The Horrible Dr. Hichcock

A pretty wild ride, this one, after a rather uncomfortable and disturbing start as the first coffin is interfered with. Robert Flemyng is effective as the horrible doctor but I bet he used to leave this one off his CV. Between the worrying start and the breakneck finale there is really not that much happening but we are sustained by the grisly nature of the goings on, majestic photography and, of course, the equally majestic, Barbara Steele. I read somewhere that it was reckoned this was Steele's greatest performance and, on reflection, I think that may be so. Certainly she has a lot to do and continually looks as worried as she is beautiful. Strangely, her two most impressive scenes are both shot through glass. There is a terrifying moment when she and we see a ghost in the garden, through her window and then towards the end the amazing shots of her in the coffin through the small glass window. Not a great story but this works from beginning to end, nevertheless.

Trailer—The Horrible Dr. Hichcock

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source: The Horrible Dr. Hichcock

Another Gothic chiller from early '60s Italy, this is one of the best. The reason being that no other film of the period had such a quietly sickening theme as this one: the main character is a necrophiliac, who gives his partners anaesthetics before making love to them and gets rather too close to the bodies in the morgue. Of course, the subject matter was (and still is) extremely disturbing, which resulted in this film getting banned in Britain. Nowadays the authorities see fit to let us watch it, although the film carries a hefty 18-certificate, even though there is no on-screen sex or violence involved. The film deftly sets up an atmospheric situation, by having the setting as an old mansion full of dust and decay. The weather outside is perpetually stormy, with lightning flashing all the time, and an old portrait fills one entire room with its presence. Of course no film of this period would be complete without a basement full of coffins, and sure enough we have one of those too, with creaking gates of iron surrounding it. However while there are flashes of the supernatural in the film (mainly at the ending), the concentration is on human horror: the perverse condition of the title character, whose necrophilia is openly hinted at. His quiet sickness is what makes the film so watchable - and, indeed, a classic in the genre. This is thanks to some excellent acting, especially on the part of Robert Flemyng (THE BLOOD BEAST TERROR), who plays Hichcock. Throughout the film he has a gradual breakdown, until he becomes openly villainous and murderous at the climax, and this is portrayed subtlety. He is a man torn between love for his new wife and love for his old, unable to keep his lust for the dead hidden and yet sickened by it at the same time. Flemyng is given some excellent support by scream queen Barbara Steele, who plays his new wife, and conveys the anxiety, confusion, and outright disgust at her husband's mysterious actions well. It wouldn't be the film it is without the presence of Steele, and her charisma makes the film what it is. On top of that, Medin and Glenn have solid supporting roles. THE TERROR OF DR HICHCOCK is that rare film; a controversial yet cerebral masterpiece of death and nostalgia which obeys the conventions of the genre (complete with burning house at the end, and climatic fight between hero and villain) and yet stays fresh and interesting throughout, because of the sheer talent involved. It's obvious that director Freda knew his stuff, and it shows, because this is a top notch horror film, even beating some of Bava's own work of the period.

This Gothic Italian horror flick features '60's Scream Queen Barbara Steele as the new bride of a respected physician who learns that her seemingly charming hubby is hiding a few fiendish secrets regarding his first wife's mysterious death. Suspenseful, creepy, and atmospheric, this is the kind of historical, nightmarish horror piece that Edgar Allan Poe could have written, and there is indeed a reference to PREMATURE BURIAL. Steele, usually cast as the cunning, plotting villainess, does well in a rare sympathetic role. Horror buffs shouldn't miss this!

I am 63 years old and have seen more horror movies than you can believe and I appreciate the genre, both G and R rated. I did not appreciate this one even though it had all the necessary elements to make it really good except one - ACTION. I've seen boring movies but this one stands out - the necrophilia theme was only implied and then very quickly, but mostly you just had actors moving from one place to another until the end which tried to make up for the lack of anything that interesting happening in the rest of the movie (but doesn't). I'm sure at the time that the necro theme was novel and perhaps shocking but 58 years later the manner in which they approached it is laughable. Let me be clear - I am not saying that it may have been a terrible movie when it was released but if the current viewer in 2020 wants a movie worth spending your time on THIS ISN'T IT, but if you suffer from insomnia then this is your baby.

The Horrible Dr. Hichcock (1962) *** (out of 4) Dr. Hitchcock (Robert Flemyng) administers a drug to his beautiful wife but he accidentally gives her too much, which causes her to overdose and die. The pain causes him to leave him home but years later he returns with his new wife Cynthia (Barbara Steele). It doesn't take too long for the new wife to start seeing and hearing mysterious things, which could be the dead wife. THE HORRIBLE DR. HITCHCOCK is a pretty good horror film from director Riccardo Freda who skips out on blood or graphic violence and instead delivers atmosphere and some great performances. The film became a pretty big hit when it was originally released and it continued to gain new fans as it showed up on American television. There are two different versions out there with the original Italian version running twelve-minutes longer than the American cut but it's the American version that is currently available on Blu-ray and is what I watched. For the most part this is a pretty good film that works perfectly in that "old dark house" way where we're given an innocent woman put into a dangerous situation and we're not quite sure what's going on. Is she losing her mind? Is her new husband playing sinister tricks? Has the dead wife returned? These are the questions that are asked throughout the picture and Freda keeps the film moving at a nice pace. There's no question that it's a well-made film that contains some beautiful cinematography as well as a nice music score. Freda builds up a very good and rich atmosphere that carries the picture to the end. Another major plus is the fact that the performances were so good. Flemyng is very good in the role of the husband because he plays it so perfectly down the middle that you can never tell what he's up to. Then you've got Steele who once again delivers a great performance as the wife who finds herself seeing ghosts and other strange objects. THE HORRIBLE DR. HITCHCOCK isn't a flawless movie but it's certainly an entertaining one.

I suppose how horrible you think Doctor Hitchcock is depends on your own view of necrophilia. I mean, sure, the first time we see him he's bashed the head of a gravedigger so he can have a quick go on a corpse's paps, but then he did show his kinder side by also being the Doctor who stitched up the poor guy's head at the hospital later. And it's not necrophilia is his wife is still alive, and only looks dead because of the drugs he pumps her full of, is it? It's a complicated issue. This film also gives us a Double Scouse Lead Actor Line-up! (or D.S.L.A.L for short)! Not only do we have Birkenhead born Barbara Steele in the film, but playing Doctor Hitchcock is Liverpool born actor Roberyt Flemyng! Very little is known of this actor, except that he was an aristocratic-looking character actor, with a 60-year long theatrical career stretching back to 1931. The son of a Liverpool physician, he had a brief medical career, which he abandoned in preference to becoming a thespian. Rose to prominence as Keit Neilan in 'French Without Tears' in 1936. Thereafter, had leading roles on the London and Liverpool stages. Also appeared on Broadway and went on tour in 1952 opposite Katherine Cornell in 'The Constant Wife'. During World War II, he served with the Royal Army Medical Corps, reaching the rank of full colonel. He was awarded the MC (Military Cross) in 1941, mentioned in dispatches and was awarded the military OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1944 King's Honours List for his services to the Royal Army. On 21st March, 1995, he suffered a serious stroke and was for a time comatose. He eventually recovered consciousness, but was incapable of speech and was limited in his movements. He died as a patient in St. Thomas's Hospital in London in the early hours of May 22nd, but that's all I can think of off the top of my head. Barbara by the way is Dr Hitchcock's second wife, because Hitchcock accidentally killed his first wife with those drugs while trying to turn her into a fake-corpse. Hitchcock, after twelve years, has now returned to his creepy old mansion with Barabararararara, who immediately takes a dislike to meddlesome ratbag housemaid Harriet White. After some screaming is heard, an alarmed Barararararbara is told that's just Harriet's crazy sister and that she's getting shipped off to some loony bin the next day. If that's the case, however, who's running around laughing, being spooky, and making use of the mansion's standard-issue secret passageways? And why is that creepy cat still alive after twelve years? Barbara Steele sure does a lot of fainting in this film! Someone leaves a skull in her bed = faint. She's out in the garden when a ghostly bridesmaid runs about = faint. She looks through a keyhole and sees someone preparing a noose = keels over. That last one doesn't work out too well for her either. Someone's up to something, and while all that's happening Dr Hitchcock is getting a hankering for some cold flesh, and constantly nearly keeps getting caught at the hospital morgue for this troubles (mainly by suspicious Silvano Tranquili, who has the hots for Barbara). I'm going to level with you here and say that this film isn't exactly a white knuckle ride. It's pure undiluted Gothic horror that takes it's sweet time getting to conclusion, but just like his other film The Ghost, Riccardo Freda makes good use of colour and throws in loads of mood (and thunderstorms, don't forget thunderstorms). There's one particularly weird scene where Barbara hallucinates Hitchcock's face swelling up while red light fills the screen. That said, I do prefer the Ghost if I had to compare the two.

Enticing, beautiful and absorbingly atmospheric Italian Gothic horror film from the absolute golden period, the early 60's, and starring one of the world's most radiantly gorgeous female creatures; Barbara Steele. "The Terrible Secret of Dr. Hichcock" - notice there's no "T" in the name to avoid lawsuits against the master of suspense himself – takes place in London in the year 1885, at the peak of the Victorian era in other words, and certainly contains all the necessary ingredients of a delicious Gothic cocktail, but unfortunately the film is a bit slow-moving and it takes slightly too long before something really substantial occurs. Director Riccardo Freda generates a compelling and ultra-macabre Gothic atmosphere, with numerous thunderstorms and dark château passageways, but he doesn't have a fascinating enough plot to go with the ambiance. Usually writer Ernesto Gastaldi punctually delivers engaging and superb scenarios, but maybe this time he seemingly had a bit of an off-day. After his wife dies from a mysterious condition, which he may or may not have inflicted himself, Dr. Hichcock promptly leaves his mansion and prominent job at the hospital. He returns twelve years later with an even lovelier new wife (Mrs. Steele!) Cynthia and reprises his profession. During her many dull days alone in the mansion, Cynthia notices a sinister presence and it doesn't take too long before she starts losing her mind further on. She suffers from horribly nightmarish hallucinations in which she hears disturbing screams and spots Dr. Hichcock's previous wife meander through the house and nearby woods completely covered in a white ghostly nightgown. Is her mental condition really deteriorating or could it be that the good Doctor's first wife never really passed away? I think the title alone already answers this haunting question. Overall a very derivative and forgettable story but, as said, it are the spooky atmosphere and Victorian elements that'll keep you alert in this movie. The decors are stunning and the black-and-white photography is stylishly elegant. If you've never seen this type of movie before, "The Terrible Secret of Dr. Hichchock" perhaps isn't the ideal place to start, but experienced horror fanatics will certainly appreciate spotting all the luscious trademarks. Riccardo Freda actually was the mentor of the greatest Italian horror director who ever lived; Mario Bava. Freda took a step sideways on the film sets of "I, Vampire" and "Caltiki"; offering Bava a chance to complete his first films as director as well next to being the cinematographer. I always wondered whether or not Freda ever regretted this initiative, because from the very first moment the acolyte surpassed his mentor in terms of pure and genuine craftsmanship. For example this "The Terrible Secret of Dr. Hichckock" is a nice and worthwhile Gothic horror installment, but it undeniably can't hold a candle to Bava's "Black Sunday" (also starring Barbara Steele) or "The Whip and the Body".