Tales That Witness Madness
Encyclopedia
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Tales That Witness Madness is a 1973 British
horror film
produced by Norman Priggen, directed by veteran horror director Freddie Francis
, and written by actress Jennifer Jayne
.
It was one of several in a series of portmanteau films made during the 1960s and 1970s which included Dr. Terror's House of Horrors
(1965), Torture Garden
(1967), The House That Dripped Blood
(1970), Asylum
(1972), Tales from the Crypt (1972), The Vault of Horror (film)
(1973), and From Beyond the Grave
(1973).
This is similar to the Amicus portmanteau horror films of the time, but was not an Amicus production. It was produced by World Film Services.
The Encyclopedia of Horror says the film "avoids farce and develops a nicely deadpan style of humour which is ably sustained by the excellent cast in which only Novak appears unable to hit the right note."
), discusses a bold new psychiatric theory with colleague Dr. Nicholas (Jack Hawkins
). Tremayne uses four patients who went insane - Paul, Timothy, Brian and Auriol - to illustrate the theory, presenting each in turn to Nicholas:
In Mr. Tiger, Paul (Russell Lewis
) is the sensitive and introverted young son of constantly bickering parents Sam (Donald Houston
) and Fay Patterson (Georgia Brown
). Amid the unhappy domestic situation he befriends an "imaginary" tiger. Features David Wood
as Paul's tutor Phillipe.
In Penny Farthing, Timothy (Peter McEnery
) an antique store owner, stocks a strange portrait of "Uncle Albert" (Frank Forsyth) and a penny farthing bicycle. In a series of episodes Uncle Arthur compels Timothy to mount the bicycle and he is transported to an earlier era where he observes the apparently mourning Polly (Beth Morris
). These travels place Timothy's wife Ann (Suzy Kendall
) in peril. Features Neil Kennedy and Richard Connaught as the removal men.
In Mel, Brian Thompson (Michael Jayston
) brings home an old dead tree, which he lovingly calls Mel, mounting it in his modern home as a bizarre piece of objet d'art. He increasingly shows unusual attention to Mel angering his jealous wife Bella (Joan Collins
).
In Luau literary agent Auriol Pageant (Kim Novak
) lasciviously courts a new client Kimo (Michael Petrovich), however he shows more interest in her beautiful young daughter Ginny (Mary Tamm
). Auriol organises a sumptuous luau for him as per the detailed instructions of Kimo's associate Keoki (Leon Lissek
). However it is actually a ceremony to reincarnate Kimo's deceased mother Malia (Zohra Segal), and a requirement is that he and his hostess consume the flesh of a virgin: Ginny. Features Leslie Nunnerley as Vera.
In the Epilogue, Nicholas has Tremayne himself declared insane, apparently for believing the patients' bizarre accounts (e.g. the four segments), but manifestations of the patients' histories materialize, and "Mr. Tiger" kills Nicholas.
on 35 mm with an aspect ratio of 1.85:1. This was the last film of Frank Forsyth who appears as Uncle Albert. Jack Hawkins
died shortly after his scenes were filmed. Hawkins had had his larynx removed in an operation in 1966 and here his voice was dubbed
by Charles Gray
in post-production
.
(Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide) This was Hawkins' final film appearance.
Kim Novak broke a four year hiatus from films with her appearance in this film. She replaced Rita Hayworth
shortly after production started.
Tales That Witness Madness is a 1973 British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
horror film
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...
produced by Norman Priggen, directed by veteran horror director Freddie Francis
Freddie Francis
Frederick William Francis BSC was an English cinematographer and film director.He achieved his greatest successes as a cinematographer, including winning two Academy Awards, for Sons and Lovers and Glory...
, and written by actress Jennifer Jayne
Jennifer Jayne
Jennifer Jayne was an English film and television actress.Her name at birth was Jennifer Jones, which she altered in order to avoid confusion with Jennifer Jones, the Hollywood actress...
.
It was one of several in a series of portmanteau films made during the 1960s and 1970s which included Dr. Terror's House of Horrors
Dr. Terror's House of Horrors
Dr. Terror's House of Horrors is a 1965 British horror film from Amicus Productions, directed by veteran horror director Freddie Francis, written by Milton Subotsky, and starred Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee....
(1965), Torture Garden
Torture Garden (film)
Torture Garden is a 1967 British horror film made by Amicus Productions. It was directed by Freddie Francis and scripted by Robert Bloch. It stars Burgess Meredith, Jack Palance, Michael Ripper, Beverly Adams, Peter Cushing, Maurice Denham, Ursula Howells, Michael Bryant and Barbara Ewing...
(1967), The House That Dripped Blood
The House That Dripped Blood
The House That Dripped Blood is a 1970 British horror anthology film directed by Peter Duffell and distributed by Amicus Productions. It stars Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Nyree Dawn Porter, Denholm Elliott, and Jon Pertwee...
(1970), Asylum
Asylum (1972 film)
Asylum is a 1972 British horror film made by Amicus Productions. The film was directed by Roy Ward Baker, produced by Milton Subotsky, and scripted by Robert Bloch .It is a horror portmanteau film, one of several produced by Amicus during the 1960s to...
(1972), Tales from the Crypt (1972), The Vault of Horror (film)
The Vault of Horror (film)
The Vault of Horror is a British portmanteau horror film made in 1973 by Amicus Productions. Like its predecessor, Tales from the Crypt, it is based on stories from the EC Comics series written by Al Feldstein and Bill Gaines...
(1973), and From Beyond the Grave
From Beyond the Grave
From Beyond the Grave is a 1974 British anthology horror film from Amicus Productions, directed by horror director Kevin Connor, produced by Milton Subotsky and based on stories by R. Chetwynd-Hayes...
(1973).
This is similar to the Amicus portmanteau horror films of the time, but was not an Amicus production. It was produced by World Film Services.
The Encyclopedia of Horror says the film "avoids farce and develops a nicely deadpan style of humour which is ably sustained by the excellent cast in which only Novak appears unable to hit the right note."
Plot
In the Framing Story, a psychiatrist in a high tech modern mental asylum, Dr. Tremayne (Donald PleasenceDonald Pleasence
Sir Donald Henry Pleasence, OBE, was a British actor who gained more than 200 screen credits during a career which spanned over four decades...
), discusses a bold new psychiatric theory with colleague Dr. Nicholas (Jack Hawkins
Jack Hawkins
Colonel John Edward "Jack" Hawkins CBE was an English actor of the 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s.-Career:Hawkins was born at Lyndhurst Road, Wood Green, Middlesex, the son of master builder Thomas George Hawkins and his wife, Phoebe née Goodman. The youngest of four children in a close-knit family,...
). Tremayne uses four patients who went insane - Paul, Timothy, Brian and Auriol - to illustrate the theory, presenting each in turn to Nicholas:
In Mr. Tiger, Paul (Russell Lewis
Russell Lewis
- Career :Lewis began his career as a child actor, first appearing in the 1969 film adaptation of The Looking Glass War. He also starred as George Gathercole in The Kids from 47A...
) is the sensitive and introverted young son of constantly bickering parents Sam (Donald Houston
Donald Houston
Donald Daniel Houston was a Welsh actor whose first two films – The Blue Lagoon with Jean Simmons, and A Run for Your Money with Sir Alec Guinness – were highly successful...
) and Fay Patterson (Georgia Brown
Georgia Brown
Georgia Brown, pseudonym of Rossana Monti is an Italian Brazilian singer noted for her extensive vocal range. She was listed in the 2005 Guinness World Records for hitting the highest vocal note and for possessing the greatest range, claimed to be exactly 8 octaves from G2-G10 using scientific...
). Amid the unhappy domestic situation he befriends an "imaginary" tiger. Features David Wood
David Wood (actor)
David Wood OBE is an English-born actor and writer, called "the National Children's Dramatist" by The Times.He was educated at Chichester High School For Boys and Worcester College, Oxford....
as Paul's tutor Phillipe.
In Penny Farthing, Timothy (Peter McEnery
Peter McEnery
Peter McEnery is an English stage and film actor. His daughter Kate, by his first marriage to British actress Julie Peasgood, is an actress....
) an antique store owner, stocks a strange portrait of "Uncle Albert" (Frank Forsyth) and a penny farthing bicycle. In a series of episodes Uncle Arthur compels Timothy to mount the bicycle and he is transported to an earlier era where he observes the apparently mourning Polly (Beth Morris
Beth Morris
Bethany Morris is a British actress.She is probably best known for her performance as Drusilla in the 1976 BBC adaptation of I, Claudius...
). These travels place Timothy's wife Ann (Suzy Kendall
Suzy Kendall
Suzy Kendall is a British actress best known for her film roles in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Her blonde attractive looks got her leading roles in some fairly prestigious productions...
) in peril. Features Neil Kennedy and Richard Connaught as the removal men.
In Mel, Brian Thompson (Michael Jayston
Michael Jayston
Michael Jayston is a Nottingham-born English actor.- Early life :He attended the Becket Grammar School in West Bridgford, then worked briefly as a trainee accountant at the offices of the National Coal Board before obtaining a scholarship to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama to train as an...
) brings home an old dead tree, which he lovingly calls Mel, mounting it in his modern home as a bizarre piece of objet d'art. He increasingly shows unusual attention to Mel angering his jealous wife Bella (Joan Collins
Joan Collins
Joan Henrietta Collins, OBE , is an English actress, author, and columnist. Born in Paddington and raised in Maida Vale, Collins grew up during the Second World War. At the age of nine, she made her stage debut in A Doll's House and after attending school, she was classically trained as an actress...
).
In Luau literary agent Auriol Pageant (Kim Novak
Kim Novak
Kim Novak is an American film and television actress. She began her career with her roles in Pushover and Phffft! but achieved greater prominence in the 1955 film Picnic...
) lasciviously courts a new client Kimo (Michael Petrovich), however he shows more interest in her beautiful young daughter Ginny (Mary Tamm
Mary Tamm
Mary Tamm is an English actress. She is best known for being the first actress to play the character of Romana in the science fiction television series Doctor Who, opposite Tom Baker as the Doctor, from the 1978–1979 season known collectively as The Key to Time.-Early life:Mary Tamm was born in...
). Auriol organises a sumptuous luau for him as per the detailed instructions of Kimo's associate Keoki (Leon Lissek
Leon Lissek
Leon Lissek is an actor originated from Australia who primarily does work in England. He has appeared in over 80 films in his career, which started with Marat/Sade...
). However it is actually a ceremony to reincarnate Kimo's deceased mother Malia (Zohra Segal), and a requirement is that he and his hostess consume the flesh of a virgin: Ginny. Features Leslie Nunnerley as Vera.
In the Epilogue, Nicholas has Tremayne himself declared insane, apparently for believing the patients' bizarre accounts (e.g. the four segments), but manifestations of the patients' histories materialize, and "Mr. Tiger" kills Nicholas.
Production
Filmed at Shepperton StudiosShepperton Studios
Shepperton Studios is a film studio in Shepperton, Surrey, England with a history dating back to 1931 since when many notable films have been made there...
on 35 mm with an aspect ratio of 1.85:1. This was the last film of Frank Forsyth who appears as Uncle Albert. Jack Hawkins
Jack Hawkins
Colonel John Edward "Jack" Hawkins CBE was an English actor of the 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s.-Career:Hawkins was born at Lyndhurst Road, Wood Green, Middlesex, the son of master builder Thomas George Hawkins and his wife, Phoebe née Goodman. The youngest of four children in a close-knit family,...
died shortly after his scenes were filmed. Hawkins had had his larynx removed in an operation in 1966 and here his voice was dubbed
Dubbing (filmmaking)
Dubbing is the post-production process of recording and replacing voices on a motion picture or television soundtrack subsequent to the original shooting. The term most commonly refers to the substitution of the voices of the actors shown on the screen by those of different performers, who may be...
by Charles Gray
Charles Gray (actor)
Charles Gray was an English actor who was well-known for roles including the arch-villain Blofeld in the James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever, Sherlock Holmes' brother Mycroft Holmes in the Granada television series, and as The Criminologist in the cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show in...
in post-production
Post-production
Post-production is part of filmmaking and the video production process. It occurs in the making of motion pictures, television programs, radio programs, advertising, audio recordings, photography, and digital art...
.
(Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide) This was Hawkins' final film appearance.
Kim Novak broke a four year hiatus from films with her appearance in this film. She replaced Rita Hayworth
Rita Hayworth
Rita Hayworth was an American film actress and dancer who attained fame during the 1940s as one of the era's top stars...
shortly after production started.
External links
- Allmovie
- http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/tales_that_witness_madness at Rotten TomatoesRotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...