The Horrible Dr. Hichcock (1962)

In 19th century London, a woman weds a doctor with necrophiliac tendencies, and whose first wife died under mysterious circumstances - and might be coming back from the grave to torment her successor.

Director:

Riccardo Freda (as Robert Hampton)

Writer:

Ernesto Gastaldi (story and screenplay) (as Julyan Perry)

Stars:

Barbara Steele, Robert Flemyng, Silvano Tranquilli

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Barbara Steele	...	Cinzia Hichcock
Robert Flemyng	...	Prof. Bernard Hichcock
Silvano Tranquilli	...	Dr. Kurt Lowe (as Montgomery Glenn)
Maria Teresa Vianello	...	Margaretha Hichcock (as Teresa Fitzgerald)
Harriet Medin	...	Martha - The Maid (as Harriet White)
Spencer Williams
Al Christianson
Evar Simpson
Nat Harley

Storyline

The year is 1885, and necrophiliac Dr. Hitchcock likes to drug his wife for sexual funeral games. One day he accidentally administers an overdose and kills her. He leaves his home shattered. Several years later he remarries and returns with his wife. His wife starts to feel and hear strange things in the house.

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Plot Keywords:

necrophiliac | italian gothic | hospital | premature burial | second wife | 

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Taglines:

The candle of his lust burnt brightest in the shadow of the grave!

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Genres:

Horror

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Robert Flemyng took the part after reading an early script entitled Raptus. When he found out later it involved necrophilia he tried to quit.

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Goofs

The first time Hichcock sees his wife's ghost he runs out into a heavy rain; when he returns his clothes and hair are dry.

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Crazy Credits

Midway through the opening credits a woman screams.

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Connections

Followed by The Ghost (1963)

User Reviews

Great Atmosphere and Performances

The Horrible Dr. Hichcock (1962)

*** (out of 4)

Dr. Hitchcock (Robert Flemyng) administers a drug to his beautiful wife but he accidentally gives her too much, which causes her to overdose and die. The pain causes him to leave him home but years later he returns with his new wife Cynthia (Barbara Steele). It doesn't take too long for the new wife to start seeing and hearing mysterious things, which could be the dead wife.

THE HORRIBLE DR. HITCHCOCK is a pretty good horror film from director Riccardo Freda who skips out on blood or graphic violence and instead delivers atmosphere and some great performances. The film became a pretty big hit when it was originally released and it continued to gain new fans as it showed up on American television. There are two different versions out there with the original Italian version running twelve-minutes longer than the American cut but it's the American version that is currently available on Blu-ray and is what I watched.

For the most part this is a pretty good film that works perfectly in that "old dark house" way where we're given an innocent woman put into a dangerous situation and we're not quite sure what's going on. Is she losing her mind? Is her new husband playing sinister tricks? Has the dead wife returned? These are the questions that are asked throughout the picture and Freda keeps the film moving at a nice pace. There's no question that it's a well-made film that contains some beautiful cinematography as well as a nice music score. Freda builds up a very good and rich atmosphere that carries the picture to the end.

Another major plus is the fact that the performances were so good. Flemyng is very good in the role of the husband because he plays it so perfectly down the middle that you can never tell what he's up to. Then you've got Steele who once again delivers a great performance as the wife who finds herself seeing ghosts and other strange objects. THE HORRIBLE DR. HITCHCOCK isn't a flawless movie but it's certainly an entertaining one.

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

2 December 1964 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Horrible Dr. Hichcock

Filming Locations:

Villa Perucchetti, 21 Via Pietro Paolo Rubens, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Panda Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1