Here's why Vincent Price always chose to play the villain instead of the hero

"I'm a pussycat," he said.

Everett Collection

While nearly every movie throughout history has taught audiences to root for the protagonist, let's be honest: Sometimes, heroes are boring.

No disrespect to do-gooders and brave warriors, but it can get boring watching some good guy triumph over and over again.

Villains, on the other hand, have always been interesting. Characters with a complicated moral background and fuzzy motivations will always be more interesting to watch. Villains have more fun, and audiences seem to have more fun when they're interested in an antagonist.

While Vincent Price made his mark on Hollywood, he wasn't particularly known for playing the leading man, and the actor wouldn't have it any other way.

During an interview with the North Adams Transcript, Price explained that from a young age, he was fascinated by the antagonists in films. "I was crazy about the villain," said Price.

"Villains last, they go on forever. As soon as the hero loses his hair and gets bags under his eyes he's through. But the more wrinkly and crevassed the villain gets, the better you like it."

Price also argued that a good villain was integral to the plot, and made for a more complex story.

"The villain must maintain suspense, provide the conflict between good and evil necessary in any drama," he said. "The villain makes you laugh and throws you off balance. The hero is just...good."

As for what Vincent Price was like off the screen, the actor was all too willing to admit that he wasn't anything like his characters. "In truth, I'm sort of a nice guy," he said. "I'm a pussycat."

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1 Comments

Tresix 18 days ago
I wish/hope that the American Film
Institute would do an update of that list they did of the 100 best movie heroes and villains. Would Atticus Finch and Dr. Hannibal Lecter still be at the top of each list?
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