it. But a few chuckles and a decent cast aside, this just isn't a particularly good movie. In the end, what's most interesting about it is probably an appearance by a very young Jack Nicholson as the Lorre character's son. In terms of quality, his performance wasn't notable, and to be honest I didn't even recognize him until I saw his name in the closing credits. That, along with the team of Price, Lorre and Karloff) makes this movie a curiosity, but it doesn't make it good. (3/10)

Not Without Some Interest, this Overrated and Disappointing Horror-Comedy is Mostly Comedy and it's Not Very Funny. But it is Slightly Amusing. Vincent Price along with Boris Karloff and Peter Lorre, is the Only Actor that Manages to Click.Lorre is just Annoying and Whiny, Krarloff seems Bored and Tired, and Oh Yea, there He is a Young Jack Nicholson, Director Roger Corman's Discovery, and about the Only Thing He can do is Look Out of Place and Awkward.The Movie Looks Great, has Beautiful Color Work and the Sets are Magnificent. But as a Whole the Film Barely Works Considering all the Talent, Including a Screenplay by the Usually Excellent Richard Matheson, who here is just a Pedestrian looking for a Paycheck.Overall, it can be Recommended for Corman Completists, Star Watchers, and for the Fabulous Atmosphere, as a Bonus You can Ogle Hazel Court.