Repulsion (1965)

Popularity:

Down 13% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.

Director:

Roman Polanski

Writers:

Roman Polanski (original screenplay) &
Gérard Brach (original screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

7 January 1966 (France)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

"A classic chiller of the 'Psycho' school!"

Plot:

A sex-repulsed woman who disapproves of her sister's boyfriend sinks into depression and has horrific visions of rape and violence.

Plot Keywords:

Apartment | Belgian | Manicurist | Vacation | Beauty Salon

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 4 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Catherine Deneuve	...	Carol
Ian Hendry	...	Michael
John Fraser	...	Colin
Yvonne Furneaux	...	Helen
Patrick Wymark	...	Landlord
Renee Houston	...	Miss Balch
Valerie Taylor	...	Madame Denise
James Villiers	...	John
Helen Fraser	...	Bridget
Hugh Futcher	...	Reggie
Monica Merlin	...	Mrs. Rendlesham
Imogen Graham	...	Manicurist
Mike Pratt	...	Workman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lewis Alexander	...	Neighbour (uncredited)
Mel Churcher	...	Nun (uncredited)
Maxwell Craig	...	Workman (uncredited)
Aileen Lewis	...	Neighbour (uncredited)
Jim O'Brady	...	Workman (uncredited)
Roman Polanski	...	Spoon Player (uncredited)
Charles Rayford	...	Barman (uncredited)

Directed by
Roman Polanski

Writing credits
Roman Polanski		(original screenplay) &
Gérard Brach		(original screenplay) (as Gerard Brach)
David Stone		(adaptation & additional dialogue)

Produced by
Gene Gutowski	....	producer
Robert Sterne	....	associate producer
Sam Waynberg	....	associate producer
Michael Klinger	....	executive producer (uncredited)
Tony Tenser	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Chico Hamilton		(music composed by)

Cinematography by
Gilbert Taylor		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Alastair McIntyre

Art Direction by
Seamus Flannery

Makeup Department
Gladys Leakey	....	hairdresser
Tom Smith	....	make-up

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ted Sturgis	....	first assistant director
Robert Watts	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Alf Pegley	....	props
Frank Willson	....	assistant art director

Sound Department
Stephen Dalby	....	sound supervisor
Les Hammond	....	sound mixer (as Leslie Hammond)
Gerry Humphreys	....	sound recordist
Tom Priestley	....	sound editor
Lionel Strutt	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Alan Hall	....	camera operator
Stanley A. Long	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Laurie Turner	....	stills (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Karen Heward	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Chico Hamilton	....	music conducted by
Gábor Szabó	....	orchestrator (as Gabor Szabo)
Chico Hamilton	....	musician: drums (uncredited)
John Scott	....	musician: tenor sax/flute (uncredited)

Other crew
Terry Glinwood	....	production controller
Michael Klinger	....	presenter
Tony Tenser	....	presenter
Dee Vaughan	....	continuity
Maurice Binder	....	title designer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Compton Films (as A Compton Production)
• Tekli British Productions (as Tekli-Film Productions Ltd.) (uncredited)

Distributors

• Compton Films (1965) (UK) (theatrical)
• Royal Films International (1965) (USA) (theatrical)
• Lii-Filmi (1965) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI) (1965) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Criterion Collection, The (1995) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Cinemagia (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Entertainment Programs Inc. (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Atlantic Film (2005) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions (SPWA) (2009) (worldwide) (all media)
• Criterion Collection, The (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2009) (USA) (video) (Blu-ray)
• Nederland Film (1966) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• atlas Film (1965) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Alive Vertrieb und Marketing (2013) (Germany) (DVD)
• Columbia Pictures Television Distribution (????) (USA) (TV) (a Sony Pictures Entertainment company)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Film Classics Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Global Media Distributors (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Globo Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Odeon Entertainment (2010) (UK) (DVD)
• Studio Entertainment (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2010) (Australia) (DVD)
• Video Dimensions (198?) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Descriptive Video Works  descriptive video
• Twickenham Studios  sound stages (as Twickenham Film Studios)
• Westrex Recording System  sound recording system

Also Known As:

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:M | Finland:K-16 (1993) (uncut) | Finland:K-18 (1965) (cut) | Finland:(Banned) (1965) (uncut) | France:-16 | Germany:16 (re-rating) | Hungary:16 | Iceland:16 | Italy:T (DVD rating) | Italy:VM18 (VHS rating) | Netherlands:18 (1966) | Norway:16 (original rating) | Norway:18 (video rating) | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 (DVD) | UK:X (original rating) | UK:18 (tv rating) | UK:15 (theatrical re-release) (2004) | UK:18 (video rating) (1985) (1990) (2003) | USA:Unrated | West Germany:18

Filming Locations:

Thurloe Place, South Kensington, London, England, UK

Company:

Compton Films

Trivia:

The scene where Catherine Deneuve stumbles across the bridge and down the street was filmed at Hammersmith Bridge, London.

Goofs:

Continuity: The position between shots of the telephone and the envelope changes when Carole picks up the rabbit and goes to answer the phone.

Quotes:

Carole Ledoux:I must get this crack mended.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Commune: A New Cult Classic (2009)

MUST be seen in a theatre

Disturbing, harrowing tale of one girls' (Catherine Deneuve) descent into madness.

Catherine Deneuve's performance is fantastic--she plays it just right. Quite an accomplishment considering she was only 22 at the time! Roman Polanski's direction, beautiful black and white photography and effective use of sound really helps the film. Ahead of it's time.

Some people have complained about being bored by this film...I'm assuming they're watching in on TV. It's true--the film doesn't play as well on TV. I was lucky enough to see it for the first time in a theatre and it scared me silly. On a big screen you're pulled into the girls' madness--I was jumpy for days afterwards.

On TV it just doesn't work. It's still good, but nowhere near as unsettling. So, if you're going to see it, try to see it on a big-screen TV. This film almost never plays at revival cinemas--a real shame. Probably Polanski's best film next to "Chinatown".