UK, 1975
92m 33s (UK – theatrical)
35mm film, Eastmancolor
mono, English
A British horror film directed by Peter Sasdy.
Plot Summary
Ex-stripper Lucy Carlesi, now married to Gino, is awaiting the birth of their first child. She delivers a baby boy after a monumental labour but the new-born is extremely hostile, physically attacking its mother. A flashback reveals that Lucy once spurned the advances of an over-sexed dwarf she partnered in a stage act and was cursed by him, resulting in the abnormally large demonic baby. When a nun, Sister Albana, tries to bless the child, it screams hysterically and later causes many deaths. Sister Albana must face the demonic dwarf to safe the baby's soul…
Credits
Crew
Directed by: Peter Sasdy
© Rank Film Distributors Limited MCMLXXV [1975]
The Rank Organisation presents a Unicapital production. A Peter Sasdy film
Executive Producer: Nato De Angeles
Producer: Norma Corney [uncredited]
Screenplay by: Stanley Price
From an Original Story by: Nato De Angeles
Director of Photography: Kenneth Talbot
Editor: Keith Palmer
Music Composed and Conducted by: Ron Grainer
Sound Recording: Kevin Sutton
Wardrobe Supervisor: Brenda Dabbs
Make-up: Eddie Knight
Hairdresser: Stephanie Kaye
Special Effects: Bert Luxford
Art Director: Roy Stannard
Made at: Pinewood Studios, London, England
Cast
Joan Collins (Lucy Carlesi)
Eileen Atkins (Sister Albana)
Ralph Bates (Gino Carlesi)
Caroline Munro (Mandy)
Hilary Mason (Mrs Hyde)
John Steiner (Tommy Morris)
Donald Pleasence (Dr Finch)
Janet Key (Jill)
George Claydon (Hercules)
Derek Benfield (police inspector)
Stanley Lebor (police sergeant)
Judy Buxton (Sheila)
Andrew Secombe (delivery boy)
Susan Richards (old lady)
Phyllis MacMahon (nun)
John Moore (priest)
Floella Benjamin (1st nurse)
Penny Darch (2nd nurse)
Lopez, Susie Lightining (strippers)
Val Hoadley, Janice Brett (dancers)
Alternative Titles
The Baby – working title
El bebé de Sharon – Venezuelan title
El bebé infernal – Argentine title
The Devil Within Her – US title
Djävulens baby – Swedish title
Dogmak istemiyorum – Turkish title
Evil Baby – French title
O exousiastis – Greek title
It Lives Within Her – US video title
It's Growing Inside Her – US television title
The Monster – UK re-release title (1982)
Paholaisen lapsi – Finnish title
Het Satansjong – Flemish Belgian video title
Sharon's Baby – Italian/US title
Der Teufel in ihr – West German title
Ik Wil Niet Geboren Worden – Dutch title
Links
See also
The Exorcist (1973)
Rosemary's Baby (1968)
References
Periodicals
CinemaTV Today 7 June 1975 p.14 – illustrated article (The stars turn out for a night of horror…)
Books
American International Pictures: A Comprehensive Filmography by Rob Craig
American International Pictures: A Filmography by Robert L. Ottoson pp.284-285 – credits, synopsis, review
The Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Horror by Phil Hardy (ed.) p.303 – illustrated credits, review
English Gothic: A Century of Horror Cinema by Jonathan Rigby p.260
Faster and Furiouser: The Revised and Fattened Fable of American International Pictures by Mark Thomas McGee pp.307
Film Review 1976-1977 p.170
Horror and Science Fiction Films II by Donald C. Willis p.94
Rock ‘n' Roll Monsters: The American International Story by Bruce G. Hallenbeck p.266
Ten Years of Terror by Harvey Fenton and David Flint pp.230-231 – illustrated credits, review (by Nigel Burrell)
X-Cert 2: The British Independent Horror Film 1971-1983 pp.188-193; 284-285
