How Awful About Allan (1970) (TV)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Curtis Harrington

Writers:

Henry Farrell (novel)
Henry Farrell (teleplay)

Release Date:

22 September 1970 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

After an eight-month stay in a mental hospital, a tormented man comes home to live with his sister; but a mysterious boarder may be trying to kill him.

Plot Keywords:

Boarder | Mental Hospital | Blindness | Fire | Tape Recorder

Cast

Anthony Perkins	...	Allan
Julie Harris	...	Katherine
Joan Hackett	...	Olive
Kent Smith	...	Raymond
Robert H. Harris	...	Dr. Ellins
Molly Dodd	...	Inmate
Billy Bowles	...	Harold Dennis
Trent Dolan	...	Eric
Bill Erwin	...	Dr. Ames (as William Erwin)
Jeannette Howe	...	Kathrine as a child
Kenneth Lawrence	...	Allan as a Child

MPAA:

Rated PG for some violent images and mild thematic elements.

Runtime:

USA:73 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:PG

Company:

Aaron Spelling Productions

Trivia:

Anthony Perkins had special contact lenses made that he could barely see through, so he'd actually be nearly blind while filming his scenes. He popped the lenses in just prior to filming and was led onto the set by a crew member.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Katherine and Olive go to Allan's room after Allan destroys the tape recorder, you hear the firm knocking on the door before Katherine even touches the door and after she touches the door.

Quotes:

[after rescuing his sister from a house fire]
Allan: I'm blind.

Fine intense thriller.

Allan, Anthony Perkins is blinded by a fire. The question remains: was it Arson? Is someone trying to frame Allan? Julie Harris and Perkins give wonderful performances. This made for television film was shown often in the 1970's.