I remember seeing the ads for this movie when it played in my hometown back in 1962. While there were yet no X rated theaters as such, CONFESSIONS played in one of those second tier movie houses which would shortly become one. It wouldn’t have mattered as I was too young to see such a movie anyway although I was already a big Vincent Price fan. It took me half a century to catch up with this little gem although in today’s politically correct and technologically sophisticated times, it probably won’t appeal to many people. However if you have a taste for the unusual or the bizarre or love Vincent Price then you might want to give this one a try.
Shot on a shoestring budget by exploitation producer Albert Zugsmith (SEX KITTENS GO TO COLLEGE, THE PRIVATE LIVES OF ADAM & EVE) and also directed by him, this OPIUM EATER is not an adaptation of the famous Thomas De Quincey work but rather a reimagining of it. Price plays Gerald De Quincey, a descendant of Thomas who 100 years later in 1902 becomes involved in a Tong war in San Francisco over the selling of Asian brides. Vincent plays a philosophical action hero (?!) who waxes poetic as he attempts to free the captured women. While the Chinese characters speak in Charlie Chan English, they are at least played by Asian performers who give commited performances in spite of the dialogue.
Originally released by low budget specialists Allied Artists (formerly Monogram Pictures), the movie is now being released by Warner Archive as an MOD (made on demand) DVD-R. Whether it’s for the film’s 50th anniversary I’m not sure but whatever the reason, I’m glad to have finally caught up with it. Although awkward and cheesy in some places, there are several moments which stand out long after the film is over such as Price’s opium dream and his escape from his pursuers across the rooftops of Chinatown which is done in slow motion and without sound. Producer Albert Zugsmith was also responsible for THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN and TOUCH OF EVIL and there is something like those movies especially the latter in this one. Not a good movie but a fascinating one.
The Capsule Critic 