The Collector (1965)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

William Wyler

Writers:

John Fowles (novel)
Stanley Mann (writer) ...
(more)

Release Date:

17 June 1965 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Almost a love story

Plot:

A man kidnaps a woman and holds her hostage just for the pleasure of having her there.

Plot Keywords:

Butterfly | Bank Clerk | Cellar | Art Student | Collector

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Terence Stamp	...	Freddie Clegg
Samantha Eggar	...	Miranda Grey
Mona Washbourne	...	Aunt Annie
Maurice Dallimore	...	The Neighbor
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Allyson Ames	...	First Victim (uncredited)
Gordon Barclay	...	Clerk (uncredited)
William Bickley	...	Crutchley (uncredited)
David Haviland	...	Clerk (uncredited)
Kenneth More	...	(uncredited)
Edina Ronay	...	Nurse / Next Victim (uncredited)

Directed by
William Wyler

Writing credits
John Fowles		(novel)
Stanley Mann		(writer) and
John Kohn		(writer)
Terry Southern		uncredited

Produced by
Jud Kinberg	....	producer
John Kohn	....	producer

Original Music by
Maurice Jarre

Cinematography by
Robert Krasker		(non-studio segments)
Robert Surtees		(studio segments)

Film Editing by
David Hawkins
Robert Swink

Art Direction by
John Stoll

Set Decoration by
Frank Tuttle

Makeup Department
Ruby Felker	....	hair stylist
Harold Fletcher	....	makeup artist
Virginia Jones	....	hair stylist
Rex Lane	....	makeup supervisor
Don Schoenfeld	....	makeup artist
Pearl Tipaldi	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Philip Shipway	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Roy Baird	....	assistant director
Sergei Petschnikoff	....	assistant director
Robert Swink	....	second unit director

Art Department
Tom Plews	....	property master
Robin Vaccarino	....	draughtsman

Sound Department
Cyril Collick	....	sound recordist
Clem Portman	....	sound re-recordist
Charles J. Rice	....	sound supervisor
Jack Solomon	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
John Harris	....	camera operator
Andrew J. McIntyre	....	camera operator
Norman Warwick	....	camera operator: second unit

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Vi Alford	....	wardrobe: women
Brenda Dabbs	....	wardrobe mistress
Jack Martell	....	wardrobe: men

Music Department
Richard C. Harris	....	music editor (as Richard Harris)

Other crew
Isabelle Blodgett	....	script supervisor
Kathleen Freeman	....	dialogue coach
Richard Kuhn	....	title designer

Production Companies

• Collector Company
• Columbia Pictures Corporation

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1965) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia-Bavaria Filmgesellschaft m.b.H. (1966) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Also Known As:

The Butterfly Collector (UK)

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White (flashback sequence) | Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | UK:X (1965) | West Germany:18 (nf) | Argentina:13 | Finland:(Banned) (1965) | Finland:K-18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Chilham, Kent, England, UK

Company:

Collector Company

Trivia:

Natalie Wood turned down the role of Miranda Grey.

Goofs:

Continuity: By the fireplace, Freddie's shirt changes from unbuttoned to buttoned awfully fast.

Quotes:

Freddie Clegg: There'd be a blooming lot more of this sort of thing, if more people had the time and the money.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Sound of Music: From Fact to Phenomenon (1994) (V)

A bite-your-nails-to-the-quick psycho-thriller

Upon second viewing about 40 years apart, this holds up beautifully. Samantha Eggar (as Miranda) and Terence Stamp (as Freddy) are ideally cast in their respective roles as an art student and the psychopath who kidnaps her. The book is more interesting, with more layers to it (i.e a love story that Miranda has with an older artist)but had to be altered for the screen to include dialogue which the book lacks. Terence Stamp is downright creepy, always trying to fit his obsessive requirements to the object of his desire. His mannerisms and slouch make his character completely believable. Trivia buffs will be interested to know that Kenneth More's part, as Miranda's lover, was completely eliminated from the final cut, here he is seen in only one scene and it is in semi-profile. The ending is terrifying and set me to thinking of how many of these crimes are committed while the rest of the world remains unaware forever. 8 out 10. Fabulous film.