Night Creatures (1962)

In 18th-century England, the Royal Crown sends Royal Navy Captain Collier and his crew to investigate reports of illegal smuggling and bootlegging in a coastal town where locals believe in Marsh Phantoms.

Director:

Peter Graham Scott

Writers:

Anthony Hinds (screenplay) (as John Elder), Barbara S. Harper (additional dialogue)

Stars:

Peter Cushing, Yvonne Romain, Patrick Allen

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Peter Cushing	...	Rev. Dr. Blyss
Yvonne Romain	...	Imogene - serving wench
Patrick Allen	...	Captain Collier
Oliver Reed	...	Harry Cobtree
Michael Ripper	...	Jeremiah Mipps (coffinmaker)
Martin Benson	...	Mr. Rash (innkeeper)
David Lodge	...	Navy Bosun
Derek Francis	...	Squire Anthony Cobtree
Daphne Anderson	...	Mrs. Rash
Milton Reid	...	Mulatto
Jack MacGowran	...	Frightened Man
Peter Halliday	...	1st Sailor Jack Pott
Terry Scully	...	2nd Sailor Dick Tate
Sydney Bromley	...	Old Tom Ketch
Rupert Osborne	...	Gerry (as Rupert Osborn)

Storyline

In this engaging costume melodrama of skulduggery on the low seas set back in the 18th-century, the Royal Crown suspects a bit of smuggling is going on in this locale, and they send Captain Collier and his crew to check it out. As the Captain gets into his investigation, mysterious swamp phantoms cloud up the real issue which seems plain enough to see. Captain Collier suspects that the odd village vicar might be hiding something, and what better way to do that than by fortuitous ghosts to scare away the curious, or by posing as someone he is not?

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Plot Keywords:

18th century | year 1792 | psychotronic film | smuggling | marsh | 

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Taglines:

Their oath was... TERROR! Their cry... BLOOD!

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Genres:

Adventure | Horror

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 June 1962 (USA)

Also Known As:

Night Creatures

Filming Locations:

All Saints Church, Oakley Green Road, Bray, Berkshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hammer Films, Major Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

82 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Despite the scene being set in 1792 the hymm "Oft in danger, oft in woe" sung by then church choir, wasn't published until after the author's death in 1806.

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Goofs

When Collier is with Blyss discussing the bleeding scarecrow after he steps on his foot he is told that the Bosun needs to see him. He then turns to Blyss and says "My apologies Bosun". Blyss is the vicar not the boson.

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Quotes

Imogene - serving wench: Well if youv,e all done staring.
1st Sailor Jack Pott: If it,s all the same to you miss i,d like a few minutes more.

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Crazy Credits

The Romney marshes -- flat and desolate -- was the land of a proud and -- independent people. Their shores faced the shores of France -- and many was the shipload of wine and brandy smuggled across the sea in defiance of the king's revenue men. Many legends have come from this corner of england -- but none so widely believed or widely feared-- as the legend of the marsh phantoms -- who rode the land on dark misty nights -- and struck fear into the hearts of all who crossed their paths.....

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Connections

Referenced in Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Final Twist (1987)

User Reviews

One of Hammer's very best.

While Britains's Hammer film company made their reputation with remakes of the hoary old horror staple potboilers such as their Draculas and their Frankensteins, their true strength was in the creation of relatively small budget genre films that shone with matchless originality and talent. "Captain Clegg" is Hammer Films at their very best.

The story concerns Captain Collier of the English Customs Service arriving in a small seaside town in search of smugglers and of his old arch nemesis, the pirate, Captain Clegg. he soon discovers that things in the village are not as simple as they seem. For a start, there are the "marsh phantoms" which are more than capable of frightening people to death, and then there is evidence of large quantities of illegal rum. The plot thickens as Collier seizes the trail and as the villagers fight back in ways quite unexpected for people familiar with this kind of story. Captain Clegg is a rare blend of horror, suspense and swashbuckling comedy that would not be emulated until 2003's "Pirates of the Caribbean: Legend of the Black Pearl." The plot is full of twists and evil jokes and never lets anything get in the way of what is after all, simply a rollicking good yarn.

The acting is frequently nothing short of breathtaking. Peter Cushing as the Reverend Doctor Blyss is at the top of his very considerable form and delivers an masterful performance. "Doctor Blyss" is a fully rounded and complex antihero character of undeniable magnetism and amazing power. A young and almost unbelievably handsome Oliver Reed delivers an arch and catlike performance that with have viewers rolling in the aisles on one hand and swooning on the other. Michael Ripper delivers what may have been the performance of his career, his character, "Jeremiah Mipps" is worthy of the great Leonard Rossiter at his best.

"Captain Clegg" AKA "Night Creatures" is not a perfect film, but it is one which has found an abiding place in my heart. A true classic, I cannot remember it without smiling.