Free HBO!
Well, for three months, while the new contract settles in like a leech on my neck/wallet. Anyway, it allows me to see the beginning (the only good part) of Edward Scissorhands, and see Vincent Price, in his last movie.
A campy, freaky, B movie nutbag for most of his life, Vincent had some really excellent (if small) roles, like “His kind of woman”which he plays opposite Robert Mitchum. And he always had a great sense of humor about himself, as seen in this (late life) commercial for Citibank:
Shame we don’t have anyone to fill those shoes these days.

Hey, those Svengoolie worthy B-movies made him a rarity in Hollywood – a gainfully employed actor making a living acting instead of waiting tables until his breakthrough comes. Same as what Wayne did with his early singing cowboy stuff before the John Wayne thing took off. And thus that’s what made those the best in their genres, their apprenticeships in the B’s.
I agree, the opening scene with him as Scissorhands’ father is captured lightning in a bottle, and the movie goes down after that.
That is one of my favorite commercials. Vinnie rocked.
Innit great? I keep thinking I oughta get a bugzapper in Vince’s memory.