Roger Corman Weaves Tales of Terror

Born: April 5, 1926
Most Frightening Movies: House of Usher (1960), Pit and the Pendulum (1961), Tales of Terror (1962), The Masque of the Red Death (1964), The Tomb of Ligeia (1964)
Why He Scares Us: Although Corman is better known as “King of the Bs,” having produced nearly 400 low-budget exploitation movies, he proved himself a masterful horror moviemaker by directing several highly atmospheric Edgar Allan Poe adaptations in the 1960s, all starring genre legend Vincent Price. The gothic sets, colorful cinematography and Price’s versatile acting created an atmosphere of dread that belied the meager production values of these movies. While Corman will probably always be known first and foremost as a maverick producer, his Poe movies also demonstrate his gift for directing creepy and memorable horror flicks.