UK, 1964
116m
35mm film, black and white
mono, English
A British borderline horror film directed by Bryan Forbes.
Plot Summary
Fake psychic Myra convinces her weak-willed husband Billy to kidnap the daughter of wealthy parents, planning to extort money from the couple then offer her services as a psychic to help the police trace the missing child. But Myra becomes more and more unhinged as the plot continues, convinced that she can contact her long dead son Arthur and leading Billy to believe that she doesn't care if their victim is found dead or alive…
Credits
Crew
Directed by: Bryan Forbes
© Beaver Films Ltd. MCMLXIV [1964]
An Allied Film Makers presentation. A Richard Attenborough and Bryan Forbes production
Produced by: Richard Attenborough
Associate Producer: Jack Rix
Written for the screen by: Bryan Forbes
Based on the novel by Mark McShane
Assistant Director: Christopher Dryhurst
Continuity: Penny Daniels
Photographed by: Gerry Turpin
Camera Operator: David Harcourt
Camera Assistant: Gerry Anstiss
Camera Grip: Ted Lockhart
Edited by: Derek York
Music Composed, Arranged and Conducted by: John Barry
Sound Recordist: Bill Daniels
Dubbing Editor: George Fisher
Sound Assistant: Gus Lloyd
Wardrobe Supervisor: Laurel Staffel
Make Up: Stuart Freeborn
Hairdresser: Barbara Ritchie
Art Director: Ray Simm
Set Dresser: Peter James
Construction Manager: Jock Lyall
Made at: Pinewood Studios, England
The Producers gratefully acknowledge the kind permission given by Ernest Lough and Dr Thalben Ball for the use in the film of their original recording of ‘Hear My Prayer' (Mendelssohn)
Cast
Kim Stanley (Myra Savage)
Richard Attenborough (Bill [Savage])
Nanette Newman (Mrs Clayton)
Patrick Magee ([Superintendent] Walsh)
Mark Eden (Mr Clayton)
Gerald Sim ([Sergeant] Beedle)
Marian Spencer (Mrs Wintry)
Lionel Gamlin (man at seances)
Judith Donner as the child [Amanda Clayton]
Margaret Lacey, Marie Burke, Maria Kazan (women at first seance)
Godfrey James (Mrs Clayton's chauffeur)
Ronald Hines (policeman outside Clayton's)
Hajni Biro (maid at Clayton's)
Diana Lambert (Mr Clayton's secretary)
Frank Singuineau (bus conductor)
Stanley Morgan (man in trilby)
Maggie McGrath (woman at second seance)
John Lees (plain clothes policeman)
Links
See also
Korei (2000)
References
Periodicals
- British National Film Catalogue vol.2 (1964)
- Castle of Frankenstein vol.2 no.2 (whole no.6) p.56 – review (Frankenstein movieguide)
- The Daily Cinema no.8914 (15 May 1964) p.10
- Empire no.205 (July 2006) p.145 – illustrated DVD review (At Home/Reissues on DVD: Seance on a Wet Afternoon by Ian Nathan)
- Films and Filming vol.10 no.10 (July 1964) p.21
- Films in Review vol.15 no. (10 December 1964) p.635
- Kine Weekly no.2955 (21 May 1964) p.10
- Monthly Film Bulletin vol.31 no.366 (July 1964) p.103
- National Film Theatre Programmes September/October 2003 p.26
- Radio Times 10-16 August 1985 p.16 – review
- Sight & Sound vol.14 no.5 (May 2004) p.86 – DVD review (Home movies by Geoffrey Macnab)
- Sight & Sound vol.33 no.3 (Summer 1964) p. 146
- Variety 10 June 1964
Books
- Creature Features Movie Guide Strikes Again by John Stanley p.339 – credits, review
- English Gothic: A Century of Horror Cinema by Jonathan Rigby p.350
- Feature Films, 1960-1969: A Filmography of English-language and Major Foreign-language United States Releases by Harris M. Lentz III p.401
- Uneasy Dreams: The Golden Age of British Horror Films, 1956-1976 by Gary A. Smith p.193
