UK, 1948
50m
35mm film, black and white, 1.37:1
mono, English
A British horror film directed by Mario Zampi.
Plot Summary
Cyril and Tony make a bet with an American friend, Puce, that he will not spend a night in a reputedly haunted room. Sceptical about tales of supernatural goings-on, the American settles into his temporary lodgings armed only with a candle, a match, a loaded gun and a history of the supposed hauntings which has been traced back to the murder of two young women. When the candle is blown out by a draught, the man's imagination gets the better of him and he fancies that he sees ghosts and other supernatural phenomena. The panic stricken man is let out of the locked room and loses both his bet and his mind. The two Englishmen, returning from war duty, are horrified to find that the hauntings, which they had faked, have led their friends to an cell in an asylum…
Credits
Crew
Director: Mario Zampi
Anglofilm
Producer: Mario Zampi
Script: Gerald Butler
Story: Michael Arlen
Director of Photography: Cedric Williams
Clapper: Marc Hyams
Editor: Giulio Zampi
Music: Stanley Black
Studio: Carlton Hill Studios, London, England, UK
Cast
Leslie Armstrong (Cyril)
Patrick Macnee (Tony)
Lester Ferguson (Puce)
Brenda Hogan (Julia)
Aubrey Mallalieu (yokel)
Jean Short (Geraldine)
References
Periodicals
- Kine Weekly no.2137 (15 April 1948) – review
- Monthly Film Bulletin vol.15 no.173 (May 1948) p.59 – credits, synopsis, review
- Today's Cinema vol.70 no.5634 (14 April 1948) p.10 – review
Books
- The Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Horror by Phil Hardy (ed.) p.95
- British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928-1959 by David Quinlan p.207 – credits, synopsis
- The Columbia Checklist: The Feature Films, Cartoons, Serials and Short Subjects of Columbia Pictures, 1922-1988 by Len D. Martin p.98
- Columbia Pictures Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Films, 1928-1982 by Michael R. Pitts pp.76-77
- English Gothic: A Century of Horror Cinema by Jonathan Rigby pp.40-41
