UK, 1969
92m
35mm film, Eastmancolor
mono, English
A British science fiction film directed by Alan Cooke. It was originally released in London, UK on November 1970.
Plot Summary
30 year old John Soames has been in a coma since birth, but a new surgical procedure awakens him and the process begins of turning his mind from that of an infant to that of an adult. But the process is more traumatic than anyone expected and a terrified Soames flees the institute where he’s being held…
Credits
Crew
Directed by: Alan Cooke
© 1969 by Amicus Productions Ltd
Columbia Pictures presents an Amicus production
Produced by: Max Rosenberg and Milton Subotsky
Screenplay by: John Hale and Edward Simpson
From the novel by Charles Eric Maine
Lighting Cameraman: Billy Williams
Editor: Bill Blunden
Music Composed and Conducted by: Michael Dress
Sound Mixer: John Aldred
Wardrobe: Evelyn Gibbs
Make-up: Jill Carpenter
Hairdresser: Gordon Bond
Production Designer: Bill Constable
Made at: Shepperton Studios, England
Cast
Terence Stamp (John Soames)
Robert Vaughn (Dr Michael Bergen)
Nigel Davenport (Dr Maitland)
Donal Donnelly (Joe Allen)
Dan Jackson (Nicholls)
Scott Forbes (Richard Bannerman)
Judy Parfitt (Jenny Bannerman)
Norman Jones (Davis)
Vickery Turner (Naomi)
Joe McPartland (Inspector Moore)
Pamela Moiseiwitsch (Melanie Parks)
Christian Roberts (Thomas Fleming)
Billy Cornelius (Sergeant Clifford)
Jon Croft (guard)
Esmond Webb (ticket seller)
Bill Pilkington (pub owner)
Kate Binchy (barmaid)
Joe Gladwin (old man in car)
Tony Caunter (teacher)
Eric Brooks (TV floor manager)
Alternative Titles
Il cervello di Mr Soames – Italy
Das Zweite Leben des Mr Soames – West Germany
Press
In Today’s Cinema1Today’s Cinema no.9848 (16 October 1970) p.8 Marjorie Bilbow noted that the film was “directed with sensitivity and discretion, with performances worthy of the discretion” and commended th eperformances, particularly that of Terence Stamp who “gives a beautifully observed, sensitively developed, unselfish performance.”
References
Periodicals
- Castle of Frankenstein no.19 p.44
- Kine Weekly vol.619 no.3198 (25 January 1969) pp.12, 14; 14 – note (Production: Parental parable by Rod Cooper); credits (Shooting now)
- Today’s Cinema no.9619 (6 January 1969) p.7 – note (Film forecast)
- Today’s Cinema no.9622 (13 January 1969) p.10 – note (Fugitive from ‘Bullitt’ now? by John Ware)
- Today’s Cinema no.9625 (20 January 1969) – credits (In production)
- Today’s Cinema no.9628 (27 January 1969) p.4 – credits (In production)
- Today’s Cinema no.9631 (3 February 1969) p.7 – credits (In production)
- Today’s Cinema no.9848 (16 October 1970) p.8 – credits, synopsis, review (The new films by Marjorie Bilbow)
Books
- The Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Science Fiction by Phil Hardy (ed) p.284
- English Gothic: A Century of Horror Cinema by Jonathan Rigby pp.145, 165
- Film Review 1971-72 by F. Maurice Speed (ed) p.229
- Reference Guide to Fantastic Films by Walt Lee p.303 – credits
- Uneasy Dreams: The Golden Age of British Horror Films, 1956-1976 by Gary A. Smith pp.152
