UK, 1958
86m
35mm film, black and white
mono, English
A British horror film directed by Robert Day.
Plot Summary
Dr Bolton is a humanitarian surgeon, disturbed by the inhuman way that operations are performed on hapless patients who are invariably still conscious when the surgery begins. Determined to find a better way, he hires body snatchers Black Ben and Resurrection Joe to steal corpses for his experiments into ways of reducing the suffering. But when the two grave robbers learn of Bolton's addiction to morphine gas, the begin to blackmail him…
Credits
Crew
Directed by: Robert Day
© MCMLVIII [1958] by Amalgamated Productions, Inc.
An Amalgamated production
Produced by: John Croydon and Charles Vetter Jr
Associate Producer: Peter Mayhew
Production Manager: George Mills
Screenplay by: Jean Scott Rogers
Assistant Director: Peter Bolton
Continuity: Susan Dyson
Director of Photography: Geoffrey Faithfull
Camera Operator: Frank Drake
Film Editor: Peter Mayhew
Music Composed and Conducted by: Buxton Orr
Sound Recordists: Cyril Swern, Maurice Askew
Dubbing Editor: Peter Musgrave
Westrex Recording System
Dress Designer: Emma Selby-Walker
Wardrobe Mistress: Doris Turner
Make Up: Wally Schneidermann
Hairdresser: Eileen Warwick
Art Director: Anthony Masters
Cast
Boris Karloff (Dr Thomas Bolton)
Betta St John (Susan)
Finlay Currie (Superintendant Matheson)
Francis Matthews (Jonathan Bolton)
Adrienne Corri (Rachel)
Francis De Wolff (Black Ben)
Basil Dignam (chairman)
Frank Pettingell (Mr Blount)
Carl Bernard (Ned, ‘The Crow')
Marian Spencer (Mrs Matheson)
Nigel Green (Inspector Donovan)
John Gabriel (dispenser)
Howard Lang (Chief Inspector)
Yvonne Warren (Rosa)
Roddy Hughes (man with watch)
Julian D'Albie (bald man)
Anthea Holloway
Bernard Archard
Frank Sieman
Charmain Eyre
Charles Lloyd Pack (Hardcastle)
Christopher Lee as Resurrection Joe
Robert Raglan (Wilkes)
Alternative Titles
The Doctor from Seven Dials – shooting title
Pasillos de sangre – Spanish title
Prima dell'anestesia – Italian title
References
Periodicals
The Daily Cinema no.8661 (14 September 1962) p.6 – review
The Dark Side October/November 1994 pp.15-16 – review
Exploitation Journal vol. 2 nos.2 – 3: Bloody British Special (1995) p.7 – illustrated interview with Richard Gordon
Film Daily vol.122 no.120 (24 June 1963) p.7 – review
Film Index no.31 (1975) p.113 – review
Kine Weekly no.2867 (13 September 1962) p.20 – review
Monthly Film Bulletin vol.29 no.346 (November 1962) p.153 – credits, synopsis, review
Books
Hoffman's Guide to SF, Fantasy and Horror Movies 1991-1992 p.79 – credits, review
The Horror Hits of Richard Gordon by Tom Weaver pp.80-95 – illustrated credits, synopsis, interview with Richard Gordon
Reference Guide to Fantastic Films by Walt Lee p.75 – credits
