The Day of the Triffids *** (1963, Howard Keel, Nicole Maurey, Janette Scott, Kieron Moore) – Classic Movie Review 7516

Director Steve Sekely’s 1962 British horror movie The Day of the Triffids is a disappointing but still fun and endearing version of John Wyndham’s extremely fine classic chiller novel about the meteor showers that blind earthlings and rain dandelion fluff which grows into walking, man-eating plants.

Howard Keel is ill at ease among the tatty Triffids as American seaman Bill Masen, but Janette Scott as scientist Karen Goodwin gives one of her better performances and so does Kieron Moore as her biologist husband Tom.

Director Sekely does his best to carve out a decent chiller with the mixed blessings of a lowish budget ($750,000), only fair special effects and a reasonably intelligent screenplay by blacklisted writer Bernard Gordon, whose name was hidden under a front credit for executive producer Philip Yordan.

Freddie Francis had an uncredited hand in the direction. It was filmed in London, Spain and Shepperton Studios, England.

Also in the cast are Nicole Maurey, Alexander Knox, Mervyn Johns, Alison Leggatt, Carole Ann Ford, Colette Wilde, Ewan Roberts, Geoffrey Matthews, Janina Faye, Gigli Hauser, John Tate, Arthur Gross, Ian Wilson, Victor Brooks, Katya Douglas, Thomas Gallagher, Gary Hope, John Simpson and Sidney Vivian.

The Day of the Triffids is directed by Steve Sekely and Freddie Francis, runs 93 minutes, is made by Security Pictures and Allied Artists Pictures, is released by Allied Artists Pictures (US) and Rank (GB), is written by Bernard Gordon, based on John Wyndham’s novel, is shot in CinemaScope widescreen and Eastmancolor by Ted Moore, is produced by Philip Yordan (executive producer) and George Pitcher, is scored by Ron Goodwin, and is designed by Cedric Dawe.

Pat Carr is special effects technician (uncredited), Hugh Skillen did the Triffid effects (uncredited), and Wally Veevers did the special effects photography, with Bob Cuff the matte painter (uncredited) and Doug Ferris the matte artist (uncredited). Nosher Powell did stunts (uncredited).

There have been two TV mini-series versions – in 1981 and 2009 – and a new movie is in development.

Village of the Damned (1960), its thematic sequel Children of the Damned (1964) and Village of the Damned (1995) are based on another of John Wyndham’s classic novels, The Midwich Cuckoos.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7516

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Martin Stephens in Village of the Damned (1960),.