the plot: Across London, prominent physicians are meeting their end in a series of increasingly bizarre deaths. One doctor is found drained of his blood, another the victim of a vicious attack by vampire bats. Scotland Yard Inspector Trout (Jeffrey) is put on the case, but the attacks—all patterned after the mythical 10 plagues of Egypt—baffle him. That is, until he meets Dr. Vesalius (Cotten), who reveals the hidden connection among the physicians. Four years earlier, all of them operated on Dr. Anton Phibes (Price) and his wife following a terrible car accident. Phibes’ wife died on the operating table, and Phibes himself was believed to have died in the car wreck. However, Phibes, a highly skilled surgeon, musician and student of theology, actually survived the accident, but faked his death in order to hide his hideously scarred face. In the intervening years, Phibes and his assistant (North) conceived an elaborate plan for revenge against the team of physicians that Phibes blamed for his wife’s death. As Trout and Vesalius race across London and attempt to stop Phibes’ attacks, the mad doctor manages to stay several steps ahead of them, using disguises, intricate traps and other tricks to elude authorities.

why it’s good: From the opening sequence, featuring the cloaked Dr. Phibes (rhymes with “vibes”) playing an organ in his opulent underground lair, it’s clear that “The Abominable Dr. Phibes” is an exercise in excess—excess awesomeness. “Phibes” is stuffed with deliciously black humor, novel death scenes and a wonderfully campy performance by Vincent Price, all of which make the movie relentlessly fun. By the time “Phibes” was made, Price was firmly ensconced in the pantheon of legendary horror actors, so he used “Phibes” as a way to both poke fun at himself and subvert his usual performances. Price’s trademark voice isn’t heard until almost halfway through the film, and even then it is distorted and strange, much like Phibes’ mangled visage. Whenever Phibes starts looking too sinister, director Robert Fuest (who directed numerous episodes of “The Avengers,” as well as the William Shatner/Earnest Borgnine class “The Devil’s Rain”) throws in a bizarrely humorous ballroom dance sequence or an extended organ performance by the mad doctor. The striking production design—an eye-catching, if unlikely, blend of art deco and pop art—helps maintain the operatic feel of the movie. Meanwhile, Peter Jeffrey and the rest of London’s police force get plenty of absurd, Monty Python-esque moments (including unscrewing a body from a brass unicorn’s horn). It’s also easy to see the impact “Phibes” has had on multiple generations of filmmakers. The colorful sets and emphasis on music and production design would later be echoed by director Dario Argento in films like “Suspiria” and “Inferno,” and the devilishly clever traps set by Phibes would later be revisited in the far more dour “Saw” movies.

why you should own it: “Dr. Phibes” is part of MGM’s recently released “Scream Legends” box set, which includes the 1972 sequel “Dr. Phibes Rises Again,” along with five other films and a series of featurettes about Price’s life and work. Although the individual films don’t have any extras, the set is still a bargain and worth it for “Phibes” alone.