Frenzy (1972)

Director:

Alfred Hitchcock

Writers:

Arthur La Bern (novel)
Anthony Shaffer (screenplay)

Release Date:

21 June 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

Just an ordinary necktie used with a deadly new twist. [Australia Theatrical]

Plot:

A serial killer is murdering London women with a necktie. The police have a suspect... but he's the wrong man.

Plot Keywords:

Serial Killer | Suspect | Police | Necktie | Secretary

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Golden Globes. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Jon Finch	...	Richard Ian Blaney
Alec McCowen	...	Chief Inspector Oxford
Barry Foster	...	Robert Rusk
Billie Whitelaw	...	Hetty Porter
Anna Massey	...	Babs Milligan
Barbara Leigh-Hunt	...	Brenda Margaret Blaney
Bernard Cribbins	...	Felix Forsythe
Vivien Merchant	...	Mrs. Oxford
Michael Bates	...	Sergeant Spearman
Jean Marsh	...	Monica Barling
Clive Swift	...	Johnny Porter
Madge Ryan	...	Mrs. Davison
Elsie Randolph	...	Gladys
Gerald Sim	...	Mr. Usher - Solicitor in Pub
John Boxer	...	Sir George
George Tovey	...	Neville Salt
Jimmy Gardner	...	Hotel Porter
Noel Johnson	...	Doctor in Pub
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Susan Travers	...	Victim
Joby Blanshard	...	Man in Crowd (uncredited)
Gerry Cowper	...	Spectator at Opening Rally (uncredited)
June Ellis	...	Maisie - Barmaid (uncredited)
Harry Fielder	...	Covent Garden Lorry Driver (uncredited)
Drewe Henley	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Alfred Hitchcock	...	Spectator at Opening Rally (uncredited)
Robert Keegan	...	Hospital Patient (uncredited)
Bunny May	...	Barman (uncredited)
Margaret Nolan	...	Small role (uncredited)
James Payne	...	Covent Garden - Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Michael Sheard	...	Jim (uncredited)
Jack Silk	...	Police Driver (uncredited)
Colin Spaull	...	Man (uncredited)
Paul Tropea	...	Boy at the Thames (uncredited)
Rita Webb	...	Mrs. Rusk (uncredited)
Richard Wyler	...	Truck Driver (uncredited)
Jeremy Young	...	Detective (uncredited)

Directed by
Alfred Hitchcock

Writing credits
Arthur La Bern		(novel "Goodbye Piccadilly, Farewell Leicester Square")
Anthony Shaffer		(screenplay)

Produced by
William Hill	....	associate producer
Alfred Hitchcock	....	producer

Original Music by
Ron Goodwin

Cinematography by
Gilbert Taylor		(director of photography) (as Gil Taylor)
Leonard J. South		(uncredited)

Film Editing by
John Jympson

Casting by
Sally Nicholl

Production Design by
Syd Cain

Art Direction by
Robert W. Laing		(as Bob Laing)

Costume Design by
Julie Harris		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Harry Frampton	....	makeup artist
Patricia McDermott	....	hairdresser (as Pat McDermott)
Peter Frampton	....	makeup assistant (uncredited)

Production Management
Brian Burgess	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Colin M. Brewer	....	assistant director
D. Howard Grigsby	....	third assistant director (uncredited)
Ben Harrison	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Simon Wakefield	....	set dresser
Leon Davis	....	construction manager (uncredited)

Sound Department
Rusty Coppleman	....	sound editor
Peter Handford	....	sound mixer
Gordon K. McCallum	....	sound recordist
John Hayward	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
Michael Hickey	....	sound camera operator (uncredited)
David Stephenson	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Albert Whitlock	....	special photographic effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Paul Wilson	....	camera operator
Peter Taylor	....	focus puller (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Dulcie Midwinter	....	wardrobe supervisor
Charles Guerin	....	wardrobe master (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Alan Strachan	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Ron Goodwin	....	conductor

Other crew
Angela Martelli	....	continuity
Peggy Robertson	....	assistant: Mr. Hitchcock
Ron Allday	....	production accountant (uncredited)
Ian Goddard	....	location manager (uncredited)
Dan Slater	....	publicist (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures
• Universal Pictures (presents)

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1972) (UK) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (1972) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cinema Internazional Corporation (1972) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1975) (USA) (TV)
• MCA Home Video (1985) (USA) (VHS)
• CIC Video (1989) (UK) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures (1999) (Germany) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD) (rental)
• Universal Pictures (2001) (UK) (DVD)
• Universal Home Video (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD) (retail)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (new 35mm print)
• Argentina Video Home (2008) (Argentina) (DVD)
• CIC Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)
• Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Video (2001) (Canada) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Video (2006) (Canada) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Video (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Italy:VM14 | Norway:16 | Peru:14 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | UK:X (original rating) (cut) | West Germany:16 (f) | UK:18 (video rating) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Finland:K-15 (2001) | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1972) | Spain:13 | Iceland:16 | Brazil:12 | USA:R (certificate no. 23143) | USA:TV-14 (edited tv version: AMC print) | Germany:16 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Leicester Square, Soho, London, England, UK

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Filmed late July-mid October 1971.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: The (hanging) camera tracks backward, turning 180 degrees as it goes down a staircase, before going out through the front door. As it passes through an internal doorway within Rusk's house, the door frame can be seen sliding back into place after (presumably) sliding out of the way to let the camera pass through it.

Quotes:

Richard Blaney:[having missed betting on a horse that won at 20-to-1 odds] Twenty-to-one. Twenty-to-bloody-one! Christ, damn it to hell!
[throws down a box of grapes and stomps on them]

Movie Connections:

References I'm No Angel (1933)

Soundtrack:

Poem

One final note

Those who blame Hitchcock for the intensity of the rape/strangulation scene should realize that he wrote neither the screenplay (which was written by playwright Anthony Shaffer, best known for his marvelous comic/mystery "Sleuth") nor the novel upon which it was based ("Goodbye Piccadilly, Farewell Leicester Square" by Arthur La Bern)...and that the scene in the film runs exactly the same course, with precisely the same detail as the scene in the book. In fact, now that I think of it, the scene in the film is actually tamer. Hitchcock's film does not, after all, make any reference to the post-mortem insertion of a letter opener. If anything, Hitch showed restraint with his version of the scene. Not as much restraint as is usual for him...but restraint, nonetheless. And he achieved what he set out to do. The scene is absolutely chilling. And not only is it memorable...it's the most unforgettable scene of its kind.