Paranoiac – 1964

A Hammer film production released by Universal International
Copyright MCMLXIV Universal Pictures, Company Incorporated – All rights reserved MPAA Approved

The characters and incidents portrayed and the names used herein are fictitious and any similarity to the name, character, or history of any person is entirely accidental and unintentional

RCA Sound Recording
Produced at Bray Studios, England
Black & White 80 mins – Cinemascope

Storyline

Simon and Eleanor Ashby attend a memorial service with their Aunt Harriet. It’s 11 years after the tragic death of their parents, and 8 years since their brother, Anthony, committed suicide. In three weeks time they will inherit the family fortune. But, what’s happening to Eleanor – she keeps seeing her dead brother. Is Simon plotting to drive her insane and inherit the lot himself, or has Anthony really returned from the dead!!!!

Watch the trailer on YouTube

Crew


Function	Credited	Age at Release	Birth	Death	Age	Hammer Credits
Art Director	Don Mingaye	34	1929	8 Nov 2017	88	26
Assistant Director	Ross Mackenzie					5
Assistant Producer	Basil Keys	46	1917	2009	92	4
Camera Operator	Moray Grant	45	13 Nov 1917	17 Sep 1977	59	24
Continuity	Pauline Wise	25	1 Jan 1938	Living	82	6
Directed by	Freddie Francis	45	22 Dec 1917	17 Mar 2007	89	6
Director of Photography	Bernard Robinson	50	28 Jul 1912	2 Mar 1970	57	45
Hair Stylist	Frieda Steiger					28
Make-up Artist	Roy Ashton	53	16 Apr 1909	10 Jan 1995	85	36
Music Composed by	Elisabeth Luttens	56	9 Jul 1906	14 Apr 1983	76	1
Musical Supervisor	John Hollingsworth	46	20 Mar 1916	29 Dec 1963	47	36
Produced by	Anthony Hinds	40	18 Sep 1922	30 Sep 2013	91	67
Production Manager	John Draper					2
Screenplay by	Jimmy Sangster	35	2 Dec 1927	19 Aug 2011	83	65
Sound Editor	James Groom	38	1925	17 May 2016	91	13
Sound Recordist	Ken Rawkins	45	1918	1971	53	18
Special Effects	Les Bowie	49	10 Nov 1913	27 Jan 1979	65	32
Supervising Editor	James Needs	43	17 Oct 1919	2003	83	94
Wardrobe Mistress	Rosemary Burrows					36
Wardrobe Supervisor	Molly Arbuthnot	54	19 Dec 1908	1 Nov 2001	92	48

Cast


Character	Actor	Age at Release	Birth	Death	Age	Hammer Appearances
1st Woman	Laurie Leigh	30	16 Sep 1932	Living	87	1
2nd Woman	Marianne Stone	40	23 Aug 1922	21 Dec 2009	87	8
Anthony	Alexander Davion	33	21 Mar 1929	28 Sep 2019	90	2
Aunt Harriet	Sheila Burrell	40	9 May 1922	19 Jul 2011	89	5
Eleanor Ashby	Jeanette Scott	24	14 Dec 1938	Living	81	1
Francoise	Liliane Brousse	26	1937	Living	83	1
John Kossett	Maurice Denham	53	23 Dec 1909	24 Jul 2002	92	4
Keith Kossett	John Bonney	29	15 Nov 1933	1 Jun 1993	59	1
RAF Type	Harold Lang	39	1923	16 Nov 1970	47	8
Sailor	Jack Taylor					2
Simon Ashby	Oliver Reed	24	13 Feb 1938	2 May 1999	61	9
Tramp	Sydney Bromley	53	24 Jul 1909	14 Aug 1987	78	5
Vicar	Colin Tapley	53	7 May 1909	1 Dec 1995	86	3
Williams	John Stuart	64	18 Jul 1898	17 Oct 1979	81	6

Footnotes

The source of this story was Josephine Tey’s horse racing drama Brat Farrar, and it had been on Hammer’s roster for about ten years. Sangster’s final screenplay was so different from the original story that the Hammer board of directors debated whether or not they should apply for an extension to their screen rights in the novel!!

Released alongside “The Kiss of the Vampire” (1964), this was Freddie Francis’ first film for Hammer as Director. He won two Oscars during his career for the Cinematography in “Sons and Lovers” (1960) and “Glory” (1989). He went on to make, amongst others “The Skull” and “Dr Terrors House of Horrors” (both 1965) for Tyburn – a film company formed by his son Kevin.

As well as playing Cecily Femm in Hammer’s “The Old Dark House” (1963), Jeanette Scott also starred as Karen Goodwin in “The Day of the Triffids” (1962).

Maurice Denham appeared later as the judge who sent Ronnie Barker’s Fletcher down in the BBC TV sitcom “Porridge”.

Details were complied viewing the actual film.
Source of viewing copy – The Hammer Graveyard Collection