Twisted Nerve (1968)

Director:

Roy Boulting

Writers:

Leo Marks (screenplay) and
Roy Boulting (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

December 1968 (UK)

Genre:

Crime | Horror | Thriller | Drama

Tagline:

Cleaver. Cleaver. Chop. Chop. First the mom and then the pop. Then we'll get the pretty girl. We'll get her right between the curl.

Plot:

Martin is a troubled young man. With a mother who insists on treating him like a child, a stepfather who can't wait to see the back of him...

Plot Keywords:

Financier | Swimming | London England | Psychotic | Father Son Relationship

Awards:

Won BAFTA Film Award.

Cast

Hayley Mills	...	Susan Harper
Hywel Bennett	...	Martin Durnley / Georgie
Billie Whitelaw	...	Joan Harper
Phyllis Calvert	...	Enid Durnley
Frank Finlay	...	Henry Durnley
Barry Foster	...	Gerry Henderson
Salmaan Peerzada	...	Shashie Kadir (as Salmaan Peer)
Christian Roberts	...	Philip Harvey
Gretchen Franklin	...	'Clarkie'
Thorley Walters	...	Sir John Forrester
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Timothy Bateson	...	Mr. Groom the Librarian
Clifford Cox	...	Insp. Goddard
Richard Davies	...	'Taffy' Evans
Basil Dignam	...	Doctor
Mollie Maureen	...	Lady Patient
Russell Napier	...	Prof. Fuller
Robin Parkinson	...	Shop Manager
Brian Peck	...	Det. Sgt. Rogers
Timothy West	...	Supt. Dakin
Michael Cadman	...	Mac (uncredited)
Larry Guardino	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
Marianne Stone	...	Store Detective (uncredited)
Russell Waters	...	Hospital Attendant (uncredited)

Directed by
Roy Boulting

Writing credits
Leo Marks		(screenplay) and
Roy Boulting		(screenplay)
Roger Marshall		(story)
Roger Marshall		(idea) and
Jeremy Scott		(idea)

Produced by
John Boulting	....	executive producer
George W. George	....	producer
Frank Granat	....	producer

Original Music by
Bernard Herrmann

Cinematography by
Harry Waxman

Film Editing by
Martin Charles

Casting by
Thelma Graves

Art Direction by
Albert Witherick

Makeup Department
Joan Carpenter	....	hair stylist
George Partleton	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Jack Rix	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Douglas Hermes	....	assistant director

Sound Department
David Bowen	....	sound
Jack Davies	....	sound
Nolan Roberts	....	dubbing
Stanley Smith	....	sound editor

Camera and Electrical Department
Gerry Anstiss	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Hazel Graeme	....	wardrobe designer: Hayley Mills
Bridget Sellers	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Barbara Cohen	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Howard Blake	....	musician: synthesizer
Richard Blake	....	music arranger: Georgie theme whistled version
Bernard Herrmann	....	composer: Georgie theme whistled version
Bernard Herrmann	....	conductor

Other crew
Arthur Cleaver	....	production accountant
Morton Lewis	....	titles
Jack Rix	....	production administrator
Phyllis Russell	....	production secretary
Philip Shipway	....	production administrator

Production Companies

• Charter Film Productions

Distributors

• British Lion Film Corporation (1968) (UK) (theatrical)
• National General Pictures (1969) (USA) (theatrical)
• Optimum Releasing (2007) (UK) (DVD)
• Video Search of Miami (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1990) (UK) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Technicolor  colour

Also Known As:

Runtime:

Australia:113 min | Germany:104 min | Germany:104 min (cut version) | USA:118 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

UK:18 (video rating) | UK:X (original rating) | Norway:16 | Australia:M | USA:M (original rating) | USA:Unrated | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Company:

Charter Film Productions

Trivia:

Alfred Hitchcock cast both Barry Foster and Billie Whitelaw in his film Frenzy (1972) after watching their performances in this film.

Quotes:

Narrator:Ladies and gentlemen, because of the controversy already aroused, the producers of this film wish to re-emphasize what is already stated in the film, that there is no established scientific connection between Mongolism and psychotic or criminal behavior.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "American Horror Story: Halloween: Part 2 (#1.5)" (2011)

More of a character study than thriller

Twisted Nerve is a rather well made film that deals with the psychopathology of a 21 year old man. His illness is "triggered" when he leaves his troubled home (a rich demanding father and infantilizing mother) to live as a border in the home of a college student (Haley Mills) and her mother (Billie Whitelaw).

The film works especially well when his sexuality is aroused by both Haley Mills and Billie Whitelaw, with disastrous results.

The movie takes its time to unfold. Although it does have some shocking scenes, this film isn't your typical slasher/psycho movie, as the advertisements suggest, its much more than that.