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Vincent Price cooked for his costars behind the scenes of The Abominable Dr. Phibes
Yikesgeist takes a look at one of the perks of working with Vincent Price: Free quiche!
It's surprising that for the number of spooky roles Vincent Price took on, he seemed to be a surprisingly kind man off-screen, especially to his costars. Bruce Hallenbeck recounted Price's experience filming The Abominable Dr. Phibes in his book, Comedy-Horror Films: A Chronological History, 1914–2008.
"Price, who never really took himself too seriously, apparently had a wonderful time making the movie," wrote Hallenbeck.
While Price had previously starred in a dramatic role, The Abominable Dr. Phibes took a turn in the genre, adding some funny moments throughout the script. Hallenbeck stated that this shift was brought on by the film's director, Robert Fuest. Apparently, the tone shift worked to Price's advantage.
"When AIP brought in Robert Fuest to direct the film, he rewrote most of the script, turning it into what is now considered a camp classic," wrote Hallenbeck. "As Price was often accused of over-the-top performances in some of the Poe films, Fuest felt that this time he would add more deliberate humor to the script."
Not only did the change benefit the movie, but it also made the experience of filming that much more enjoyable. Rumors developed that the makeup Price wore had to be reapplied frequently, as the actor kept laughing with it on.
Price also had a friendly relationship with his on-screen wife, played by Caroline Munro. Well known for his skills in the kitchen, Munro revealed that Price often treated her to his cooking while on set. "He brought me lots of quiche," said Munro. "He kept me fat and happy."
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