Horror Hospital (1973)

User Rating:

4.9/10   

Director:

Antony Balch

Writers:

Antony Balch (screenplay) and
Alan Watson (screenplay)

Release Date:

April 1975 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi | Comedy | Horror

Tagline:

The Operation is a Success ... When the Patient Dies

Plot:

Jason, a member of a 1960's pop group, decides he needs a break at a country retreat. On the train he meets Judy...

Plot Keywords:

Mind Control | Blood | Decapitation | Fire | Wheelchair

Cast

Michael Gough	...	Dr. Christian Storm
Robin Askwith	...	Jason Jones
Vanessa Shaw	...	Judy Peters
Ellen Pollock	...	Aunt Harris
Dennis Price	...	Mr. Pollack
Skip Martin	...	Frederick
Kurt Christian	...	Abraham
Barbara Wendy	...	Millie
Kenneth Benda	...	Carter
Martin Grace	...	Bike Boy
Colin Skeaping	...	Bike Boy
George Herbert	...	Laboratory Assistant
James Boris IV	...	'Mystic' Rock Group (as James IV Boris)
Allan 'The River' Hudson	...	'Mystic' Rock Group (as Allan {The River} Hudson)
Simon Lust	...	'Mystic' Rock Group
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Antony Balch	...	Bearded Man in Club / Bike Boy (uncredited)
Ray Corbett	...	Hunting Man (uncredited)
Richard Gordon	...	Man in Club (uncredited)
Alan Watson	...	Transvestite in Club (uncredited)

Directed by
Antony Balch

Writing credits
Antony Balch		(screenplay) and
Alan Watson		(screenplay)

Produced by
Ray Corbett	....	associate producer
Richard Gordon	....	producer

Original Music by
DeWolfe		(as De Wolfe)

Cinematography by
David McDonald		(photographed by)

Film Editing by
Robert C. Dearberg		(as Robert Dearberg)

Casting by
Thelma Graves

Art Direction by
David Bill

Makeup Department
Colin Arthur	....	makeup supervisor

Production Management
Matt McCarthy	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
John Hansen	....	assistant director

Art Department
Charles Burgess	....	property master
Liz Richards	....	property buyer
Peter Richardson	....	construction coordinator

Sound Department
Tony Anscombe	....	sound recordist
Mike Hopkins	....	sound editor (as Michael Hopkins)
Paul Le Mare	....	sound recordist
Don Wortham	....	boom operator
Don Banks	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Stunts
Martin Grace	....	stunt supervisor

Camera and Electrical Department
Peter Biddle	....	clapper loader
John Crawford	....	camera operator
Jim Gomm	....	grip
Bob Jordan	....	focus

Editorial Department
Rod Howick	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Dennison Thornton	....	publicist
Midge Warnes	....	production secretary

Production Companies

• Noteworthy Films

Distributors

• Antony Balch Films (1973) (UK) (theatrical)
• Dieter-Wahl-Film (1973) (worldwide) (all media)
• Saguenay Films (1974) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Hallmark Releasing Corp. (1975) (USA) (theatrical)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• Bingo Video Inc. (19??) (USA) (VHS)
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (2005) (2008) (UK) (TV) (BBC2)
• DMEG (2004) (Sweden) (VHS)
• Elite Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Gorgon Video (1991) (USA) (VHS)
• Sovereign Multi-Media (1999) (UK) (VHS)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2005) (Australia) (DVD)
• Video Instant Picture Company (VIPCO) (1993) (UK) (VHS)

Other Companies

• De Wolfe Music  stock music (uncredited)
• Dieter-Wahl-Film  overseas distribution

Also Known As:

Computer Killers (USA)
Doctor Bloodbath (video title)

Runtime:

85 min | 100 min (uncut)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Italy:VM14 (DVD rating) | Italy:VM18 | New Zealand:R16 | Australia:R | UK:18 | USA:R | UK:X (original rating) (cut) | UK:18 (video rating) | Norway:(Banned) (1974-2003) (cinema release)

Filming Locations:

Knebworth House, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Noteworthy Films

Trivia:

The films Italian title "Diario proibito di un collegio femminile" translates to "Forbidden diary of a girls' boarding school".

Soundtrack:

Mark of Death

Super 70's horror comedy

Horror Hospital is an excellent slice of vintage British horror, produced in the early 70's when films were getting gorier (notice the numerous decapitations). Michael Gough is on top nasty form as a doctor who performs brain experiments (sound familiar?) on his young victims, and Robin Askwith is the unsuspecting youth caught up in his evil schemes. Dennis Price has an amusing cameo, and there's even a 70's guy called Abraham with big hair. Lots of comedy action scenes too with motorbike-helmet wearing leather-suited baddies. This is a must see!