Children of the Damned (1964)

Six impossibly intelligent children from all over the world with dangerous psychic powers hide in a church in England after the military tries to experiment on them. Besieged, they warn the military to back off before carnage ensues.

Director:

Anton Leader (as Anton M. Leader)

Writers:

John Briley (screenplay), John Wyndham (novel)

Stars:

Ian Hendry, Alan Badel, Barbara Ferris

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ian Hendry	...	Dr. Tom Llewellyn
Alan Badel	...	Dr. David Neville
Barbara Ferris	...	Susan Eliot
Alfred Burke	...	Colin Webster
Sheila Allen	...	Diana Looran
Ralph Michael	...	Defense Minister
Patrick Wymark	...	Commander
Martin Miller	...	Prof. Gruber
Harold Goldblatt	...	Harib
Patrick White	...	Mr. Davidson
André Mikhelson	...	Russian official (as Andre Mikhelson)
Bessie Love	...	Mrs. Robbins, Mark's Grandmother
Clive Powell	...	Paul
Yoke-Moon Lee	...	Mi Ling (as Lee Yoke-Moon)
Roberta Rex	...	Nina

Storyline

Scientists discovers that six children from six different places in the world each have superhuman intelligence to such extent that they've even developed psychic powers. The children are flown to London to be studied, but they each escape their embassy and barricade themselves in a church which the military besieges. Is there a way to resolve this stand off peacefully, and if not, what then?

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Plot Keywords:

siege | battle | super intelligence | telekinesis | collective consciousness | 

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Taglines:

So young, so innocent, so deadly - they came to conquer the world!

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Filmed in the spring of 1963.

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Quotes

Dr. Tom Llewellyn: At this very moment, they could be making all those men out there turn their guns on one another!

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Crazy Credits

In the opening credits: "A sequel to John Wyndham's "The Midwich Cuckoos." This is the novel the previous film was based on and not the film's title.

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Connections

Referenced in Late Night with David Letterman: Episode dated 7 June 1991 (1991)

User Reviews

I believe that children are the future...

Six children from six different nations, each gifted with superior intellects and telekinetic powers, are tested by scientists keen to discover the limits of their capabilities. Inevitably, the children come to the attention of shady government types who wish to exploit the children for the purposes of national security, or failing that, destroy them. In fear, the children join forces and take refuge in a derelict church, where they are forced to strike back at those who might wish to do them harm.

Children of the Damned is generally considered to be a sequel to the excellent Village of the Damned; however, when viewed like this, glaring anomalies prevent it from being a fully satisfying experience. Children of the Damned is therefore best viewed as a standalone project; seen in this way, the film is more than worthy of any sci-fi/horror fan's time—an intelligent, thought-provoking piece that raises religious, ethical and philosophical debates and which, depending on how the somewhat ambiguous ending is interpreted, also delivers a prophetic warning: unless humans can overcome their innate distrust and fear of that which they do not understand, there can be no hope of survival for mankind.

Opinion about which of the 'of the Damned' films is better is seriously divided, but given the choice, I would always go for the freaky, blonde-haired and undeniably malevolent mutants of 'Village' over the normal looking, multi-cultural, and possibly benevolent saviours of mankind from 'Children'. Guess that's just how I roll...

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English Russian

Release Date:

29 January 1964 (USA)

Also Known As:

Children of the Damned

Filming Locations:

Bermondsey, London, England, UK

Box Office

Gross USA:

$1,000,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lawrence P. Bachmann Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer British Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1