Taste of Fear [Scream of Fear] **** (1961, Susan Strasberg, Ann Todd, Ronald Lewis, Christopher Lee, Leonard Sachs) – Classic Movie Review 2894

Director Seth Holt’s 1961 British horror thriller stars Susan Strasberg as Penny Appleby, a wheelchair-confined young socialite who insists that she keeps seeing her father’s dead body when she returns to his estate after ten years. But her wicked stepmother Jane Appleby (Ann Todd) tries to assure her that he is merely away on a trip.

Christopher Lee also stars as the French-accented family doctor Dr Pierre Gerrard, the father’s friend. Penny comes to believe that her stepmother and the doctorr are plotting to drive her insane.

There’s plenty to enjoy in this complicated, intelligent and constantly surprising Hammer chiller, expertly written and produced by Jimmy Sangster. The French coast locations, Douglas Slocombe’s stylish black and white cinematography and the jolting scares are effectively employed to establish an eerie, jarring, jangling atmosphere of fear.

Also in the cast are Ronald Lewis, Leonard Sachs, John Serret as Inspector Legrand, Anne Blake, Fred Johnson and Bernard Brown.

Lee said: ‘The film, directed by ex-cutter Holt, one of the best British directors ever, was nearly Hammer’s best, though not up to Never Take Sweets from a Stranger (1960). Sangster wrote a strong story and I had a good part.’

Lee recalled that, while shooting the dining-room scene, was shocked to realise he was being observed by Gary Cooper shooting what was to be his last film, The Naked Edge (1961), at the studio. Cooper, dying of cancer, had lunch every day by himself.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2894

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