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 | 25 |
Assistant Director | Ross Mackenzie | 3 | ||||
Assistant Producer | Basil Keys | 46 | 1917 | 2009 | 92 | 4 |
Camera Operator | Moray Grant | 45 | 13 Nov 1917 | 17 Sep 1977 | 59 | 29 |
Continuity | Pauline Wise (Harlow) | 25 | 1938 | Living | 83 | 11 |
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 | 46 |
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 | 84 |
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 | 9 |
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 | 111 |
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 | 88 | 1 |
2nd Woman | Marianne Stone | 40 | 23 Aug 1922 | 21 Dec 2009 | 87 | 9 |
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 | 82 | 2 |
Francoise | Liliane Brousse | 26 | 1937 | Living | 84 | 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