The Asphyx (1973)

Director:

Peter Newbrook

Writers:

Christina Beers (story)
Laurence Beers (story)
(more)

Release Date:

February 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi | Horror

Tagline:

Immortality ... what would you sacrifice for it?

Plot:

English country squire Sir Hugo Cunningham searches for immortality by literally 'bottling up' the Spirit of the Dead, or Asphyx.

Plot Keywords:

Spirit | Immortality | Death | Drowning | Suicide

Cast

Robert Stephens	...	Sir Hugo Cunningham
Robert Powell	...	Giles Cunningham
Jane Lapotaire	...	Christina Cunningham
Alex Scott	...	Sir Edward Barrett
Ralph Arliss	...	Clive Cunningham
Fiona Walker	...	Anna Wheatley
Terry Scully	...	Pauper
John Lawrence	...	Mason
David Grey	...	Vicar
Tony Caunter	...	Warden
Paul Bacon	...	1st Member

Directed by
Peter Newbrook

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Christina Beers		story
Laurence Beers		story
Brian Comport		writer

Produced by
John Brittany	....	producer
Maxine Julius	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Bill McGuffie

Cinematography by
Freddie Young

Film Editing by
Maxine Julius

Production Design by
John Stoll

Set Decoration by
Arthur Taksen

Costume Design by
Evelyn Gibbs

Makeup Department
Jimmy Evans	....	makeup artist
Stephanie Kaye	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Ted Sturgis	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Roger Simons	....	assistant director
Nigel Wooll	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Peter Bond	....	sound editor
John Cox	....	sound supervisor
Bob Jones	....	sound re-recordist
Ken Ritchie	....	sound recordist

Special Effects by
Ted Samuels	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Chris Holden	....	camera operator
Mike Roberts	....	focus puller (uncredited)

Other crew
Ron Bareham	....	production accountant
Phyllis Crocker	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Glendale

Distributors

• Paragon Films Inc. (1973) (USA) (theatrical)
• Broadway Film (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Cinema Epoch (2008) (USA) (all media)
• Hen's Tooth Video (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Mad Monster Video (video)
• Magnum Entertainment (1986) (USA) (VHS)
• Market Video (1984) (UK) (VHS)
• Odeon Entertainment (2010) (UK) (DVD)
• Redemption Films (2012) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-Ray)
• Redemption Films (2012) (USA) (DVD) (remastered edition)
• Something Weird Video (SWV) (video)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2005) (Australia) (DVD)
• United Entertainment
• VCL (UK) (VHS)
• Video Releasing Organization (VRO) (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Video Releasing Organization (VRO) (19??) (Netherlands) (video) (Betamax)

Also Known As:

"The Horror of Death" - UK (reissue title), USA

Runtime:

99 min | USA:83 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | USA:PG | UK:AA | Australia:M | UK:15 (video re-rating) | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Company:

Glendale

Quotes:

Sir Hugo Cunningham:I obey God's will, my friend, my old friend, my eternal and everlasting friend...

The single scariest movie seen as a youth.

I was able to view this film in Pattonville Germany, in the theater on post. I was 13 or 14 years old at the time. It was a matinée and cost a whole thirty-five cents to see.

This movie is the standard I use to base any and all horror films on, it still gives me the shivers.

It has only been some 30 years ago but I remember the line of the witness when the movie opened when the bus?/truck screeches over the old man, MY GOD HE'S STILL ALIVE the guy says as the guinea pig runs across the screen to the left.

My memory of the asphyx being caught in the light, and the noise of the thing screeching, the man they were hanging was moving around and twitching on the end of the rope, still just freaks me out.