Corruption (1968, Peter Cushing, Sue Lloyd, Noel Trevarthen) – Classic Movie Review 9965

‘Corruption Is Not A Woman’s Picture! Therefore: No Woman Will Be Admitted Alone To See This Super-Shock Film!’ You probably couldn’t get away with that now. You also probably couldn’t get away with Corruption (1968).

Director Robert Hartford-Davis’s controversial 1968 British bloody serial-killer horror shocker Corruption stars Peter Cushing as mad surgeon Sir John Rowan, mutilating prostitutes for their glands to restore his beloved Lynn Nolan (Sue Lloyd)’s model face hideously burnt in an accident.

So ‘where will the bodies turn up next?.. .under a car seat?… in a valise?… or in a deep-freeze?’

With its ridiculous, sensationalised exploitation film screenplay by the brothers Donald Ford and Derek Ford and clumsy handling by Hartford-Davis, this risible horror entry is simply horrible. Even Cushing cannot rescue it.

Also in the cast are Sue Lloyd, Noel Trevarthen, Kate O’Mara, David Lodge, Anthony Booth, Billy Murray, Wendy Varnals, Vanessa Howard, Phillip Manikum, Alexandra Dane, Valerie Van Ost, Diana Ashley and Jan Waters (UK version).

The UK cinema version is less explicit than the international version, without the nudity and graphic violence. The BBFC also further cut the train and beach murder scenes and remove a shot of a girl’s severed head.

Corruption is directed by Robert Hartford-Davis, runs 91 minutes, is made by Oakshire Productions and Titan International Productions, is released by Columbia Pictures, is written by Donald Ford and Derek Ford, is shot by Peter Newbrook, is produced by Peter Newbrook and is scored by Bill McGuffie, with Production Design by Bruce Grimes.

The international version replaces Jan Waters as Girl in the Flat, the first victim, with Marian Collins, who plays the murder scene topless.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9965

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