Tombs of the Blind Dead (1972) La noche del terror ciego (original title)

Director:

Amando de Ossorio

Writers:

Jesús Navarro Carrión (additional dialogue)
Amando de Ossorio

Release Date:

February 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery

Tagline:

Who are these unholy savages who hunt out their victims by sound alone?

Plot:

In the 13th century there existed a legion of evil knights known as the Templars, who quested for eternal...

Plot Keywords:

Knight | Portugal | Corpse | Blood | Dead

Cast

Lone Fleming	...	Betty Turner
César Burner	...	Roger Whelan
María Elena Arpón	...	Virginia White (as Helen Harp)
José Thelman	...	Pedro Candal (as Joseph Thelman)
Rufino Inglés	...	Insp. Oliveira
Verónica Llimera	...	Nina
Simón Arriaga	...	Morgue keeper
Francisco Sanz	...	Prof. Candal (librarian)
Juan Cortés	...	Coroner
Andrés Isbert
Antonio Orengo	...	Train engineer
José Camoiras
María Silva	...	Maria
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Britt Nichols	...	Sacrificed maiden (uncredited)
Pedro Sempson	...	Train engineer (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Amando de Ossorio

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Amando de Ossorio
Jesús Navarro Carrión		additional dialogue

Produced by
José Antonio Pérez Giner	....	executive producer
Salvadore Romero	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Antón García Abril

Cinematography by
Pablo Ripoll

Film Editing by
José Antonio Rojo

Production Design by
Jaime Duarte De Brito

Set Decoration by
Juan García

Costume Design by
Humberto Cornejo

Makeup Department
José Luis Campos	....	makeup artist
Carmen Teran	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Manuel Amigo	....	production manager
Victor Dacosta	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Paulino González	....	assistant director

Art Department
Rafael Ablanque	....	assistant designer
Jaime Duarte De Brito	....	set designer

Sound Department
Luis Castro	....	sound effects
José María San Mateo	....	sound recordist

Special Effects by
José Gómez Soria	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Félix Mirón	....	camera operator: second unit
Luis Muñoz Alcolea	....	assistant camera
Julio Wizuete	....	still photographer

Editorial Department
Concepción Piño	....	assistant editor

Music Department
L. Fernández Soria	....	music editor

Other crew
Ramón Escribano	....	production assistant
Ángela Escribano	....	production secretary
Dick Randall	....	English adaptor
José Sánchez	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Interfilme
• Plata Films S.A.

Distributors

• Hispamex (1971) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Hallmark Releasing (1972) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Cinépix Film Properties (CFP) (1972) (Canada) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Redemption Films (1994) (UK) (VHS)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Astro Distribution (1998) (Germany) (VHS)
• Sinister Cinema (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• Divisa Home Video (2004) (Spain) (DVD)
• Blue Underground (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• ARTE (2006) (Germany) (TV)
• Audifilm (1973) (France) (theatrical)
• Butcher's Film Service (1973) (UK) (theatrical)
• Fida Cinematografica (1973) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Filmways Australasian Distributors (1973) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Atlas International Film (1972) (worldwide) (all media)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• European Video Corporation (EVC) (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• H.R.S. Funai Co. Ltd. (1988) (Japan) (VHS)
• Imagica TV (2006) (Japan) (DVD) (box set)
• King Movie Productions (1983) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Kinokuniya (2006) (Japan) (DVD) (box set)
• Paragon Video Productions (USA) (VHS)
• Precision Video (1984) (UK) (VHS)
• Redemption Benelux (1995) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Unknown Video (19??) (USA) (VHS)
• VIP (????) (France) (VHS)
• XT Video Entertainment (2005) (Austria) (DVD) (box set)

Also Known As:

"La noche del terror ciego" - Spain (original title)
"Mark of the Devil Part V: Night of the Blind Terror" - USA (video title)
"Mark of the Devil, Part 4: Tombs of the Blind Dead" - USA
"Revenge from Planet Ape" - USA (recut version)
"The Blind Dead" - USA
"The Night of the Blind Terror" - International (English title) (literal title)
"Tombs of the Evil Dead" - USA (reissue title)

Runtime:

USA:86 min | Spain:101 min | Hungary:91 min (video version)

Country:

Spain | Portugal

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:R | Sweden:(Banned) | UK:18 (cut) | USA:PG | West Germany:18 | Germany:BPjM Restricted | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Spain:18 | New Zealand:R18 | Canada:R (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Estoril, Cascais, Lisbon, Portugal

Company:

Interfilme

Trivia:

The blind dead are never referred to as "Templar Knights" or "Caballeros Templarios" in the original Spanish language version. They are referred to as "los Guerreros de Oriente" ("The Warriors from the Orient").

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: During the films intro titles, the camera is looking around the "abandoned" ruins of the Templars monastery. In one shot, a van with a ladder strapped to its roof-rack can be seen going across a bridge in the background, at the top of the picture.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Films to Keep You Awake: The Christmas Tale (2005) (TV)

Blind Blood Drinking Priests....

The story is about a renegade band of crusader-priests that turned from the Church and embraced the black arts. The opening sequence takes us back to the living Knights Templar and their cruel and graphic killing of a scantily-clad young female sacrifice. We then move up to the 20th century and the churchyard is nothing but a ruin, however, at night when females wandering about in the middle of nowhere chance upon the ruin, the knights wake from their crypts to feed on the blood of such passersby. Interesting story and one that has many problems of belief. These knights rise from the ground one moment, and in the next they are galloping on horses. Where did the horses come from? I couldn't find an answer....perhaps you can. The acting is passable, and I concede that grudgingly. But do not think I hold only contempt and despair for this film, because I really heartily recommend it. It is scary. It is very atmospheric. It is very intense at times. These dead knights are wonderfully made-up and really create frightening moments in the film as they walk toward their victims screaming. The knights were blinded after death and now when they rise from their earthy chambers they can only hear their way toward their victims. That is a very inventive concept. The director, Amando de Ossorio, knows what to do with lighting, set creations, and pacing the plot. There were three sequels to this film and that in itself shows it has SOME merit. The film also set the trend for mixing sex and gore. There is a good bit of both, more on the sex side, and what the female leads lack in acting ability they certainly make up for some of it in their...well how shall I put it....their physical presence.