Fright * (1971, Honor Blackman, Susan George, Ian Bannen, John Gregson, George Cole, Dennis Waterman) – Classic Movie Review 8274

Susan George stars as Amanda, who babysits for her friend Helen Lloyd (Honor Blackman) in a remote house and is terrified by Blackman’s estranged husband Brian (Ian Bannen), a dangerous escaped mental patient, in director Peter Collinson’s horrible, unpleasant 1971 sexploitation horror shocker Fright.

Tudor Gates’s dodgy, offensive screenplay summons up an unpleasant ragbag of clichés and prejudices, leaving a more than decent cast stranded. Peter Collinson’s in-your-face direction lacks any subtlety or originality.

George Cole (as Jim) and Dennis Waterman (Chris) appear together before they starred in TV’s Minder.

In their only film together, Blackman and Maurice Kaufmann (playing the police inspector) were married at the time (1963-75).

Also in the cast are John Gregson as Dr Cordell, Tara Collinson, Roger Lloyd Pack and Michael Brennan.

Tudor Gates also wrote the screenplay for Twins of Evil (1971).

It is filmed at Shepperton Studios, Surrey, England.

The talented Peter Collinson, known for The Italian Job (1969), The Long Day’s Dying (1968), Up the Junction (1968) and Tomorrow Never Comes (1978), died of cancer at 44 on December 16, 1980.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8274

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