Crucible of Terror
Encyclopedia
Crucible of Terror is a 1971 British horror film
directed by Ted Hooker and starring Mike Raven
, Mary Maude
and James Bolam
. Its plot involves a mad sculptor killing women to use as models for his statues.
from London
, does a deal with a friend of his Michael Clare, the son of a gifted artist Victor Clare. Michael smuggles out some of his father's works and Davies sells them for a large sum at his gallery, splitting the profit between them. Davies and Michael Clare are both in need of more money and realising that Victor Clare's works are worth a fortune they decide to acquire some more. Unfortunately, Victor Clare is a recluse, who lives in isolation above an abandoned tin mine in Cornwall
. As it would be impossible to smuggle out any more of the paintings without being noticed, Davies decides to offer the artist a deal for hard cash.
They travel down to Cornwall with their wives, and they find it an odd and disconcerting experience. Victor Clare's wife has regressed into a second childhood, while he spends his time having affairs with his models. The only sense of normality is apparently provided by Bill, Victor's only friend, who cooks dinner for them.
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
directed by Ted Hooker and starring Mike Raven
Mike Raven
Austin Churton Fairman , who used the name Churton Fairman but was more widely known under the pseudonym Mike Raven in the 1960s and early 1970s, was a British radio disc jockey, actor, sculptor, sheep farmer, writer, TV presenter and producer, ballet dancer, flamenco guitarist and...
, Mary Maude
Mary Maude
Mary Maude is a British film and television actress.-Selected filmography:* The Boarding School * Crucible of Terror * Man at the Top * Scorpio * The Four Feathers * Terror...
and James Bolam
James Bolam
James Christopher Bolam, MBE is a British actor, best known for his roles as Jack Ford in When the Boat Comes In, Trevor Chaplin in The Beiderbecke Trilogy, Terry Collier in The Likely Lads and its sequel Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?, Roy Figgis in Only When I Laugh, Dr Arthur Gilder in...
. Its plot involves a mad sculptor killing women to use as models for his statues.
Synopsis
Jack Davies, an art dealerArt dealer
An art dealer is a person or company that buys and sells works of art. Art dealers' professional associations serve to set high standards for accreditation or membership and to support art exhibitions and shows.-Role:...
from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, does a deal with a friend of his Michael Clare, the son of a gifted artist Victor Clare. Michael smuggles out some of his father's works and Davies sells them for a large sum at his gallery, splitting the profit between them. Davies and Michael Clare are both in need of more money and realising that Victor Clare's works are worth a fortune they decide to acquire some more. Unfortunately, Victor Clare is a recluse, who lives in isolation above an abandoned tin mine in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
. As it would be impossible to smuggle out any more of the paintings without being noticed, Davies decides to offer the artist a deal for hard cash.
They travel down to Cornwall with their wives, and they find it an odd and disconcerting experience. Victor Clare's wife has regressed into a second childhood, while he spends his time having affairs with his models. The only sense of normality is apparently provided by Bill, Victor's only friend, who cooks dinner for them.
Cast
- Mike RavenMike RavenAustin Churton Fairman , who used the name Churton Fairman but was more widely known under the pseudonym Mike Raven in the 1960s and early 1970s, was a British radio disc jockey, actor, sculptor, sheep farmer, writer, TV presenter and producer, ballet dancer, flamenco guitarist and...
... Victor Clare - Mary MaudeMary MaudeMary Maude is a British film and television actress.-Selected filmography:* The Boarding School * Crucible of Terror * Man at the Top * Scorpio * The Four Feathers * Terror...
... Millie - James BolamJames BolamJames Christopher Bolam, MBE is a British actor, best known for his roles as Jack Ford in When the Boat Comes In, Trevor Chaplin in The Beiderbecke Trilogy, Terry Collier in The Likely Lads and its sequel Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?, Roy Figgis in Only When I Laugh, Dr Arthur Gilder in...
... John 'Jack' Davies - Ronald LaceyRonald LaceyRonald Lacey was an English actor. He made numerous television and film appearances over a 30 year period and is perhaps best remembered for his villainous roles in Hollywood films, most famously Major Arnold Toht in Raiders of the Lost Ark.-Career:Lacey attended Harrow Weald Grammar School and...
... Michael Clare - Betty AlbergeBetty AlbergeBetty Alberge was an English actress best known for her soap opera roles as cornershop owner Florrie Lindley in Coronation Street and as Edna Cross in Brookside...
... Dorothy Clare - John ArnattJohn Arnatt- Biography :John Arnatt was born in Petrograd on 9 May 1917. His parents were Francis Arnatt and Ethel Marion Arnatt . He attended Epworth College. Arnatt trained for the stage at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art...
... Bill - Beth MorrisBeth MorrisBethany Morris is a British actress.She is probably best known for her performance as Drusilla in the 1976 BBC adaptation of I, Claudius...
... Jane Clare - Judy MathesonJudy Matheson-Biography:Judy Matheson began her career in 1967 with The Bristol Old Vic Theatre Company, touring USA, & Europe, in 3 of Shakespeare's plays. She was in the TV series City 68, "Spindoe",and several other Granada TV series. Her first movie, with Gregory Peck, was The Most Dangerous Man in the World...
... Marcia - Melissa StriblingMelissa StriblingMelissa Stribling was a Scottish film and television actress.- Career :Born in Gourock, Scotland, her career began with the film Wide Boy , Stribling is known for playing the role of Mina in the horror film Dracula starring Christopher Lee in the title role...
... Joanna Brent - Kenneth Keeling ... George Brent
- Me Me LaiMe Me LaiMe Me Lai, sometimes billed as Me Me Lay, is an ex-actress born in Burma in 1952, to a Burmese mother and an English father. She moved to England in her teens, where she soon started her acting career, at first in television series like Paul Temple and Jason King...
... Chi-San