In the year 1506, the sorcerer Doctor Erasmus Craven (Vincent Price) mourns the death of his wife Lenore (Hazel Court), to the chagrin of his daughter Estelle (Olive Sturgess). One night, he receives a visit from a raven, which is really a bewitched wizard named Doctor Bedlo (Peter Lorre). Craven brews up a potion that restores Bedlo to human form. Bedlo had been transformed by the evil Doctor Scarabus (Boris Karloff) and they decide to pay him a visit. Bedlo is out for revenge and Craven is searching for his wife’s ghost, as Bedlo reports that he had seen her in Scarabus’ castle. First they have to fight off Craven’s coachman, bewitched by Scarabus. Then they are joined by Craven’s daughter Estelle and Bedlo’s son Rexford (Jack Nicholson), and they set out for the castle.
Scarabus greets them with charm and Bedlo seems to be killed brewing up a storm, but Rexford finds his father alive in the castle. Craven is tormented by a visit from Lenore, who had faked her death and is now Scarabus’ mistress. Craven, Estelle, Rexford, and Bedlo try to escape, but Scarabus captures and imprisons them. Bedlo begs to be turned back into a raven instead of being tortured. Then he flies away. Craven must choose between surrendering his magical secrets or watching Scarabus torture his daughter. Bedlo sneaks back and frees Rexford, and they come to Craven’s aid.
Craven and Scarabus engage in a magical duel in which Scarabus sets the castle on fire. Craven finally defeats Scarabus. Lenore tries to reconcile with Craven, saying that she had been bewitched by Scarabus, but Craven rejects her. Scarabus and Lenore survive but his magic is gone. Bedlo, the raven, tries to convince Craven to restore his human form, but Craven says, “Quoth the raven, nevermore.”
The film was produced and directed by Roger Corman and written by Richard Matheson, based on references to Edgar Allan Poe’s 1845 poem. The film was shot in fifteen days. Much of it was improvised by the brilliant actors involved. Karloff did not get along with the young whippersnapper Jack Nicholson. The burning castle used stock footage from 1960’s House of Usher. Once again. Corman never wastes a dime. It was not well received by critics. Someone said it wasn’t a raven; it was a lark. But audiences enjoyed the witty great actors and it has 88% on Rotten Tomatoes. There is no connection to Boris Karloff’s 1935 film of the same title, with Bela Lugosi.
Jack Nicholson hated the actual raven in the film, which pooped on everyone, but the bird received a well-deserved Patsy Award for its acting. Karloff, who was nearly crippled, hated being hoisted into the air and Price hated wearing a snake around his neck. Why does it have to be snakes? Despite paying for Price, Karloff, and Lorre, the budget was only $350,000, but it grossed one and a half million. The film was finished early and Corman used the sets to make The Terror (1963) with Karloff and Nicholson. Vincent Price as Doctor Erasmus Craven inspired Steve Ditko’s Doctor Steven Vincent Strange for Marvel Comics. Olive Sturgess was the victim of constant pranks by the veteran actors and Hazel Court was irritated when critics focussed completely on her cleavage. The cinematographer was Oscar winner Floyd Crosby, father of David Crosby.