Eye of the Devil (1966)

Director:

J. Lee Thompson

Writers:

Robin Estridge (novel) and
Dennis Murphy (writer)

Release Date:

July 1966 (UK)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery

Tagline:

we've got your number!

Plot:

Vineyard owner marquis Philippe de Montfaucon is called back to his castle Bellenac because of another dry season...

Plot Keywords:

Vineyard | Pagan | Pagan Cult | Estate | Aristocrat

Cast

Deborah Kerr	...	Catherine de Montfaucon
David Niven	...	Philippe de Montfaucon
Donald Pleasence	...	Pere Dominic
Edward Mulhare	...	Jean-Claude Ibert
Flora Robson	...	Countess Estell
Emlyn Williams	...	Alain de Montfaucon
Sharon Tate	...	Odile de Caray
David Hemmings	...	Christian de Caray
John Le Mesurier	...	Dr. Monnet
Michael Miller	...	Grandec
Donald Bisset	...	Rennard
Pauline Letts	...	Servant
Robert Duncan	...	Jacques de Montfaucon
Suky Appleby	...	Antoinette de Montfaucon

Also Known As:

13

Runtime:

92 min | USA:96 min (TCM print)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System) | Mono

Certification:

Norway:16 (1967) | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | UK:X

Filming Locations:

Château de Hautefort, Dordogne, France

Company:

Filmways Pictures

Trivia:

Deborah Kerr replaced 'Novak, Kim' in the role of Catherine de Montfaucon after an accident.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Charles Manson Superstar (1989) (V)

Perfect sixties late night movie !

This film is like the dream sixties movie I never saw! It´s as if I made up a list of what I love in a movie and it was fulfilled!

I hadn´t ever heard of the film before even with its countless sixties stars. It´s pretty good too! Wonder why it isn´t well known and why it wasn´t a hit when it first came out. There´s so much going for it : First, it´s a mystery set in huge french castle in (then) present time. The amazing black and white photography, every picture is thought out and beautiful in its own right. And the suspence! At times the film is genuinely exciting like when the lady is surrounded by the hooded beings in the woods.

There are alot of things in the film that remind you of Polanski´s "Rosemary´s Baby". "Eye of the Devil" came out before so Polanski must have seen it and been influenced. Maybe that´s where he first caught sight of lovely Sharon Tate who is stunningly beautiful and good actress too.

The film also has such sixties stars as David Niven, David Hemmings (sooo beautiful) and Deborah Kerr who is very good as the heroine but a bit uninteresting. Apparently Kim Novak was to have had the part but got injured during filming and thus replaced. She might not be as good an actress as ms. Kerr but could have brought more glamour and camp value to the film. It is a bit confusing and you get used to the editing but see it if you can!