The Horrible Dr. Hichcock
(1962)
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The Horrible Dr. Hichcock
(1962)
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| Credited cast: | |||
| Barbara Steele | ... |
Cynthia Hichcock
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Robert Flemyng | ... |
Prof. Bernard Hichcock
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Silvano Tranquilli | ... |
Dr. Kurt Lowe
(as Montgomery Glenn)
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Maria Teresa Vianello | ... |
Margherita Hichcock
(as Teresa Fitzgerald)
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Harriet Medin | ... |
Martha, the maid
(as Harriet White)
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Al Christianson |
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Evar Simpson |
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Nat Harley |
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Neil Robinson | ... |
Hospital Assistant
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Howard Nelson Rubien | ... |
Laboratory Specialist
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The year is 1885, and necrophiliac Dr. Hitchcock likes to drug his wife for sexual funeral games. One day he accidentally administers an overdose and kills her. He leaves his home shattered. Several years later he remarries and returns. Discovering that his still beloved first wife is alive but insane and prematurely aged, he plans to use the blood of his new bride to rejuvenate and heal her. Written by Dean Harris <hepcat@inch.com>
This minor but interesting entry in the Italian Gothic/horror genre is a first in that no film had ever dealt before with the subject of necrophilia. Set in London in 1885, Robert Flemyng portrays Dr. Bernard Hichcock who kills off his first wife, digs her up for a little body worship, then marries the ever-ravishing Barbara Steele. Harriet White Medin is perfect as the spooky housekeeper with an ample supply of nasty secrets and protectress of the demented doctor. Flemyng, Steele & White Medin are quite a terror-ific trio and this flick is lots of fun. Beware of the truncated, rather mutilated American version known as THE HORRIBLE DR. HICHCOCK. The dictatorial director Riccardo Freda was responsible for making this film on a bet in just a few days but it doesn't show. HICHCOCK benefits from superb Technicolor and some nice locales and art direction. Even the castle mascot is a black cat named Jess-Belle. Required viewing for all fans of Barbara Steele as it is among her best Italian work. Freda was only equal or better with his work on I VAMPIRI and CALTIKI, IL MOSTRO IMMORTALE.