Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysAPA Heritage MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)

Tam Lin

Original title: The Ballad of Tam Lin
  • 19701970
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 46m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
549
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
The Ballad of Tam Lin (1970)
  • Horror
  • Mystery
An older woman uses witchcraft to keep her young jet-set friends. Based on an ancient Scottish folk song.An older woman uses witchcraft to keep her young jet-set friends. Based on an ancient Scottish folk song.An older woman uses witchcraft to keep her young jet-set friends. Based on an ancient Scottish folk song.
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
549
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Roddy McDowall
  • Writers
    • William Spier(original screenplay)
    • Robert Burns(poem "The Ballad of Tam Lin")
  • Stars
    • Ava Gardner
    • Ian McShane
    • Richard Wattis
Top credits
  • Director
    • Roddy McDowall
  • Writers
    • William Spier(original screenplay)
    • Robert Burns(poem "The Ballad of Tam Lin")
  • Stars
    • Ava Gardner
    • Ian McShane
    • Richard Wattis
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 15User reviews
    • 14Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos58

    The Ballad of Tam Lin (1970)
    The Ballad of Tam Lin (1970)
    The Ballad of Tam Lin (1970)
    The Ballad of Tam Lin (1970)
    The Ballad of Tam Lin (1970)
    The Ballad of Tam Lin (1970)
    The Ballad of Tam Lin (1970)
    The Ballad of Tam Lin (1970)
    The Ballad of Tam Lin (1970)
    The Ballad of Tam Lin (1970)
    The Ballad of Tam Lin (1970)
    The Ballad of Tam Lin (1970)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ava Gardner
    Ava Gardner
    • Michaela Cazaretas Michaela Cazaret
    Ian McShane
    Ian McShane
    • Tom Lynnas Tom Lynn
    Richard Wattis
    Richard Wattis
    • Elroyas Elroy
    Cyril Cusack
    Cyril Cusack
    • Vicar Julian Ainsleyas Vicar Julian Ainsley
    Stephanie Beacham
    Stephanie Beacham
    • Janet Ainsleyas Janet Ainsley
    David Whitman
    • Oliveras Oliver
    Fabia Drake
    Fabia Drake
    • Miss Gibsonas Miss Gibson
    Sinéad Cusack
    Sinéad Cusack
    • Roseas Rose
    • (as Sinead Cusack)
    Joanna Lumley
    Joanna Lumley
    • Georgiaas Georgia
    Jenny Hanley
    Jenny Hanley
    • Carolineas Caroline
    Madeline Smith
    Madeline Smith
    • Sueas Sue
    Bruce Robinson
    Bruce Robinson
    • Alanas Alan
    Victoria Fairbrother
    Victoria Fairbrother
    • Vannaas Vanna
    • (as Pamela Farbrother)
    Rosemary Blake
    • Kateas Kate
    Michael Bills
    • Michaelas Michael
    Virginia Tingwell
    • Lottieas Lottie
    Peter Hinwood
    Peter Hinwood
    • Guyas Guy
    Hayward Morse
    Hayward Morse
    • Andyas Andy
    • Director
      • Roddy McDowall
    • Writers
      • William Spier(original screenplay)
      • Robert Burns(poem "The Ballad of Tam Lin") (uncredited)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    More like this

    The Mephisto Waltz
    6.0
    The Mephisto Waltz
    Horror Hospital
    5.3
    Horror Hospital
    Dr. Phibes Rises Again
    6.3
    Dr. Phibes Rises Again
    Necromancy
    4.6
    Necromancy
    Nothing But the Night
    5.5
    Nothing But the Night
    Hands of the Ripper
    6.2
    Hands of the Ripper
    The Two Worlds of Jennie Logan
    6.7
    The Two Worlds of Jennie Logan
    Pushover
    7.1
    Pushover
    Girly
    6.5
    Girly
    Simon, King of the Witches
    5.9
    Simon, King of the Witches
    Bury Me an Angel
    5.3
    Bury Me an Angel
    And Soon the Darkness
    6.6
    And Soon the Darkness

    Storyline

    Edit
    Based on the ancient Scottish ballad "Tam Lin" (one of its many titles), the plot concerns an aging, beautiful woman who uses her wealth (and occasionally, witchcraft) to control a decadent pack of attractive young people she surrounds herself with. But when her latest young stud falls for the local vicar's daughter, she vows revenge. —phillindholm
    • folklore
    • psychotronic film
    • based on song
    • based on poem
    • literature on screen
    • 289 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • She drained them of their manhood - and then of their LIVES!
    • Genres
      • Horror
      • Mystery
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG-13 for some sexuality/nudity, thematic elements, violence and smoking
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Film critic Roger Ebert states in his review of this film that he interviewed director Roddy McDowall who said that he made it because he wanted to make a tribute to Ava Gardner, and that the movie was a gesture of love.
    • Alternate versions
      A newly recut version of this movie has been released. This movie wasn't originally conceived as a horror film. It was altered by American International after they got the rights to it. The new version has restored the original vision that Roddy Mcdowall had for the film.
    • Connections
      Referenced in Ban the Sadist Videos! (2005)
    • Soundtracks
      Sun in My Eyes
      Music by Salena Jones

      Lyrics by William Spier

      Performed by Salena Jones (uncredited)

    User reviews15

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    Freaky, Man! Real Groovy!
    Groovy! Roddy McDowell took the ancient fairy tale of TAM LIN -- a young knight captured by an evil witch, then saved by a fair damsel -- and turned it into a very demure slice of psychedelic romance. The daring camera angles and bizarre soundtrack make the movie work most of the time, but now and then the weird factor just turns funny.

    Ava Gardner, well over forty, plays the "immortal" Mrs. Cazaret. She's still an attractive lady, sort of, but not enough to be "hypnotic" and "irresistable." Between her and the young man she's entrancing, there is not a trace of attraction or chemistry. The scenes between the young man and his fair young maid are a bit better, but still lacking a certain natural sexual punch.

    The problem is, there are about a dozen gorgeous extras lounging around in most of the scenes, including a couple of famous faces. Watch for a luscious young Sinead Cusack and an even sexier young Joanna Lumley, both decked out in scrumptious Carnaby Street finery and looking ever so fresh and primly desirable. The movie would have worked much, much better if these two had had a larger part. Mrs. Cazaret should have used them to keep her young man satisfied. It's so easy to visualize him rising from her bed, seeing how tired and blowzy she looks in the morning light, and heading for the door -- only to be headed off by Sinead Cusack and Joanna Lumley. The two of them ask him to do something quite innocent and sweet -- like have some breakfast, or go for a walk in the garden. But as they ask, they also rub against him, licking his neck and purring into his ear, and before long he's forgotten all about escaping from Mrs. Cazaret!
    helpful•15
    6
    • Dan1863Sickles
    • Jan 8, 2006

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 1972 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Devil's Widow
    • Filming locations
      • Traquair House, Innerleithen, Peebles, Scottish Borders, Scotland, UK
    • Production companies
      • Gershwin-Kastner Productions
      • Winkast Film Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 46 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Related news

    Eve
    Eve
    Sep 26Trailers from Hell
    The Forgotten: Fairies at the Bottom of the Garden
    Nov 20MUBI

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    The Ballad of Tam Lin (1970)
    Top Gap
    By what name was The Ballad of Tam Lin (1970) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The 10 Most Anticipated Marvel and DC Movies
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    2022 TV Guide: The Best Shows Coming This Year
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.