Night Tide (1961)

Director:

Curtis Harrington

Writer:

Curtis Harrington (screenplay)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Romance

Tagline:

Temptress from the sea...loving...killing!

Plot:

On leave in a shore side town, Johnny becomes interested in a young dark haired woman. They meet and...

Plot Keywords:

Mermaid | Carnival | Sailor | Pier | Merry Go Round

Cast

Dennis Hopper	...	Johnny Drake
Linda Lawson	...	Mora
Gavin Muir	...	Capt. Samuel Murdock
Luana Anders	...	Ellen Sands
Marjorie Eaton	...	Madame Romanovitch
Tom Dillon	...	Merry-Go-Round Operator (Ellen's Grandfather)
H.E. West	...	Lt. Henderson
Ben Roseman
Marjorie Cameron	...	Water Witch (as Cameron)
Chaino	...	Head Bongo Player

Runtime:

84 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono | Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Filming Locations:

Malibu, California, USA

Company:

Phoenix Films

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Mermaid Chronicles Part 1: She Creature (2001) (TV)

Dennis Hopper Makes a "Splash"... ;=8)

Odd, cowpelling little film, very mooch in the vein of moovies like "Carnival of Souls", about a lonely, fresh-faced sailor(Dennis Hopper) who falls madly in love with a mysterious, siren-like woman(Linda Lawson) who may be a mermaid - and a monster. Pre-psycho Hopper("Blue Velvet", "Easy Rider", "Apocalypse Now")actually plays a straight, all-American nice guy (for a change!), who happens to fall for the wrong beautiful girl. Lawson("Lets Kill Uncle", "Apache Rifles") makes for one sexy sea nymph, although she does dance like Elaine Bettis with rickets. Rounding out the cast nicely is the always-snuggly Luana Anders("Dementia 13", "Reform School Girls('57)", "Easy Rider") as the sweetie next-door who has the hots for Hopper's peach-faced sailor. Shot on a low budget, to be sure, but capably acted & directed, with a pretty neat story. Editing problems abound, and the climax is a little hokey, but the MooCow says this is one forgotten flick that should be dug up from the rubbish pile of stinky 60's monster flicks. "Night Tide" was written and directed by Curtis Harrington, whose stinky directing resume includes such bombs as "Killer Bees", "Voyage to the Pre-Historic Planet", and "Devil Dog: Hound of Hell", as well as stinky 80's tv series "Dynasty" and "The Colbys". "Night Tide" is one of those few moovies that you actually want to thank American International Pictures for making, since they would have been the ONLY production company to touch a film like this. The MooCow says dive right into "Night Tide" - the water is fine!! ;=8)