UK, 1960
93m (USA), 107m (US television), 120m 7s (UK)
35mm film, black and white, 2.35:1, Megascope
mono (RCA Sound Recording), English
A British borderline horror film directed by Val Guest.
Plot Summary
Following a traffic accident, racing driver Alan Colby can no longer race and battles the urge to strangle his wife.
Credits
Crew
Director: Val Guest
© MCMLX [1960] by Hilary Productions Ltd.
Columbia Pictures Corporation presents a Val Guest production in association with Falcon Films Limited
Produced by: Val Guest
Associate Producer: Victor Lyndon
Production Manager: Clifton Brandon
Screenplay by: Val Guest, Ronald Scott Thorn
Based on the novel by Ronald Scott Thorn
Assistant Director: Kip Gowans
Continuity: Doreen Dearnaley
Director of Photography: Gilbert Taylor
Camera Operator: Moray Grant
Film Editor: Bill Lenny
Music Composed and Conducted by: Stanley Black
Sound Recordist: Bert Ross
Costumes by: Beatrice Dawson
Make-up: Tony Sforzini
Hairdressing: Ivy Emmerton
Art Direction: Tony Masters
Set Direction: Scott Slimon
Made at: Associated British Studios
Cast
Claude Dauphin (Prade)
Diane Cilento (Denise)
Ronald Lewis (Alan Colby)
Françoise Rosay (Mme. Prade)
Bernard Braden (Harry Stonehouse)
Katya Douglas (Connie)
Barbara Chilcott (Baroness de la Vaillon)
Ann Tirard (Nicole)
Edwin Styles (Dr Roberts)
George Merritt (Dr Manfield)
Alternative Titles
O dolofonos me tin aspri blouza – Greece
Hindra mej från att döda! – Sweden
La morsa – Italy
Muerte llega de noche – Spain
Murhayritys Nizzassa – Finland
Obsesión diabólica – Mexico
Ölüm saati – Turkey
Stands mig før jeg dræber – Denmark
Stop Me Before I Kill! – USA
Trágica Mentira – Brazil
Traitement de choc – France
The Treatment
Der unsichtbare Schatten – West Germany
Production Notes
Production
A day's shooting was lost when the racing car seen in the film burst into flames while the unit were on location at Crystal Palace. No-one was injured. 1Kine Weekly vol.517 no.2752 (30 June 1960) p.18
Silent comedy star Harold Lloyd, an old friend of director Val Guest, visited the set with his son Harold Lloyd Jr in late June 1960. 2Kine Weekly vol.517 no.2752 (30 June 1960) p.18
References
Periodicals
- The Daily Cinema no.8417 (6 February 1961) p.6
- Kine Weekly vol.517 no.2752 (30 June 1960) – illustrated note (Production by Bill Edwards)
- Kine Weekly no.2784 (9 February 1961) p.10
- Monthly Film Bulletin vol.28 no.326 (March 1961) p.36
- Motion Picture Herald vol.223 no.8 (10 June 1961) p.157
- Variety 15 February 1961
Books
- Hammer Complete: The Films, the Personnel, the Company by Howard Maxford p.299 – illustrated credits, synopsis, review
