HOUSE OF WAX (1953) Chills that wax, never wane

The 1933 version was scary enough, but the 3-D remake of HOUSE OF WAX adds depth to the creepy tale. Vincent Price plays the Wicked Waxer and Frank Lovejoy the no-nonsense cop who saves Phyllis Kirk from getting whacked and waxed. The plot is similar to that of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. A talented sculptor loses his hands, face and marbles in an arson fire and returns a year later in gloves and mask to wreck havoc. Bypassing that silly old sculpting step, he starts wax-coating live people to obtain instant exhibits for his new museum. But before Price can wax Phyllis’ legs, as well as all the rest of her, Lovejoy comes to the last second rescue. Overlook the hammy performances and gratuitous 3-D trickery – this movie has moments of genuine horror, as for example when Phyllis climbs up to get a closer look at the wax figure of Joan of Arc and realizes it's her best friend! Among the spate of 3-D movies in the early '50s, this one is a standout.