The Manitou ** (1978, Tony Curtis, Ann Sothern, Burgess Meredith, Jeanette Nolan, Susan Strasberg) – Classic Movie Review 8303

Alas poor Tony Curtis, Ann Sothern, Burgess Meredith, Jeanette Nolan and Lurene Tuttle! How did these good old actors get involved in director William Girdler’s entertainingly absurd 1978 chiller hokum The Manitou about Susan Strasberg growing a 400-year-old Indian in an Alien-style foetus and exploding out of her neck? When phony medium/ psychic Harry Erskine (Curtis) is naturally unable to find a cure for his old flame Karen Tandy (Strasberg), medicine man John Singing Rock (Michael Ansara) is called in.

The Manitou is hilariously inept, but the unexpectedly high production values with decent special effects, plus Girdler’s vigorous writing and directing keep up a level of interest for horror fans.

The screenplay by William Girdler, Jon Cedar and Thomas Pope is based on Graham Masterson’s novel. Jon Cedar also plays Dr Jack Hughes. Also in the cast are Paul Mantee, Hugh Corcoran and Cindy Stanford.

Curtis recalled: ‘Some 400-year-old evil spirit tries to reincarnate itself on Susan Strasberg’s neck. The director, William Girdler, was scouring locations in the Philippines a few months later when he was killed in a helicopter crash.’

Girdler bought the rights to Graham Masterton’s 1976 best-selling novel The Manitou for only $50,000.

Invites to the premiere in South Africa were printed on vomit bags.

Girdler is also remembered for Grizzly, Day of the Animals, Asylum of Satan, Project: Kill, Dr Gore, The Get-Man, Abby and Sheba Baby. He made nine films in six years before his death at 30 when his helicopter hit electrical power lines.

The Manitou is directed by William Girdler, 104 minutes, is made by Mid-America Pictures, Melvin Simon Productions, Manitou Productions, Hollywood West Entertainment and Weist-Simon, is released by Embassy Pictures (1978) (US), is written by William Girdler, Jon Cedar and Thomas Pope, based on Graham Masterton’s novel, is shot by Michel Hugo, is produced by Herman Weist, Melvin Simon, Melvin G Gordy and William Girdler, is scored by Lalo Schrifin and is designed by Nikita Knatz and Walter Scott Herndon.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8303

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