mong the many memorable characters portrayed by Vincent Price during his distinguished career, Dr. Anton Phibes arguably remains the creepiest and most compelling. The disfigured doctor—who first surfaced in 1971 in The Abominable Dr. Phibes before returning the following year in the scary sequel, Dr. Phibes Rises Again—is a frightening yet fascinating figure whose formidable presence is augmented in each movie by moody, menacing music. Although an official collection of tracks from the initial production is still in development, the second picture's tunes were recently issued by Perseverance Records.
The 29 cues featured on the CD are consistently dynamic and diverse. An eerie Latin chorus mingles with deep tones on the haunting "Main Title," while a laid-back lounge ambiance dominates "Cabin Fever" and a soulful, "Rhapsody in Blue"-inspired motif launches "Dance on the High Seas." "Decorating the Tomb" highlights an enchanting violin/vocal union, with a mournful but slightly ominous air pervading "Preparing Victoria" and extraordinary orchestral agitation animating the protracted "Diana's Rigged."
Along with a trio of pieces not used in the final version of the film, the album's concluding cuts showcase two renditions of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," including one with the lyrics crooned by Price. The booklet accompanying the disc offers extensive memories from composer John Gale and director Robert Fuest, plus a summary of the storyline and a brief musical breakdown. In a rather unusual arrangement, the title of each number is also supplied, via side-by-side track listings, in both Latin and English.
Elegant and eternal melodies
In addition to hammy acting and predictable plots, scary period pictures frequently feature hackneyed soundtracks brimming with ersatz black masses and exaggerated harpsichord or organ solos. Dr. Phibes Rises Again contains a few such moments, but the disparate cues, which nicely reflect the adventure's admittedly uneven combination of humor and horror, largely avoid these compositional clichés. Using atypical arrangements and out-of-the-ordinary orchestration, Gale—who generally works within the movie and advertising industries as a music consultant—has fashioned a truly captivating complement to this cherished cult classic.
"Vulnavia's Theme" opens with a lilting, wordless aria before metamorphosing into an ultramodern melody driven by hip bass, organ and percussion. It's an evocative piece that beautifully suggests the character's mix of magnificence and malevolence. The gorgeous "The Elixir of Life" is similarly enthralling, with dazzling tones countered by a low drumbeat that slowly builds to a dramatic climax, while "To Egypt" and "Unveil the Band" generate enticing atmospheres through, respectively, a ghostly Spanish-tinged acoustic guitar and jazzy woodwinds.
Traditional symphonic cues, such as the spirited "Snakes!" and "Shaver's Descent/The Eagle's Caress," are likewise appealing, as is Price's priceless interpretation of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." There are one or two trite tracks, like the solemn, chorus-laden "The Sarcophagus Yields Its Secrets," but most of the tunes are genuinely novel. Despite the fact that the CD ostensibly celebrates the film's 30th anniversary, the music of Dr. Phibes Rises Again continues to sound forceful and unexpectedly fresh.
