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!!!!
Production Details
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
From a novel by Josephine Tey
RCA Sound Recording
Produced at Bray Studios, England
Black & White 80 mins – Cinemascope
Filming Began: 23rd July 1962
UK Release: 26th January 1964
Studio:
Bray Studios, Down Place, Oakley Green, Berkshire
Location:
Isle of Purbeck, Dorset
Stills from film
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Original Poster
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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 Amicus. His son, Kevin, went on to form another of Hammer’s rival companies, Tyburn Films.
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.