Theatre of Death [Blood Fiend] *** (1966, Christopher Lee, Julian Glover, Lelia Goldoni) – Classic Movie Review 8570

Director Samuel Gallu’s 1966 British horror movie Theatre of Death [Blood Fiend] stars Christopher Lee as Philippe Darvas, a supercilious director of Grand Guignol horror plays at The Theatre of Death in Paris, and he is also the chief suspect for some mysterious vampire-like murders when bloodless bodies appear across the city. A police surgeon, attracted to one of the Theatre of Death performers, investigates.

There is a reasonably witty screenplay, a lot of fake gore and considerable enthusiasm, plus a few twists as well as some attractive tongue-in-cheek performances from a strong cast to help to keep this excellently photographed (by Gilbert Taylor in Technicolor and Techniscope) horror mystery busy, involving and just a touch scary.

Also in the cast are Lelia Goldoni, Jenny Till, Julian Glover, Ivor Dean, Evelyn Laye, Joseph Furst, Betty Woolfe, Leslie Handford, Fraser Kerr, Steve Plytas, Miki Iveria, Terence Soall, Esther Anderson, Peter Cleall, Suzanne Owens and Julie Mendez.

The screenplay is by Ellis Kadison and Roger Marshall.

Jenny Till has an ‘introducing’ credit as Nicole Chapelle, though she previously made uncredited appearances in The Masque of the Red Death and Help! She next played Lady Marian in A Challenge for Robin Hood, but thereafter her work is almost entirely on TV till her retirement in 1981.

It was filmed at Associated British Elstree Studios, Shenley Road, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England.

The UK censors BBFC made cuts for an X rating, which were restored in 2001 when the film got a 15 certificate on home video.

It is Samuel Gallu’s first film as director, and he made only three others, The Man Outside, The Limbo Line, and Arthur? Arthur!

Theatre of Death [Blood Fiend] is directed by Samuel Gallu, runs 91 minutes, is made by Aston and Pennea Productions, is released by London Independent Producers (1966) (UK) and Hemisphere Pictures (1967) (US), is written by Roger Marshall and Ellis Kadison, is shot in Technicolor and Techniscope by Gilbert Taylor, is produced by William J Gell and Michael Smedley-Astin, is scored by Elisabeth Lutyens, and is designed by Peter Proud.

Gallu formerly sang tenor for Arturo Toscanini, and Gallu and Lee sang bits of famous opera arias together between takes.

The painting above Philippe Darvas’s fireplace is The Newborn (1645) by Georges de la Tour.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8570

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