UK, 1967
88m, 7879 feet
35mm film, Eastmancolor
mono, English
A British horror film directed by Vernon Sewell.
Plot Summary
A scientist uses a rare African Deathshead moth to create and female human/moth hybrid that he passes off as his daughter. But the creature needs blood to survive and is soon working its way through the local population.
Credits
Crew
Directed by: Vernon Sewell
© Tigon British Films MCMLXVII [1967]
Tony Tenser presents
Executive Producer: Tony Tenser
Produced by: Arnold L. Miller
Production Manager: Ricky Howard
Screenplay by: Peter Bryan
Assistant Director: George Pollard
Continuity: Eve Wilson
Director of Photography: Stanley A. Long
Camera Operator: Norman Jones
Focus Puller: Jim Alloway
Color by Movielab [on US prints only]
Editor: Howard Lanning
Music Composed & Conducted by: Paul Ferris
Sound Mixer: Alan Hogben
Boom Operator: Mike Tucker
Dubbing Editor: Dennis Lanning
Wardrobe: Marie Feldwick
Make-up Artist: Rosemarie McDonald Peattie
Hairdresser: Henry Montsash
Special Effects: Roger Dicken
Art Director: Wilfred Woods
Set Dresser: Freda Pearson
Construction Manager: Len Harvey
Production Secretary: Pat O'Donnell
Studio: Goldhawk Studios, Shepherd's Bush, London, England, UK
Cast
Peter Cushing (Inspector Quennell)
Robert Flemyng (Dr Mallinger)
Wanda Ventham (Clare Mallinger)
Vanessa Howard (Meg Quennell)
David Griffin (William)
Glynn Edwards (Sergeant Allen)
William Wilde (Britewell)
Kevin Stoney (Granger)
John Paul (Warrender)
Russell Napier (landlord)
Roy Hudd (morgue attendant)
Leslie Anderson (coachman)
Simon Cain (gardener)
Robert Cawdron (Chief Constable)
Kenneth Colley (James)
Beryl Cooke (housekeeper)
Roy Evans (second porter)
Joan Ingram (cook)
David Lyell (second student)
John Scott Martin (Snaflebum)
William Maxwell (first porter)
Mike Mundell (first student)
Norman Pitt (police doctor)
Malcolm Rogers (Dr Elliott)
Drew Russell (PC Smith)
Honor Shepherd (senior housemaid)
Robin Wentworth (Starkadder)
Alternative Titles
Blood Beast From Hell – shooting title
Deathshead Vampire – shooting title
The Vampire-Beast Craves Blood – US title
Press
1968
Kine Weekly no.3150 (24 February 1968) pp.8-9
The monster moth is reasonably well suggested and the familiar trappings of mystery are lavishly spread. The identity of the evil-doers is not so well kept, but this is perhaps not so important in a plot where so much is done for effects and so little for good reason. Peter Cushing gives one of his well-known stealing performances as Insp. Quennel, and Robert Flemyng, as the Professor, and Wanda Ventham, as Clare, lay on the horrors faithfully. – from an uncredited review
References
Periodicals
The Daily Cinema no.9400 (26 July 1967) p.3 – note
The Daily Cinema no.9485 (16 February 1968) p.6 – credits, review (by Marjorie Bilbow)
Kine Weekly no.3150 (24 Febraury 1968) pp.8-9 – review
Monthly Film Bulletin vol.35 no.414 (July 1968) p.101 – credits, synopsis, review
Books
Cinematic Vampires by John L. Flynn pp.123-124
Creature Features Movie Guide Strikes Back by John Stanley p.48 – credits, review
English Gothic: A Century of Horror Cinema by Jonathan Rigby pp.170, 172-74, 173, 178, 194
Fragments of Fear: an illustrated history of British horror films by Andy Boot – note
Hoffman's Guide to SF, Horror and Fantasy Movies 1991-1992 p.48 – credits, review
The Illustrated Frankenstein Movie Guide by Stephen Jones p.61 – credits, review
The Illustrated Vampire Movie Guide by Stephen Jones p.42 – credits, review
Reference Guide to Fantastic Films by Walt Lee p.518 – credits
Uneasy Dreams: The Golden Age of British Horror Films, 1956-1976 by Gary A. Smith pp.40
The Vampire in Science Fiction Film and Literature by Paul Meehan pp.114-115, 118
Other sources
British National Film Catalogue vol.6 (1968) p.136 – credits
