Home
search
more | tips
IMDb > The Forgotten (1973)
The Forgotten
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

The Forgotten (1973) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 8 | slideshow)

Overview

User Rating:
4.8/10   993 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 3% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
S.F. Brownrigg
Writer:
Tim Pope (writer)
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Death Ward #13 on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
September 1973 (USA) more
Tagline:
The Day The Insane Took Over The Asylum! more
Plot:
A young psychiatric nurse goes to work at a lonesome asylum following a murder. There, she experiences varying degrees of torment from the patients. full summary | full synopsis
NewsDesk:
Don’t Look in the Basement Getting the Remake Treatment
 (From Dread Central. 8 March 2009, 5:21 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
Not as bad as you might expect more

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)
Bill McGhee ... Sam (as William Bill McGhee)
Jessie Lee Fulton ... Jane St. Claire
Robert Dracup ... Ray Daniels
Harryette Warren ... Jennifer D.
Michael Harvey ... Dr. Stephens
Jessie Kirby ... Danny
Hugh Feagin ... Sergeant Jaffee
Betty Chandler ... Allyson King
Camilla Carr ... Harriet
Gene Ross ... Judge Oliver W. Cameron
Annabelle Weenick ... Dr. Geraldine S. Masters (as Anne MacAdams)
Rosie Holotik ... Nurse Charlotte Beale
Rhea MacAdams ... Mrs. Callingham
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Death Ward #13 (USA)
Don't Go in the Basement (UK) (video box title)
Don't Look in the Basement! (USA) (reissue title)
more
Runtime:
89 min | Australia:92 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
Australia:R | Iceland:(Banned) | Norway:18 (video premiere) | UK:X (1977) | USA:R | UK:15 (DVD rating)
Filming Locations:
Tehuacana, Texas, USA

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
This film was shot in 12 days on a budget of less than $100,000. more
Quotes:
Nurse Charlotte Beale: Do you get out much, Mrs. Callingham?
Mrs. Callingham: You're the one who needs to get out!
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Grave Danger (2009) more

FAQ

Is this available on DVD?
more
11 out of 17 people found the following comment useful:-
Not as bad as you might expect, 4 August 2004
6/10
Author: The_Void from Beverley Hills, England

This film kicks off as I thought it would go on, in that a mental patient slays his doctor with the business end of an axe. However, considering that was included on the Video Nasty list in the 80's, it isn't very gory. I fully understand and agree with the idea that buckets of gore does not make a movie great, but when I'm watching a shocking, previously banned Video Nasty; call me old fashioned, but I generally expect to see gore. Still, the film does have other redeeming features.

The acting isn't one of them however; when watching a film like this, one doesn't go in expecting to see great performances, but some of the acting in this movie was so unbelievably below standard that at times even I, a fan of shock horror with bad performances, cringed. The old woman that later has her tongue removed is a particular cause for concern on this film's acting resume; I know that the roles of the mental patients are meant to be fairly quirky, but this one was downright insulting. The rest of the bad performances come from unknown actors, most of which would never go on to make another film, or at least another film of note; and that is quite fitting really.

Another feature of the film that isn't redeeming is the way it is filmed. If I said that it was unprofessional, I'd be right; and I am right, the movie is unprofessionally filmed. Because of this, the whole piece stinks of amateurs at the bottom of their craft. I know that you cant expect fabulous cinematography from a film such as this, but the fact that it is bad makes sure that the film faces an uphill struggle from the start; it looks bad, and for some that will mean it is bad.

However, despite all said so far; this film really does have some redeeming qualities. The characters for one; they're not particularly well done; they certainly aren't deep or fleshed out, but they do make sure that the film creates the right atmosphere for a sanatorium; they're a mixed bag, and although I've never been in a nut house, the one in this film is what I'd expect one to be like. Also of note is the way that it's fairly well plotted; there's always something going on to keep you entertained and it doesn't tie itself up with lots of meaningless plot details, which is definitely to it's credit. The twist towards the end should have been seen coming a mile off by me, but it wasn't, and I think that is to the film's credit also; it catches you by surprise. By the end, it becomes obvious as to exactly what is in the basement, but by then it doesn't matter because the film is nearly over anyway.

Overall, Don't Look in the Basement is one of the better Video Nasty's that I've seen, and I've seen a few from that illustrious list. What it lacks in certain areas, it makes up for in others and although it's not very gory, certainly not by today's standards; I'd still recommend this to fans of shock horror cinema.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Forgotten (1973)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Which DVD bsend
REMAKE IN THE WORKS... bhouseusher
Mrs Charlotte = Hot deathwax
pleasantly surprised peter_lumley
Poem question captain_campion
SAM jarrod_gallant
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Halloween Tenebre La coda dello scorpione Visiting Hours Sleepaway Camp
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Horror section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.