Horror Hospital
Encyclopedia
Horror Hospital is a 1973 British horror-comedy film starring Robin Askwith
and Michael Gough
. It was the penultimate film directed by Antony Balch
. The DVD was released by Dark Sky Films on June 15, 2010.
(1969), an anthology sex film that flirted with horror themes, Balch envisioned his second film as an out and out horror film and one with a continuous narrative.
Location filming was undertaken in and around Knebworth House
near Stevenage
, Hertfordshire
.
, although the film's title was thought up before the plot. Among Watson’s ideas for the Horror Hospital script was the lethal Rolls Royce, with its giant blade that decapitated people as it drove by.
(mainly the pop group scene) , Battersea Town Hall (which provided the interiors of Brittlehurst Manor) and Knebworth House
.
The film’s last night party on the 11 November was compromised when Phoebe Shaw served cake that was laced with drugs. In his autobiography Askwith wrote “I don’t know what she put in the cake but I ended up with a twenty stone electrician Roy, sitting on my lap telling me he thought he was in love with me.” Only producer Richard Gordon managed to avoid eating the cake.
. Balch asked Michael Gough to base his performance on Bela Lugosi
, screening him a 16mm print of The Devil Bat
, in which Lugosi plays a mad, perfume manufacturer.
The female lead was taken by Phoebe Shaw, who had previously appeared in several TV Commercials, and was renamed ‘Vanessa Shaw’ for the film. During filming Shaw and Askwith briefly became lovers. Her only two other known roles were un-credited bit parts in a 1969 American TV adaptation of David Copperfield
and a police cadet in Ooh… You Are Awful
(1972).
Veteran character actor, Dennis Price
, and 'dwarf
' actor Skip Martin, who ran a tobacconist in between acting assignments, also appeared in the film. As well as Kurt Christian whose full title was Baron Kurt Christian Von Siengenberg, and who left the country not long after the film was released. His ambition at the time, according to Films and Filming magazine, was to "play a role that does not involve killing somebody".
Nicky Henson
was originally considered for Christian’s role.
Norwich (England) hip-hop group Stonasaurus recorded a concept album about the film in 2003.
Robin Askwith
Robin Askwith , is an English film actor, most famous for his role as Timmy Lea in the Confessions... sex comedies.-Confessions...:...
and Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough was an English character actor who appeared in over 150 films. He is perhaps best known to international audiences for his roles in the Hammer Horror films from 1958, and for his recurring role as Alfred Pennyworth in all four movies of the Burton/Schumacher Batman franchise,...
. It was the penultimate film directed by Antony Balch
Antony Balch
Antony Balch was an English film director and distributor, best known for his screen collaborations with Beat Generation author William S...
. The DVD was released by Dark Sky Films on June 15, 2010.
Plot
When attempts to break into the pop business leaves him with nothing but a bloody nose songwriter Jason Jones (Robin Askwith) decides to take a break with "Hairy Holidays", an outfit run by shifty, gay travel agent Pollock (Dennis Price). After failing to chat Jason up, Pollock sends him to pseudo-health farm- Brittlehurst Manor. On the train journey there Jason meets Judy (Vanessa Shaw) who is also on the way to the same destination to meet her long lost Aunt. Both are unaware that the health farm (i.e. "Horror Hospital") is a front for Dr Storm (Michael Gough) and his lobotomy experiments that turn wayward hippies into his mindless zombie slaves. The wheelchair bound Doctor surrounds himself with an entourage that including Judy's aunt, and erstwhile brothel madam, Olga (Ellen Pollock), dwarf Frederick (Skip Martin) and numerous zombie bikers thugs. Dr Storm also has a Rolls Royce fitted with a giant blade that decapitates escapees and interfering parties. Abraham (Kurt Christian) arrives at the Horror Hospital "looking for his chick" and is promptly whacked around the head by the motorcycle zombies. Frederick, fed up at literally being Storm's whipping boy helps the kids escape- paving the way for Seventies youth to put the final spanner in the works of Storm's scheme.Cast
- Michael GoughMichael GoughMichael Gough was an English character actor who appeared in over 150 films. He is perhaps best known to international audiences for his roles in the Hammer Horror films from 1958, and for his recurring role as Alfred Pennyworth in all four movies of the Burton/Schumacher Batman franchise,...
- Dr. Christian Storm - Robin AskwithRobin AskwithRobin Askwith , is an English film actor, most famous for his role as Timmy Lea in the Confessions... sex comedies.-Confessions...:...
- Jason Jones - Vanessa Shaw - Judy Peters
- Ellen PollockEllen PollockEllen Pollack was a British character actress, mainly appeared on stage in London's West End. She also appeared in several films.Pollack was born in Heidelberg, Germany and died in London, England.-Selected filmography:...
- Aunt Harris - Dennis PriceDennis PriceDennis Price was an English actor, remembered for his suave screen roles, particularly Louis Mazzini in Kind Hearts and Coronets, and for his portrayal of the omniscient valet Jeeves in 1960s television adaptations of P. G...
- Mr. Pollack - Skip Martin - Frederick
- Kurt Christian - Abraham
- Barbara Wendy - Millie
- Kenneth Benda - Carter
- Martin Grace - Bike Boy
- Colin Skeaping - Bike Boy
- George Herbert - Laboratory Assistant
- Susan Bell - Labotomy Victim number 1.
Production
After the success of his feature film debut Secrets of SexSecrets of Sex
Secrets of Sex aka Bizarre, is a British film, directed by Antony Balch, an experimental filmmaker and frequent collaborator with William S. Burroughs...
(1969), an anthology sex film that flirted with horror themes, Balch envisioned his second film as an out and out horror film and one with a continuous narrative.
Location filming was undertaken in and around Knebworth House
Knebworth House
Knebworth House is a country house in the civil parish of Knebworth in Hertfordshire, England.-History and description:The home of the Lytton family since 1490, when Thomas Bourchier sold the reversion of the manor to Sir Robert Lytton, Knebworth House was originally a genuine red-brick Late Gothic...
near Stevenage
Stevenage
Stevenage is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England. It is situated to the east of junctions 7 and 8 of the A1, and is between Letchworth Garden City to the north, and Welwyn Garden City to the south....
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
.
Writing
The script was written by Balch and his friend Alan Watson during the 1973 Cannes Film FestivalCannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
, although the film's title was thought up before the plot. Among Watson’s ideas for the Horror Hospital script was the lethal Rolls Royce, with its giant blade that decapitated people as it drove by.
Filming
The film was shot on a four-week schedule beginning on 16 October 1972. Shooting was done at Merton ParkMerton Park
Merton Park is a place in the London Borough of Merton. It is a quiet and leafy suburb situated between Wimbledon, Morden, South Wimbledon and Wimbledon Chase. It is 7.3 miles south-west of Charing Cross...
(mainly the pop group scene) , Battersea Town Hall (which provided the interiors of Brittlehurst Manor) and Knebworth House
Knebworth House
Knebworth House is a country house in the civil parish of Knebworth in Hertfordshire, England.-History and description:The home of the Lytton family since 1490, when Thomas Bourchier sold the reversion of the manor to Sir Robert Lytton, Knebworth House was originally a genuine red-brick Late Gothic...
.
The film’s last night party on the 11 November was compromised when Phoebe Shaw served cake that was laced with drugs. In his autobiography Askwith wrote “I don’t know what she put in the cake but I ended up with a twenty stone electrician Roy, sitting on my lap telling me he thought he was in love with me.” Only producer Richard Gordon managed to avoid eating the cake.
Casting
Robin Askwith’s role was specially written for him after he appeared in Gordon’s previous 1972 production Tower of EvilTower of Evil
Tower of Evil, also known by the title Beyond the Fog in the United States and Horror of Snape Island and Horror on Snape Island in Canada, is a 1972 British horror film...
. Balch asked Michael Gough to base his performance on Bela Lugosi
Béla Lugosi
Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó , commonly known as Bela Lugosi, was a Hungarian actor of stage and screen. He was best known for having played Count Dracula in the Broadway play and subsequent film version, as well as having starred in several of Ed Wood's low budget films in the last years of his...
, screening him a 16mm print of The Devil Bat
The Devil Bat
The Devil Bat is a black-and-white comedy-horror movie which was produced by Producers Releasing Corporation and directed by Jean Yarbrough...
, in which Lugosi plays a mad, perfume manufacturer.
The female lead was taken by Phoebe Shaw, who had previously appeared in several TV Commercials, and was renamed ‘Vanessa Shaw’ for the film. During filming Shaw and Askwith briefly became lovers. Her only two other known roles were un-credited bit parts in a 1969 American TV adaptation of David Copperfield
David Copperfield (1969 film)
David Copperfield is a 1969 American television film directed by Delbert Mann based on the novel of the same name by Charles Dickens adapted by Jack Pulman, who later went on to adapt the Roman saga I, Claudius for BBC Television. The film was made in the UK for 20th Century Fox Television.The film...
and a police cadet in Ooh… You Are Awful
Ooh… You Are Awful
Ooh... You Are Awful is a 1972 British comedy film starring Dick Emery and directed by Cliff Owen.Before his death, Reggie Campbell Peek deposited a stolen £500,000 into a Swiss bank account...
(1972).
Veteran character actor, Dennis Price
Dennis Price
Dennis Price was an English actor, remembered for his suave screen roles, particularly Louis Mazzini in Kind Hearts and Coronets, and for his portrayal of the omniscient valet Jeeves in 1960s television adaptations of P. G...
, and 'dwarf
Dwarfism
Dwarfism is short stature resulting from a medical condition. It is sometimes defined as an adult height of less than 4 feet 10 inches , although this definition is problematic because short stature in itself is not a disorder....
' actor Skip Martin, who ran a tobacconist in between acting assignments, also appeared in the film. As well as Kurt Christian whose full title was Baron Kurt Christian Von Siengenberg, and who left the country not long after the film was released. His ambition at the time, according to Films and Filming magazine, was to "play a role that does not involve killing somebody".
Nicky Henson
Nicky Henson
Nicholas Victor Leslie "Nicky" Henson is an English actor who has portrayed many roles since 1963. He joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1977. He was born in London.-Early life:...
was originally considered for Christian’s role.
Soundtrack
Horror Hospital also contains a pop music number “Mark of Death”, composed by Jason DeHavilland and performed by the group Mystic (James IV Boris, Allan “The River” Hudson, Simon Lust).Norwich (England) hip-hop group Stonasaurus recorded a concept album about the film in 2003.