The Cat and the Canary (1979) - Radley Metzger
Related: 1979 films - Radley Metzger - American cinema
The Cat and the Canary (1979) - Radley Metzger
[Amazon.com] [FR] [DE] [UK]Glencliff Manor, 1934. A dark and stormy night. The family of a recently deceased, eccentric millionaire has been summoned for the reading of his final will and testament.
Description
Carol Lynley stars as the guileless young woman who becomes the sole heir to eccentric millionaire Wilfrid Hyde-White's fortune in this remake of the Paul Leni silent-film classic. But there's a catch: all the surviving relatives must spend the night in the old mansion. If she dies or is judged insane within the next 12 hours a new heir will be named, and, as if a house full of greedy relatives isn't enough, a homicidal maniac is on the loose, or so informs asylum director Edward Fox, making a dramatic swashbuckling entrance crashing through the library window like a British Zorro. Radley Metzger, best known for his elegant erotic dramas and racy romantic comedies, steps out of the genre that made his name since his debut film Dark Odyssey. With tongue firmly in cheek he refigures the old, dark house farce as a British comedy of manners, nicely capturing the clipped delivery and witty repartee of the drawing-room comedy at the expense of the thrills and chills that make Leni's original so memorable. It's a stylishly handsome and often clever film (the reading of the will, with brash Hyde-White hosting from beyond the grave through the magic of home movies, is an inspired highlight), but it never achieves any tension or terror. Honor Blackman, Wendy Hiller, Daniel Massey, and Olivia Hussey costar. --Sean Axmaker for Amazon.com
Starring Honor Blackman, Michael Callan, Edward Fox, Wendy Hiller, Olivia Hussey, Carol Lynley, Daniel Massey, Wilfrid Hyde White With this all-star cast, erotic auteur Radley Metzger turns his directorial prowess to the classic, spine-chilling story of mystery and horror. Glencliff Manor, 1934. A dark and stormy night. The family of a recently deceased, eccentric millionaire has been summoned for the reading of his final will and testament. Joining this group of eight is an unexpected visitor: the chief psychologist from the local mental hospital who is searching for a dangerous criminal escapee from the psychiatric ward! So turn off the lights, snuggle up to your loved one, and get ready for a horrific night of suspense, mystery and murder! "Stylishly Directed!" -Playboy Magazine The Classic Tale of Mystery and Suspense! "High melodramatic entertainment!" -Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine "An entertaining remake of the 1927 silent film!" -VideoHound
Produced by Richard Gordon Music by Steven Cagan Screenplay by Radley Metzger --[1]
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