We’ve had many requests for this particular installment from the Listener Library, “Specialty of the House” from The Price of Fear! As was always the case with the series, Vincent Price stars as a fictionalized version of himself, relating diabolical tales from his adventures as a globe-trotting gourmand. This particular script is actually an adaptation of a short story by Stanley Ellin about a small obscure restaurant that caters to a limited but devoted clientele. Yet behind the delicious cuisine and eccentric quirks, something sinister seems to be happening in the kitchen. How long will it be before the restaurant has its famed house special back? Is there any amount of sinister subtext that will get Vincent Price to abandon a good meal? Does this soup taste a little bland to you? Listen for yourself and find out! Then vote and let us know what you think!
I think that I’m with Eric here. I hadn’t considered that Price had twigged the cannibalism plot early on, but I very much prefer that reading to my own, which was that Price was sitting obliviously beneath a giant, flashing sign saying “We’re eating people.”
In hindsight Price knew what was going on and I think he is ok with it, because his friend has been eating people. Some karma is slow roasted to perfection.
Was very happy they didn’t explicitly say “people” or “cannibalism”.
This episode had one of my favorite commentary-parts. I really loved the discussion. And it actually upped my rating. I was with “not a classic” until Eric presented his interpretation. I totally am with him on this one, and it makes it a classic. “Goodbye, my meaty friend. Someday I will be doing the Muppet Show and you will be poop.” Although (theater of the mind) I want to listen to this again with David Thiel’s interpretation – that there was a big flashing sign saying “We’re eating people” and Vincent Price was sitting right under it too focused on… Read more »