The Seventh Victim (1943)

A woman in search of her missing sister uncovers a Satanic cult in New York's Greenwich Village, and finds that they may have something to do with her sibling's random disappearance.

Director:

Mark Robson

Writers:

Charles O'Neal, DeWitt Bodeen

Stars:

Kim Hunter, Tom Conway, Jean Brooks

3 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Tom Conway	...	Dr. Louis Judd
Jean Brooks	...	Jacqueline Gibson
Isabel Jewell	...	Frances Fallon
Kim Hunter	...	Mary Gibson
Evelyn Brent	...	Natalie Cortez
Erford Gage	...	Jason Hoag
Ben Bard	...	Mr. Brun
Hugh Beaumont	...	Gregory Ward
Chef Milani	...	Mr. Giacomo Romari
Marguerita Sylva	...	Mrs. Bella Romari

Storyline

When her older sister Jacqueline disappears, Mary Gibson is forced to leave her private school and decides to travel to New York City to look for her. A bit naive and out of her depth, she is not quite sure how to go about finding her. Eventually she meets Gregory Ward, her sister's husband and a mysterious psychiatrist, Dr. Louis Judd who claims to know of Jacqueline's whereabouts. What she doesn't realize is that her sister became involved with devil worshipers who now want to eliminate her for having revealed their existence.

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Plot Keywords:

satanic cult | fear | lesbian | lgbtq | homoerotic subtext | 

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Taglines:

ROBBED OF THE WILL TO LOVE! (original half-sheet poster-style A)

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Mystery

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Directorial debut of Mark Robson who had previously been a film editor at RKO. Robson would later be nominated for two Oscars as Best Director, for both Peyton Place (1957) and The Inn of the Sixth Happiness (1958) and go on to helm the 1967 camp classic (and major box office hit) [link=tt0062430.

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Goofs

When Jaqueline Gibson is running from a man who is following her, she backs against the wall in an alley near the Ivy Lane stage entrance and her nails are painted as she searches the wall beside her. In the next shot, when her hand suddenly finds the man's arm, her fingernails are unpainted.

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Quotes

Doctor Louis Judd: As a man you distrust me. Perhaps you can believe me as a physician

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Crazy Credits

[title after starting credits] I runne to death, and death meets me as fast, and all my pleasures are like yesterday. Holy sonnet #VII Jonne Donne

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Alternate Versions

Exists in a computer-colorized version

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Connections

Featured in Val Lewton: The Man in the Shadows (2007)

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Soundtracks

Waltz in A-flat Major, Op. 39, No. 15
(uncredited)
Composed by Johannes Brahms
[The pianist is playing the piece when Jason, Mary and Gregory arrive at the party to speak to Louis]

User Reviews

None of The Lord's Prayer survives in British TV print.

I'm amazed not one reviewer has mentioned the outstanding contribution by Jean Brooks as the missing Jacqueline Gibson. Although she makes a late appearance Jean is very impressive in her five scenes, particularly her monologue describing how she came to join the Palladists and her nighttime flight being pursued by the assassin with the switchblade. None of the Lord's prayer survives in the print shown on British television. This is strange as two lines were reportedly intact when the film was originally shown in British cinemas.The excellent Brooks who appeared in two other Lewton films was sadly wasted by RKO and subsequently relegated to support and bit roles.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian Latin French

Release Date:

21 August 1943 (USA)

Also Known As:

The 7th Victim

Filming Locations:

RKO Studios - 780 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

71 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1