Frozen Alive (1964)
"Der Fall X701" (original title)

A scientist experimenting with suspended animation decides to use himself as a test subject. Before he is frozen, his wife is killed, and he is suspected of her murder. a murder suspect.

Director:

Bernard Knowles

Writer:

Evelyn Frazer (script)

Stars:

Mark Stevens, Marianne Koch, Wolfgang Lukschy

Cast

Cast overview:
Mark Stevens	...	Dr. Frank Overton
Marianne Koch	...	Dr. Helen Wieland
Wolfgang Lukschy	...	Inspector Prenton
Joachim Hansen	...	Tony Stein
Delphi Lawrence	...	Joan Overton
Walter Rilla	...	Sir Keith (as Walter Rilia)
Helmut Weiss	...	Chairman
John Longden	...	Prof. Hubbard
Albert Bessler	...	Martin, lab tech. (as Albert Ressler)
Sigurd Lohde	...	Dr. Karl Merkheimer (as Siegurd Lohde)
Wolfgang Gunther	...	Sgt. Grun (as Woflgang Gunter)

Storyline

A scientist experimenting with suspended animation decides to use himself as a test subject. Before he is frozen, his wife is killed, and he is suspected of her murder. a murder suspect.

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Plot Keywords:

cryogenics | murder | loading gun | fire dance | typewriter | 

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Taglines:

Suspended animation or death!

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Genres:

Mystery | Sci-Fi | Drama

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Details

Country:

UK West Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

December 1964 (UK)

Also Known As:

Frozen Alive

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alfa Film, Creole

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Dr. Karl Merkheimer: I would like to thank all of our contributors for this very interesting symposium on hypothermia.

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Connections

Featured in Shiver & Shudder Show (2002)

User Reviews

More than just a chemistry kit saga

Amiable Mark Stevens and scientific partner, the enigmatic Marianne Koch combine to tackle malignant diseases through cryogenics, but their experiments on apes are just a prelude to their ultimate test on a live human being which Stevens himself undertakes shortly before his wife dies implicating the doctor in absentia. Koch attempts to resuscitate Stevens to answer the allegations under the watchful eye of a Detective (Lukschy) and an independent observer (Lohde), concerned she may sabotage the experiment to protect Stevens from punishment.

Capable German-US-British cast deliver realistic dialogue and create a genuine tension that is based less upon the primary plot (cryogenics) and more on Delphi Lawrence's character as Steven's almost perpetually inebriated wife, jealous of his working relationship with Koch, seeking solace in the scotch bottle and that of her old flame and work mate Joachim Hansen. Lawrence's performance dares to be bold and obnoxious, and while sometimes intense, doesn't become melodramatic. I thought her performance injected a maturity that was a welcome diversion to what could have become a simple science experiment gone awry picture.

While the momentum is not always fluent, the pace sometimes stilted, and the suspense often telegraphed too early, the acting compensates to some degree, Stevens and Koch enjoying a on-screen rapport that serves the narrative well. My only significant criticism is the overly-simplistic conclusion - the elements are present for a firecracker ending, but it's resolved too quickly and conveniently to do the rest of the movie justice. Should have been better, but in my opinion still superior to the average 3 rating it currently attracts.