The Uncanny (film)

The Uncanny is a 1977 British-Canadian anthology horror film directed by Denis Héroux, written by Michel Parry, and starring Peter Cushing, Donald Pleasence, Ray Milland, Joan Greenwood, Donald Pilon, Samantha Eggar, and John Vernon.[2][3]

The Uncanny
Theatrical poster to The Uncanny (1977)
Directed byDenis Héroux
Written byMichel Parry
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyHarry Waxman
Edited by
Music byWilfred Josephs
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • 26 August 1977 (1977-08-26) (Canada)
  • 4 April 1978 (1978-04-04) (UK)
Running time
88 min
Countries
  • United Kingdom
  • Canada
LanguageEnglish
BudgetCAD$1.1 million[1]

Although it is similar to the horror anthologies released by Amicus Productions and could be mistaken as one, it was actually distributed by The Rank Organisation. However, the co-producer was Milton Subotsky of Amicus.[1]

Plot

Montreal 1977

In 1977, in Montreal, writer Wilbur Gray visits his publisher Frank Richards to discuss his new book about cats. Wilbur believes that felines are supernatural creatures, and that they are the devil in disguise. Wilbur tells three tales to illustrate his thoughts:

London 1912

In 1912, in London, Miss Malkin is a wealthy woman who rewrites her will leaving her fortune to her cats rather than to her nephew Michael. Her maid Janet, also the mistress of Michael, steals one copy of the will from the lawyer's briefcase and tries to destroy the original copy which is kept in the safe. When Miss Malkin sees her attempt, Janet kills her. The cats avenge Miss Malkin's death.

Quebec 1975

In 1975, in the Province of Quebec, the orphan Lucy comes to live with her aunt Mrs. Blake, her husband, and her cousin Angela after the death of her parents in a plane crash. Lucy brings her only friend, the cat Wellington, but her mean cousin forces her parents to get rid of Wellington. Lucy uses her mother's book of witchcraft to avenge Wellington.

Hollywood 1936

In 1936, in Hollywood, the actor Valentine De'ath replaces the blade of a fake pendulum to kill his actress wife, and give his young mistress and aspiring actress Edina a chance. The cat of his wife avenges her death.

Cast

Montreal 1977

London 1912

Quebec 1975

Hollywood 1936

Production

The Uncanny is the sixth Milton Subotsky film in which a character has the name Maitland (Mrs Maitland, played by Renee Girard). The others are And Now the Screaming Starts! (1973), in which Guy Rolfe plays Maitland; Tales from the Crypt (1972), in which Ian Hendry plays Carl Maitland; They Came from Beyond Space, in which Robin Parkinson plays Dr Maitland; The Skull (1965), which top-bills Peter Cushing as Dr Christopher Maitland, and the earliest, The City of the Dead (aka Horror Hotel, 1960), in which Tom Naylor plays Bill Maitland.

Filming

The film was a British-Canadian co-production shot on-location in Montreal and Senneville, Quebec, and Pinewood Studios in England.

Filming started in Montreal on 16 November 1976.[1]

Release

Certification

In the UK, the film was originally given an X-rating.

Reception

Box Office

The film performed poorly at the box office.[1]

References
  1. Ed. Allan Bryce, Amicus: The Studio That Dripped Blood, Stray Cat Publishing, 2000 p 153-154
  2. The Uncanny at IMDb
  3. UNCANNY, The Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 44, Iss. 516, (Jan 1, 1977): 154.
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