Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #20 November 2015 | Page 54

and madness. Prospero’s consort, Juliana (Hazel
Court, who oozes smouldering sensuality) pledges
herself to Satan as his bride and, after experiencing
a drug-induced hallucination of Hell that leaves her
wanting more, is killed by a raven. Alfredo (the great
Patrick Magee as a sadistic, sexually twisted noble, a
less sophisticated version of Prospero) is incinerated
while wearing an ape costume during the climatic
masquerade ball. Gino (David Weston) and Ludovico
(Nigel Green) – Francesca’s lover and father,
respectively – are forced to play a game involving a
poisoned dagger that ends with one of them dead. Fun
and games in fourteenth century Italy.
As the masquerade ball nears its climax and
Francesca is apparently ready to give herself over to
Prospero, the ‘Man in Red’ makes an appearance and
gives Vincent Price a final, fatal insight into how the
world really works.

‘The way is not easy, I know, but I will take
you by the hand and lead you through the cruel light
into the velvet darkness.’ - Prospero
Masque is Corman’s best work. The cast
is uniformly good with the sole exception of
Asher. While she may be trying to convey shock
or resignation, it appears that she is merely bored.
However, Price, Court, Magee and the rest make up
for her shortcomings, providing richly detailed and, in
the case of the leads, nuanced performances. The film
also looks beautiful. Corman and cinematographer
Nicolas Roeg (who later went on to direct Don’t
Look Now and The Man Who Fell to Earth) create a
series of sumptuous and dense images. The brutally
cold shades of black and grey that characterise the
outside world contrast with the decadent colours
within Presser’s castle, creating a visual tension that

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