Escapement (film)

Escapement (aka The Electronic Monster ) is a 1958 British horror science fiction film directed by Montgomery Tully and David Paltenghi (dream sequences) .[1]

Escapement (a.k.a. The Electronic Monster)
U.S. lobby card
Directed byMontgomery Tully
David Paltenghi
(dream sequences)
Written byJ. MacLaren Ross
(additional dialogue)
Screenplay byCharles Eric Maine
Based onEscapement
by Charles Eric Maine
Produced byAlec C. Snowden
Jim O'Connolly
Richard Gordon
StarringRod Cameron
Mary Murphy
CinematographyBert Mason
Teddy Catford (dream sequences)
Edited byGeoffrey Muller
Color processBlack and white
Production
company
Distributed byAnglo-Amlgamated Film Distributors
Release date
  • 4 March 1958 (1958-03-04)
Running time
76 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Plot

Inquiring into the mysterious death of a Hollywood star, insurance investigator Jeff Keenan uncovers an exclusive psychiatric clinic on the French Riviera. Here, patients who want to escape the stresses of life are hypnotized, then laid out in morgue-like drawers and left to dream for several weeks. It turns out that Dr. Zakon, the clinic's ex-Nazi owner, is using a "dream machine" to alter the sleepers' dreams, and to impose his will on theirs.

Cast
  • Rod Cameron as Jeff Keenan
  • Mary Murphy as Ruth Vance
  • Meredith Edwards as Dr. Philip Maxwell
  • Peter Illing as Paul Zakon
  • Carl Jaffe as Dr. Hoff (as Carl Jaffé)
  • Kay Callard as Laura Maxwell
  • Carl Duering as Blore
  • Roberta Huby as Verna Berteaux
  • Felix Felton as Police Commissaire
  • Larry Cross as Brad Somers
  • Carlo Borelli as Signore Pietro Kallini
  • John McCarthy as Claude Denver
  • Jacques Cey as Police Doctor
  • Armand Guinle as French Farmer (as Armande Guinle)
  • Malou Pantera as Clinic Receptionist
  • Pat Clavin as Receptionist at Studio
  • Alan Gifford as Wayne - Insurance Company Chief

Production

Producer Richard Gordon later said there were major problems with the film's special effects. He also said that he had a dispute with Anglo-Amalgamated, who did not want the movie to get an X certificate in England, whereas Gordon wanted more horror for the US.[2]

Critical reception

Leonard Maltin called it a "blah sci-fi programmer" ; while TV Guide noted, "an intriguing feature in that it was among the first to examine the possibilities of psychological manipulation and brainwashing."[3] Moria found that the movie failed to live up to its interesting premise, being overly talky. The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction found the movie was leaning towards a thriller-like plot and had a disinclination to argue too about its often shaky scientific pinning.[4]

References
  1. Hal Erickson (2014). "The-Electronic-Monster - Trailer - Cast - Showtimes - NYTimes.com". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2014-03-09.
  2. Tom Weaver, The Horror Hits of Richard Gordon, Bear Manor Media 2011 p 19
  3. "The Electronic Monster". TVGuide.com.
  4. "SFE: Maine, Charles Eric".
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