Cry of the Banshee (1970)

Director:

Gordon Hessler

Writers:

Tim Kelly (story)
Christopher Wicking (screenplay)

Release Date:

22 July 1970 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Plot:

In Elizabethan England, a wicked lord massacres nearly all the members of a coven of witches, earning the enmity of their leader...

Plot Keywords:

Banshee | Massacre | Coven | Witchcraft | Curse

Cast

Vincent Price	...	Lord Edward Whitman
Elisabeth Bergner	...	Oona
Essy Persson	...	Lady Patricia Whitman
Hugh Griffith	...	Mickey
Sally Geeson	...	Sarah
Robert Hutton	...	Party Guest
Patrick Mower	...	Roderick
Hilary Heath	...	Maureen Whitman (as Hilary Dwyer)
Carl Rigg	...	Harry Whitman
Stephan Chase	...	Sean Whitman
Marshall Jones	...	Father Tom
Andrew McCulloch	...	Bully Boy
Michael Elphick	...	Burke
Pamela Fairbrother	...	Margaret Donald (witch) (as Pamela Farbrother)
Quinn O'Hara	...	Maggie - witch
Jan Rossini	...	Bess
Godfrey James	...	Headvillager
Gertan Klauber	...	Tavern Keeper
Peter Benson	...	Brander (major-domo)
Guy Deghy	...	Party Guest
Richard Everett	...	Timothy
Louis Selwyn	...	Apprentice
Mickey Baker	...	Rider
Ann Barrass	...	Elga
Jane Deady	...	Naked Girl
Carol Desmond	...	Girl
Joyce Mandre	...	Party Guest
Pamela Moiseiwitsch	...	Maid
Nancy Meckler	...	Villager
Hugh Portnow	...	Villager
Stephen Rea	...	Villager
Maurice Colbourne	...	Villager
Dinah Stabb	...	Villager
Tony Sibbald	...	Villager
Neil Johnston	...	Villager
Rowan Wylie	...	Villager
Tim Thomas	...	Villager
Ron Sahewk	...	Villager
Maya Roth	...	Villager
Philippa Howell	...	Villager (as Philly Howell)
Guy Pierce	...	Villager
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Harry Fielder	...	Militia Man (uncredited)
Terry Martin	...	Villager (uncredited)

Directed by
Gordon Hessler

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Tim Kelly		story
Christopher Wicking		screenplay

Produced by
Samuel Z. Arkoff	....	producer
Gordon Hessler	....	executive producer
Gordon Hessler	....	producer
Louis M. Heyward	....	executive producer
Louis M. Heyward	....	producer
Clifford Parkes	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Les Baxter

Cinematography by
John Coquillon

Film Editing by
Oswald Hafenrichter

Production Design by
George Provis

Art Direction by
George Provis

Set Decoration by
Scott Slimon

Makeup Department
Betty Blattner	....	makeup artist
Ivy Emmerton	....	hair stylist
Tom Smith	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ariel Levy	....	assistant director

Art Department
Barry Wilkinson	....	props

Sound Department
Peter Lodge	....	I.C. Mixer
Michael P. Redbourn	....	sound effects editor
Kevin Sutton	....	sound mixer

Camera and Electrical Department
Peter Bloor	....	electrician
Les Young	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Dora Lloyd	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Ean Wood	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Les Baxter	....	conductor

Other crew
Zelda Barron	....	continuity
Terry Gilliam	....	title designer

Production Companies

• American International Pictures (AIP)

Distributors

• American International Pictures (AIP) (1970) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1973) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD) (Included with "Murders in the Run Morgue' from "Modnigt Movies" series.)
• HBO/Cannon Video (????) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MGM Home Entertainment (????) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Orion Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• R.C.V.2001 Video (1982) (Belgium) (VHS)
• R.C.V.2001 Video (1985) (Belgium) (VHS) (re-release)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and nudity

Runtime:

USA:91 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Argentina:16 | Australia:R | UK:15 | USA:GP (original rating) | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Grim's Dyke House, Old Redding, Harrow Weald, Middlesex, England, UK

Company:

American International Pictures (AIP)

Trivia:

Film debut of Stephen Rea.

Quotes:

Bully boy:[to Maggie] We can make you die a minute every day for a year.

Movie Connections:

Featured in 100 Years of Horror: Witches (1996) (V)

A Midgrade Vincent Price Film

The film is set in Elizabethan England and revolves around a wicked magistrate who tries to kill all the members of a coven of witches. This makes the leader of the coven, Oona, sworn enemies of the lord and his family. To get revenge Oona calls up a magical servant, a "sidhe", to destroy the lord's family. The titular "cry of the banshee" is the signal that someone will die.

Vincent Price carries this film, as there are no other big name actors to speak of. Mike Mayo says he is "not at his best" but "still fine", and that is a fair assessment. But even at just "fine", Price is more enjoyable to watch than most others of his generation.

The remainder of the cast, as I said, is hardly notable. There is Stephen Rea, who was later nominated for an Oscar, appearing in his first film role (he did a couple of television appearances before that). And there is a man named Guy Pierce in a very small role, but it is not the guy you think it is.

If you are like me, and loved the opening titles, thinking they looked like something out of Monty Python... you would be right. The title sequence was designed and animated by future Python Terry Gilliam. Gilliam, of course, has gone on to do huge things, but his work here is greatly appreciated!

For some reason, there is a happy song sung by a man with a lute about a maiden who is raped by a huntsman, and then gets her revenge on him by castrating him. I do not know how to feel about this being sung as an uplifting ballad.

Overall, the film is good, but not the best. Vincent Price has better films as a witch hunter (including "Conqueror Worm") and better films in general. Still worth seeing, but do not put it at the top of your list. And do not try to find the banshee in this film, because one does not exist. Sorry.