FAQ for
The Gorgon (1964) More at IMDbPro »

The following FAQ entries may contain spoilers. Only the biggest ones (if any) will be covered with spoiler tags. Spoiler tags have been used sparingly in order to make the page more readable.

For detailed information about the amounts and types of (a) sex and nudity, (b) violence and gore, (c) profanity, (d) alcohol, drugs, and smoking, and (e) frightening and intense scenes in this movie, consult the IMDb Parents Guide for this movie. The Parents Guide for The Gorgon can be found here.

No. English writers John Gilling and J. Llewellyn Devine wrote the storyline (Devine) and screenplay (Gilling) for The Gorgon based on the legend of the Gorgon sisters from Greek mythology. The script was novelized by John Burke as part of his The Hammer Horror Omnibus (1966).

The Gorgons are female figures from Greek mythology, often depicted as having serpents for hair. They were so terrible to look at that anyone who gazed upon their faces would turn to stone. There were three of them: Medusa, Stheno, and Euryale. Medusa was beheaded by the Greek hero Perseus, who gave it to the goddess Athena to put on her shield. In The Gorgon, the Gorgon's name is Megaera, and she is supposedly the last of the three Gorgons, her sisters Tisiphone and Medusa having already been slain. In the Greek myths, however, Megaera and Tisiphone are actually two of the Furies (aka the Erinyes), whose heads were also often depicted as wreathed with serpents.

After learning about Sascha (Toni Gilpin)'s pregnancy, her lover Bruno (Jeremy Longhurst) is found hanging from a tree. It is assumed that he committed suicide because he didn't want to face the consequences of Sascha having his baby.

At the beginning of the movie, there is a note saying that the events take place at Castle Borski in the village of Vandorf, but it doesn't say where Vandorf is located. From other clues in the movie, such as a sign in the hospital that reads "verboten" (German for "forbidden"), the style of the policemen's uniforms, and the identity cards of the women who have applied for citizenship from Germany and Austria, it may be assumed that the setting is a fictitious country somewhere near Germany and Austria. The actual movie, however, was shot at Bray Studios in Berkshire, England.

It was Megaera's spirit, not her actual body that lives in Castle Borski. During nights of the full moon, her spirit takes possession of the body of a human woman of the village. How Megaera got to Vandorf and why she picked the body of this particular woman is not revealed in the movie.

No. They look like rubber heads sticking out from a very bouffant hairdo. Its said, however, that Barbara Shelley, who plays the role of Carla, had an idea for a wig with real snakes in it, but the producers thought such a wig would be too expensive and too time-consuming to make, so they opted for the cheaper wig.

The body of Carla Hoffman, assistant to Dr Namaroff (Peter Cushing).

Paul (Richard Pasco) dashes over to Castle Borski to rescue his girlfriend Carla (Barbara Shelley), but Dr Namaroff tries to prevent him lest he inadvertently looks at Megaera (Prudence Hyman)'s face and is turned to stone. The worst happens and both Paul and Namaroff see her face. As Megaera stares at Paul and he begins to turn to stone, Professor Meister (Christopher Lee) sneaks up behind her and lops off her head with a sword. The head fades back into that of Carla. Paul collapses on the floor, crying, but continues to turn to stone anyway. "She's free now, Paul," Meister assures him. "She's free."

Since Medusa, the most well-known Gorgon, figures largely in stories about the Greek hero Perseus, movies about his exploits will likely feature his bout with Medusa. One such movie is Clash of the Titans (1981). Another that builds on Greek myths is Perseo l'invincibile aka Medusa Against the Son of Hercules (1963). 7 Faces of Dr. Lao (1964) features Medusa as one of the creatures in Dr Lao's mysterious circus. Also look for Medusa: {SUSPENDED} (2009), which is currently in production.