Torture Garden (1967)

Director:

Freddie Francis

Writers:

Robert Bloch (screenplay)
Robert Bloch (stories)

Release Date:

November 1967 (UK)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

Do You Dare See What Dr. Diabolo Sees?

Plot:

A special sideshow torture exhibit has the power, according to showman Dr. Diablo, to warn people of evil in their futures...

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Future | Greed | Show | Exhibit

Cast

Jack Palance	...	Ronald Wyatt (segment 4 "The Man Who Collected Poe")
Burgess Meredith	...	Dr. Diabolo (Framework Story)
Beverly Adams	...	Carla Hayes (segment 2 "Terror Over Hollywood")
Peter Cushing	...	Lancelot Canning (segment 4 "The Man Who Collected Poe")
Maurice Denham	...	Uncle Roger (segment 1 "Enoch")
Barbara Ewing	...	Dorothy Endicott (segment 3 "Mr. Steinway")
Michael Bryant	...	Colin Williams (segment 1 "Enoch")
John Standing	...	Leo Winston (segment 3 "Mr. Steinway")
Robert Hutton	...	Bruce Benton (segment 2 "Terror Over Hollywood")
John Phillips	...	Eddie Storm (segment 2 "Terror Over Hollywood")
Michael Ripper	...	Gordon Roberts (Framework Story)
Bernard Kay	...	Dr. Heim (segment 2 "Terror Over Hollywood")
Catherine Finn	...	Nurse Parker (segment 1 "Enoch")
Ursula Howells	...	Miss Maxine Chambers (segment 3 "Mr. Steinway")
David Bauer	...	Mike Charles (segment 2 "Terror Over Hollywood")
Niall MacGinnis	...	Dr. Silversmith (segment 1 "Enoch")
Nicole Shelby	...	Millie (segment 2 "Terror Over Hollywood")
Roy Stevens	...	Constable (segment 1 "Enoch")
Norman Claridge	...	Police Sergeant (segment 1 "Enoch")
Geoffrey Wallace
Hedger Wallace	...	Edgar Allan Poe (segment 4 "The Man Who Collected Poe") (as Geoffrey Wallace)
Clytie Jessop	...	Atropos - Goddess of Destiny
Timothy Bateson	...	Fairground Barker (Framework Story)
Roy Godfrey	...	Collector (segment 4 "The Man Who Collected Poe")
James Copeland	...	Fred (segment 2 "Terror Over Hollywood")
Barry Low	...	Tramp (segment 1 "Enoch")
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael Hawkins	...	Constable (uncredited)

Directed by
Freddie Francis

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Robert Bloch		screenplay
Robert Bloch		stories

Produced by
Max Rosenberg	....	producer (as Max J. Rosenberg)
Milton Subotsky	....	producer

Original Music by
Don Banks
James Bernard

Cinematography by
Norman Warwick

Film Editing by
Peter Elliott

Production Design by
Bill Constable

Art Direction by
Don Mingaye
Scott Slimon

Makeup Department
Jill Carpenter	....	makeup artist
Ann Fordyce	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Ted Wallis	....	production supervisor
Tony Wallis	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Derek Parr	....	assistant director

Art Department
Andrew Low	....	set dresser
Bill Waldron	....	construction manager

Sound Department
Ken Rawkins	....	sound recordist
Ken Rolls	....	sound editor

Camera and Electrical Department
David Harcourt	....	camera operator
Ray Jones	....	camera grip

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Evelyn Gibbs	....	wardrobe mistress

Editorial Department
Chris Kelly	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Philip Martell	....	conductor
Martino Tirimo	....	musician: piano solo
Philip Martell	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)

Other crew
Barbara Rowland	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures (presents)
• Amicus Productions

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1968) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Films (1967) (France) (theatrical)
• Columbia Pictures Corporation (1967) (UK) (theatrical)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Video Ltd. (1989) (UK) (VHS)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (Canada) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (UK) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:12 (DVD rating) | UK:X (original rating) | UK:15 (video rating) | Canada:14A (Manitoba) (DVD rating) | Canada:PG (Ontario) (DVD rating) | Norway:16 (1968) | Sweden:15

Company:

Columbia Pictures

Trivia:

Despite being present from opening and also top billed, Jack Palance does not speak until 75 minutes into the film.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Although Doctor Diabolo charges his customers five pounds to enter the Torture Garden, and the framing story ostensibly takes place in the United Kingdom, the banknotes seen on screen are clearly US currency.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Naked Angels (1969)

Classic Horror Film

This film has many veteran actors and the writer is very famous, Robert Block, who wrote the book, "Psycho" 1960. In this film, Burgess Meredith, (Dr. Diabolo) plays the role as a carnival barker for his show, "Torture Garden" where he charges five pounds British currency to have your future told in a very realistic event. There are many people who participate in having their future told and also their deep dark secrets they all want to hide. There are many stories you will experience as this film moves on and even Jack Palance, (Ronald Wyatt) plays a great role as a collector of Edgar Alan Poe and meets up with the real Poe himself. Burgess Meredith was really the main star in this film and is well remembered for his role in many of the Rocky films. Great Halloween night film, enjoy.