UK, 1972
92m
35mm film, colour
mono, English
A British science fiction film directed by Peter Sasdy.
Plot Summary
The government watchdog agency known as Doomwatch investigates a remote island community where there are higher than average incidents of the disfiguring condition acromegaly. The investigating scientists discover that the condition is being caused by illegally dumped military chemicals in the waters around the island.
Credits
Crew
Directed by: Peter Sasdy
© MCMLXXII [1972] Tigon British Film Productions Ltd.
Made by Tigon British Productions Ltd.
Produced by: Tony Tenser
Final Screenplay by: Clive Exton
“Doomwatch” by: Kit Pedler & Gerry Davis
Director of Photography: Kenneth Talbot
Editor: Keith Palmer
Music Composed and Conducted by: John Scott
Sound Recordist: Ron Barron
Wardrobe Master: John Hilling
Make-up Supervisor: Tom Smith
Hairdressing Supervisor: Ann Mcfadyen
Art Director: Colin Grimes
Scientific Adviser: Dr Kit Pedler
Made at: Pinewood Studios London England and on location in Cornwall
Cast
Ian Bannen (Dr Del Shaw)
Judy Geeson (Victoria Brown)
John Paul (Dr Quist)
Simon Oates (Dr Ridge)
Jean Trend (Dr Fay Chantry)
Joby Blanshard (Bradley)
Percy Herbert (Hartwell)
Shelagh Fraser (Mrs Straker)
Geoffrey Keen (Sir Henry Leyton)
Joseph O'Conor (vicar)
Norman Bird (Brewer)
Constance Chapman (Miss Johnson)
Michael Brennan (Tom Straker)
James Cosmo (Bob Gillette)
George Sanders (the admiral)
Cyril Cross (George)
Geoff L'Cise (Don)
George Woodbridge (ferry skipper)
Jerome Willis (Lt. Com. Tavener)
Jeremy Child (David Broome)
Alternative Titles
Aikapommi – Finnish video title
Doom Watch – Insel des Schreckens – German title
Doomwatch – i mostri del 2001 – Italian title
Holocausto radiactivo – Spanish title
Links
Sequel to
Doomwatch (1970-1972)
Sequel
Doomwatch: Winter Angel (1999)
Production Notes
Production
The film started shooting on 24 October 1971 1Variety 17 November 1971 p.27
Release
When the British press reported that barrels of poison had been washed up on English beaches in January 1972, PR company Davidson Dalling Associates dressed up the windows of Tigon's Wardour Street offices with copies of the papers in question to promote Doomwatch.
References
Periodicals
CinemaTV Today no.9965 (29 January 1972) p.17 – note (In the news)
CinemaTV Today no.9972 (18 March 1972) p.25 – review
Infinity no.11 (2018) pp.8-11 – illustrated article (The prophets of doom by Richard Molesworth)
Monthly Film Bulletin vol.39 no.459 (April 1972) p.70 – credits, synopsis, review
Today's Cinema no.9951 (26 October 1971) p.9 – note (Doomwatch – announcing the start of filming)
Today's Cinema no.9953 (2 November 1971) p.8 – credits (In production)
Today's Cinema no.9955 (13 November 1971) p.12 – credits (In production)
Variety 17 November 1971 p.267 – credits (Hollywood production pulse)
Books
Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Science Fiction by Phil Hardy (ed) p.305
English Gothic: A Century of Horror Cinema by Jonathan Rigby p.218
Film Review 1972-1973 by F. Maurice Speed p.217
Hoffman's Guide to SF, Horror and Fantasy Movies 1991-1992 pp.108-109 – credits, review
Horror and Science Fiction Films II by Donald C. Willis p.107
Nuclear Movies: A Filmography by Mick Broderick p.81
Reference Guide to Fantastic Films by Walt Lee p.111 – credits
Unsung Horrors by Eric McNaughton & Darrell Buxton (eds) pp.118-119 – illustrated review (by Daniel García de Leániz)
