The Dance of Death: A Tale of Tyranny and Faith

Prince Prospero's tyranny leads to a deadly masquerade where faith and survival collide amidst the chaos of the Red Death.

### The Dance of Death: A Tale of Tyranny, Faith, and Deliverance
* 🎭 In a dark and oppressive castle, Prince Prospero prepares for a grand feast while asserting his control over the villagers suffering from a plague known as the **Red Death**.
* 👵 A prophecy foretold by an old woman hints at the villagers' **impending deliverance from Prospero's tyranny**, sparking a **desperate plea for mercy** from Francesca, who is caught between her father and her lover.
* ⚖ Prospero forces Francesca to choose which of the two men she loves will die, illustrating the **cruel nature of his rule**, as he insists, "**One must die, which one?**"
* 🔮 The atmosphere grows tense as Francesca navigates the horrors of Prospero's games, revealing the **depths of human suffering** and the **influence of dark powers at play**.
* 💔 As the masquerade begins, the stark contrast between **revelry and despair** becomes evident, with the villagers seeking refuge from the Red Death while grappling with their own **morality**.
* 🩸 A twisted game unfolds where two men must **cut their forearms**, each hoping to **save the other**, but ultimately leading to their **demise as the poison takes effect**.
* 👿 In the climax, the masked figures of death reveal themselves, and Prospero faces the consequences of his actions, as the embodiment of death declares, "**Your soul has been dead for a long time**."
* 🕯 The tale concludes with a haunting reminder of **mortality and the futility of power** in the face of inevitable death, leaving the audience to ponder the **true nature of faith and sacrifice**.

[Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] for [Music] grandmother come [Music] closer take this to your village and tell the people the day of their Deliverance is at [Music] hand [Applause]

Make Way for Prince [Applause] [Applause] Prospero get back [Applause] there according to my custom I have come here personally to thank you for the year's Harvest and to make sure we'll starve on what is left

and to invite you to a feast to be held in a fortnight where annually I gather about me the Nobles of the country side and you'll throw us the scraps from your table as if we were dogs exactly but these dogs have a loud bark

and show their teeth why an old woman met a holy man on the hill he made a prophecy he said the day of our deliverance was at hand from your tyranny then shouldn't you be on your knees to give thanks G no I beg of you Mercy Mercy Mercy in the

name of God girl was addressing me what is your name Francesca what do you want of me Francesca forgive them forgive them that is not possible they have defied me if my Hound bites my hand after I have fed and arrest him should I allow him to go

undisciplined forgive him I beg of you how innocent you are however I am disposed to temper Justice with mercy so I will leave it up to you Francesca one must die which one that is my father the other the man I love you promised me

entertainment, but I never hoped for this. Can such eyes ever have known sin? They will, Alfredo. They will. However, this is Not For Your Entertainment. Even so, Francesca, you must choose. One will live, one will die, or both will die. Silence that now! Choose, Francesca. Which will die?

Choose. I take care of everything. [Music] Myself? Well, what is it? Look, sir. [Music] Look, red. [Music] Death. That old woman was told the prophecy. Yes. Did you touch her? No. Are you, are you? Take them to the castle. I'll take

the girl. You may provide us with some entertainment, after all. Do your horses [Music] friends. Burn the village to the ground. Why? You burn their homes. Winter comes. This is your day of Deliverance. Remember. Come on, come on up. Come on, come on out.

of there. Get moving! Me. Get on out of [Music] a [Music] courier, you to go to my intended guests, to the Duke of VGA to Verona, Florence. Tell them that they are to come here to my castle without delay. And if they wish admittance to

avoid the village of Katna, but to come at once. You will? Was in my own time, princess. Now is the time. I will do nothing until I know about Gino and my [Laughter] father. Modesty, but no humility. Gino, my father, where are they? Why do you hide

yourself? It's not right that you should look at me. You may go. That cross you wear around your neck, is it only a decoration or are you a true Christian believer? Yes, I believe truly. Then I want you to remove it at once and never to wear it within

This castle again. [Music] Pleasant girl, is she always to be bast in my bedroom? We'll find you another room, Juliana. Meanwhile, you will dress the lady Francesca in one of your finest gowns. Later, you can instruct her in the ways of the court. Please, my

father. Oh, yes, your father. Your father and your lover are being quartered in a warm and safe place now. I must join my [Music] guests. You may think that you have impressed the Prince Prospero, but you can count on little help from me. You will do as he told

you. Yes, as we all must do. I will do what I must to save my men, but if they are killed, I will die, and so will Prince [Music] Prospero. Let me speak to you about the, uh, anatomy of terror. Terror? What would you know of terror?

Alfredo, your senses are much too blunt. What is terror? Come, silence. Listen. Is it to awaken and hear the passing of time, or is it the failing beat of your own heart, or the footsteps of someone who just a moment before was in your

room? But let us not dwell on terror. The knowledge of terror is vouchsafed only to the precious few. [Music] And now may I present for your entertainment the dancers Esmeralda and Hop Toad. [Music] [Music]

Wherever did you find her? Pretty toy, isn't she delightful? I wonder. I'm sure you do, Alfredo. I'm sure you wonder about every female in my household. Everyone with the appearance of innocence, you seem to take great pleasure in corrupting. I'm not

corrupting Alfred I'm not [Music] instructing [Music] if the Wench were full size she'd drown us all in wine well my first novelty seems to have failed however on the Sabbath at midnight for your amusement there will

be a masquerade the wardrobes of the castle are yours to use but I beg of you even for the humor of it do not wear red you go too far I am not without influence and power against the Red Death yes yes it came to the

Village even now it lays waste the countryside so you can count yourselves fortunate that you are here in this Castle under the protection of Prince [Music] Prospero may I present the lady Francesca meanwhile continue with your Merry making act according to your

natures Senor veryy you do little but eat and swill and dream of other things how like a pig you are be [Laughter] one [Applause] [Laughter] you s your L huh you laugh at this poor

Pig huh while you are small and insignificant no more than a worm can you be a worm lamb Brady [Laughter] huh [Applause] sen es do you hear how she laughs it is like nothing so much as a Praying

jackass V1 you send your remedy ride that jackass to [Applause] [Laughter] [Applause] Market as for the rest of you use your imaginations show me the lives and loves of the animal [Music]

think we cannot make something more exotic that will appeal to [Music] me, Francesca. My father imprisoned a friend of his in this room for 3 years. When he was released, he could never again bear to look at the Sun or even a daffodil. How cruel.

Cruel. It was simply a test to prove how easily a man's mind can be controlled and twisted. My family have always been interested in such things. Somewhere in the human mind, my dear Francesca, is the key to our existence. My ancestors tried to find

it to open the door that separates us from our creator. But you need no doors to find God if you believe. Believe if you believe, my dear Francesca, you are goop. Can you look around this world and believe in the goodness of a God who

rules it? Famine, pestilence, war, disease, and death. They rule this world. There is also love and life and hope. Very little hope, I assure you. Now if a god of love and life ever did exist, he is long since dead. Some, someone, something rules in his

place. No, no, that room is not open to you, not yet. What's in there? You look as though is there something to fear in that room? For the uninvited, there is much to fear. This has been a trying day for you. You must sleep. You must

[Music] sleep. Tomorrow you may see Gino and your father. [Music] Prince Prospero, why do you roam the late-night corridors? Sleep eludes me. You have disturbing thoughts, and you, Juliana, what keeps you awake? I think my thoughts dwell on the

same subject as you, the peasant girl. She has a perfect Faith, so do I in you and in what you believe. I've been an eager student, but I've held back from the final ceremonies, and now I'm ready to join you at the

invocation. Truly realistic women are finally, you are ready to DARE the most terrible rights in incantations to secure your position here. I wonder, I wonder if she is ready to dare as much or anything for the sake of love. [Music]

[Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] this FY face hary [Music] take oh PR exp [Music] ter all spining Cas this yeah the [Music] exp [Music] kind [Music]

[Music] [Music] a [Music] fire [Music] [Applause] [Music] did I stalk you, my [Music] dear [Music] watch [Music] do you know how Fulcon is trained, my dear? Her eyes are sewn shut, blinded

temporarily. She suffers the whims of her God patiently until her will is submerged and she learns to serve. Thus, your God taught and blinded you with crosses. You had me take off my cross because it offended, it offended no one, my master and his followers look

about with open eyes. No, it simply appeared to me to be discuss, to uh, to wear the symbol of a deity long dead. Your master, Satan, the lord of flies, the Fallen [Music] Angel [Music] come [Applause] who seeks entrance to Prince Prospero's

Castle, it is white. Prospero's invited guests, open the gate at once. It is the prince himself who speaks to you, Scarlati. You are no longer welcome here. Really? I know your whims, but the village is full of the Red Death. Death, Prince Prospero, I beg you, allow us

Haven. I beg sanctuary. This is no church by any God in all the gods of time. I beg [Music] you, my wife. You've always thought her beautiful. I knew you desired her. I watched your eyes following her. The Skylight thought of himself as a good

man in many things, and he thought of his wife as pure and unassailable. I give her to you to do it as you please. I've already had that doubtful [Music] pleasure. Prince, spare me the Red Death. I beg you in the name of

[Music] friendship. In the name of friendship. No, for you, friend. Madam, spare yourself the Red Death. Pick it up. We've been ordered to teach you the use of arms. I will not learn to fight, my friend. Now, don't be a

fool. One of you could survive if you fight well. The living one might be given his freedom to live like you, like one of Prospero's pet dogs. Kill me, but Prospero will see you dead for spoiling his entertainment. I won't kill you, I'll just

cut you a [Music] bit. [Music] She stop them. Zeno knows nothing of fighting. Burns rather fast. It is a true fact that the greatest swordsman in Italy would not fear the second greatest, but would fear the worst, for that one would be

Unpredictable Francesca, are you unharmed? Yes, Gino. You scratches given to Tau me to fight, but I will not fight, my friend. You may force me to discipline you in some other way. Do what you will, we will not fight, and I don't think

you'll give us up to simple torture because if you did then in a way you would have lost. You surprised me, however, I'm pleased to find that you've given me a puzzle to think about. Somehow you two will challenge death together. You may be certain of

that. No, this way, my dear, it would be better. I understand life is often ugly, but to torture men, is this what your master Satan demands as worship? These cells are very old. 100 years ago, an ancestor of mine was a Christian monk. He was made

examiner of an early Inquisition. He tortured over 600 men, women, and children in order to save their souls for your god of love. I cannot answer. I have no learning. But then is Satan the god of hate? Oh, no, of reality, of Truth. The world lives in pain and

despair, but is it at least kept alive by a few dedicated men? If we lost our power, chaos would engulf everything. Sometimes that power must be used to teach harsh lessons, but I don't want to learn. I'm afraid I do not want to hurt you, my dear.

Can't you understand? I want to help save your soul so you can join me in the glories of hell. No, never. 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. Lord.

Satan, he who is known as Bile by the Ancients, Demon Lover of all those who wish to live in your Eternal Night, here in your heart of deepest dark, in your temple and before your altar, I twice bind myself to thee as your handmaiden and your [Music] betrothed. And with this symbol of your lasting Victory, I inscribe the final Mark of myself to [Music] thee, Lord Satan, so I may know I'm to be your wife. What are you lurking about for, your

grinning, Twisted devil? Not only am I Afflicted with this body but with sleeplessness as well. Losing your sleep because of the Tiny Dancer, huh? She's nothing to me. I prefer a full-sized woman. Do you know how do you set about getting such a woman, my

master? Prospero provides me with companions from time to time. A good Master, yes. I suppose so, but I imagine there are better. You'd like to leave Prospero's service? I fear for the security of his Reign if I could find a strong

protector, I might dare a change. And what special service have you to offer that might persuade someone else to take you under its protection? All manner of things. I have a crafty and inventive mind indeed. For example, the masquerade. I would devise something

startling, novel, something that would be the talk of the entire Rebel. Have you told Prospero of this novel thing? I fear the prince is much too wary. Will you tell me? Everyone will dress as usual, a harlequin, a Chinese, a soldier, or

a princess they will all either be beautiful or humorous but all will be obviously human I will come as a demon why not come as a great ape when the guests are gathered you would enter arm swinging advancing toward the screaming ladies with lowered head

and grinning jaw it'll be more than a costume it will be a performance by the cleverest man at the court well would I get such a disguise there is one in the room of stuffed animals another toy Prince Prospero never bothers with anymore I'm uh sure it's forgotten

you really think it would cause a sensation oh yes and there is uh more to the [Music] game [Music] [Music] Juliana thank God I thought I don't know what's that Satan's Mark Prospero did that to you

no I did it to myself marks me as one of Satan's handmaidens are you ill no it was a difficult ceremony veils of ignorance were lifted from my eyes and now there's only one more right to perform and I will be ready to

Satan you've given away your soul yes gladly so all the Innocence will be gone then I will have immortality and I shall have Prospero but I must be certain and if you were gone gladly if there were a way would you dare to leave

the safety of this Castle there is no safety for me here this key will unlock the cell the guard on the north wall has been bribed take your Gino and your father and go but the guards the way through to the dungeons you've been to

the Armory and to the dungeons you must make your own way now go quickly [Music] [Music] Gino [Music] [Music] for [Music] Gino Gino J how did you quickly must hurry to the B the

guard there will help us I think I heard something I'll sit down and play he [Music] God Juliana betrayed us she betrayed me what can you want of two men who've done you no harm they killed three of my guards three human beings

according to your faith they have sinned greatly and tomorrow at the feast before the mask at least one of them must pay for those [Music] sins [Music] hear me hear me soon you will be costuming yourselves for the mask a celebration my

friends a celebration of victory over death of evil over good seor scalati and his wife wife will not be joining as he failed to obey my orders but because of me through my mediation with my master the lord of flies you all of you unworthy though you may be will be

safe from the Red Death we promise you unless of course you incur our displeasure for some of you are guilty of acts against us acts of faith perhaps and all of you I suspect still Harbor some sacred thoughts but no more the Fallen Angel will protect

you and now for a small entertainment Gods these two men are true believers they believe in a God who preached Love Thy Neighbor therefore they refused to fight each other in order to save one of their lives however I have devised a plan whereby each may have the honor and

Glory of saving the other's life. There are five daggers here, one of them is impregnated with a poison that kills in 5 seconds. Each man in turn will cut his forearm. Begin. Would you not lay down your life for your

[Music] brother [Music] Next 5 Seconds [Music] 5 Seconds [Music] [Music] 5 Seconds [Music] [Applause] [Music] The game was not played properly, so both will die. No, you're a madman, and yet I

will live and you will die. Where is your God now in the hour of your need? I will see him in Paradise in the role of a martyr. No, I will not have you killed. I will set you free instead. Free to go back to your village

in the Red Dead. I beg you, I am only giving him a further glorious chance to test his faith. My dear, out I'll come back to you, Francesca. Somehow I'll come back. Prince Prospero, let me go with him, you please.

You, oh no, my dear. I could not bear to think of... No, you will go to your rooms now and prepare for the mask. You will not appear in your costumes until midnight. Why do you follow me? Bring Gino back and I will do whatever you wish. You

would destroy yourself for him? Yes, you almost caused me to doubt Prospero, my prince. I'm [Music] [Music] ready [Music] He [Music] [Applause] [Music] My son, tell me of it.

God my God who is your god, the true one? Yes, tell me. I've sinned, I've killed for yourself. No, now I'm afraid for yourself, for Francesca, and for me. I must go back for it, but I don't know how. What weapon can I use against

Prospero? Love in here, through the trees, I found myself loving only myself. I'm afraid of the town where the Red Death walks. I'm afraid of Prospero and his castle. I'm afraid, I'm afraid. I give you a sign

what does it mean? Mankind won't this thing become uncomfortably hot? It will become a little warm, but it won't be for long. After the unmasking, you can take it off, off because the game will be over. Far enough, get on with

it. Perfect, perfect. See yourself now. Crouch low and uh swing your [Music] arms back. Mighty animal, I am your keeper, brought from deepest Africa to control your great strength. Back [Music] back. Where'd you go? The burial grounds beyond the hill, we go to the castle. Why? To beg

forgiveness of the prince. Forgiveness for what? For however we have sinned. Beg forgiveness at the house of Satan himself, better than the Red Death. Stop, stop. Constitute satanum dominum [Music] princip om posess [Music]

hallu [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] for [Music] around [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] my master

Satan Prospero Prospero, I am betrothed to the devil, and I have seen the Terrors, not all of them. I have survived my own sacrifice. There is more, and I'm stronger in the devil's favor than you are together on

Earth. We shall live as man and wife when he calls us. You will be sat and I still your [Music] wife. I have tasted the beauties of [Music] Terror. This, the passing of time, the beating of a heart, the footstep of an

assassin. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Destiny. [Music] [Applause] [Music] I beg you do not mourn for Juliana. We should celebrate. She has just married a friend

of mine. Let the mask [Music] begin. Officer of the Night Watch, who are you? All that is left of the village of Katania. Then go back to it. We beg mercy of the Lord Prince Prospero. Inform the prince, it might amuse him. Don't growl to him. Don't let him

delight in the destruction of your souls. I wish to save our bodies, the few left to us. You expect any plea to move his heart? If we must die, let's die like human beings. You have not seen the Red Death, and you've not seen the dungeons

of Prospero. Don't be frightened. Come with me. This is Gino. This is my child. I must give her every chance. Where do the rabbits run? That one fears Prospero more than the Red Death. What do you want? Mercy, great

Prince, this is all that is left of us. And the winter, it comes on the freezing wind. There is no shelter, diabolical as the fox and rabbits do. But the wells and the streams, they will be frozen over. There is no food then. Store up nuts like the

squirrels. Mercy! Give us the sanctuary of the castle walls. Give me an end to your pleading. Go back from whence you came. We will die if you refuse to go. Then die here, arches, but not the child. It will perish anyway. Not the

child. Far, far gifts! Gifts for everyone! Diamonds, rubies, emeralds, pearls for my friends, for my guests. Look at them, look at them all scrambling like starving men for crusts of bread. All wealthy and all greedy for more. I give you reason for real

rejoicing, my friends. The only survivors of the village have just come to the castle walls, only six. The Red Death has claimed the rest of them. But as I promised you all, of you within these walls, under my protection are safe. So rejoice, and the six who lived, dead, but

they demanded to enter the castle. You killed them. It was a kindness, my dear. Can't you see that the Red Death brings pain and terror and madness? I spared them tonight. After the mask, I will initiate you into understanding. I don't know, I don't know.

[Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] Gently, my son. Remain here shortly after the stroke of one. I will send Francesca to you. I must get to her now. You've recovered your courage, now prove your wisdom. There is nothing you can do there.

There are too many waiting as I tell you the gods will discover me. Look [Music] there [Music] Yes, oh, forgive me for startling you. It's only Hoptoad, made more ugly than even he is. You're not ugly to me. I've come to tell

you that there's no need for you to appear at the mask tonight. I don't understand. My plans are made. If you will trust me and believe in me, we'll leave this monstrous castle tonight. Do we dare the Red Death? It can be no worse than life here. Believe in me.

I do believe in you. Have a warm cloak and be ready. The game is almost over. [Music] Half go in fear. I can control this monster. Want a [Laughter] game? He is too playful. I will tie him up, make him help [Laughter]

Help, let me down. You, let me down, let me down. Look, my dear, I, I believe Hoptoad is playing some sort of a joke on Alfredo. I will set you to tortures unimaginable. You have already been tortured by your cruelty to my, as my LDA

Hold this. A great African, he says it wants some [Laughter] Brandy. Help, help, let me go. Help, help, let me [Music] [Applause] [Music] I see you no longer turn away from the cruelties of life. I no longer

care. My life is done. What's left I give to you tonight. Guards, clear that out of the way. How can my guests be expected to dance around that? And when you find Hoptoad, give him five pieces of gold as a reward for his entertaining jest. You pleased me very

My dear, what was that? What is it? A costume I haven't seen before? Someone wearing red? It's far too bad for them to wear red. [Music] Come, there he is again. [Music] Come. [Music] Wait, wait, wait. I command you to

wait. Prospero, you command me to wait? Very well, I wait. Who are you beneath your mask? Is my costume such a disguise that you don't recognize me? Your voice, it's familiar. Theor Berelli, that's who you are. Vanelli, you dog. Thinking

to... you are not Bell. No, the doctor dances in the white room, but I passed close by him. Truly, Prospero, you don't know me? So you've come, yes, Prospero, on your knees. Prospero, on your knees. The Prince of Darkness, I would like to see your

face. There is no face of death until the moment of your own death. And I am only one of many Messengers. Who do you come for? Many. All? Not all. I knew I was right. I knew it. I've won. The time of unmasking, they begin to show their naked

The Masque of the Red Death 1964 ★ Vincent Price ★ Full Movie HD

Irish Dublin

Prince Prospero's Harvest Festival and Threat

Prince Prospero thanks the villagers for the harvest but implies they will starve.

He invites them to a feast, treating them condescendingly.

Francesca mentions a prophecy of deliverance from Prospero's tyranny.

Prospero's response to pleas for mercy involves a forced choice between two lives.

Francesca must choose between her father and lover's life.

Prospero's Cruel Games and the Burning of the Village

Prospero orders the villagers' homes to be burned.

He sends messengers to invite guests to his castle.

Prospero's actions show his disregard for the villagers' lives.

Francesca's questioning about her father and Gino's whereabouts.

A discussion on the nature of terror ensues.

A masquerade ball is announced for the Sabbath.

Prospero's comments on Alfredo's interest in innocent women.

A warning is given against wearing red at the masquerade.

The Red Death's impact on the countryside is mentioned.

Francesca's Imprisonment and Prospero's Philosophy

Francesca learns about Prospero's family's interest in mind control.

Prospero questions the existence of a benevolent God.

Prospero believes a different entity rules the world.

Francesca is told she can see Gino and her father tomorrow.

Juliana's Betrayal and the Arrival of Scarlati

Scarlati seeks sanctuary from the Red Death.

Gino and Francesca are given a chance to survive through combat.

Juliana's Pact with Satan and the Final Ritual

Juliana explains her reasons for making a pact with Satan.

Juliana performs a ritual to become Satan's handmaiden.

A conversation between Juliana and Alfredo about Prospero's service.

Juliana plans a startling masquerade performance.

Juliana's plan for the masquerade involves a disguise as a demon.

The Final Confrontation and the Masquerade's Conclusion

Gino and his father are captured and face a deadly game.

Prospero announces a celebration of victory over death.

Prospero's plan to save his guests from the Red Death.

A deadly game with poisoned daggers is proposed.

Prospero's decision to free Gino and his father.

Francesca's willingness to sacrifice herself for Gino.