Dominique (1978)

User Rating:

4.5/10   

Director:

Michael Anderson

Writers:

Edward Abraham (writer) and
Valerie Abraham (writer)

Release Date:

6 March 1980 (Australia)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

A story of the macabre... with a different twist.

Plot:

A millionaire who has recently lost his wife starts believing that he is being haunted by her spirit.

Plot Keywords:

Suicide | Mental Illness | Rejected Lover | Conservatory | Bludgeoned To Death

Cast

Cliff Robertson	...	David Ballard
Jean Simmons	...	Dominique Ballard
Jenny Agutter	...	Ann Ballard
Simon Ward	...	Tony Calvert
Ron Moody	...	Dr. Rogers
Judy Geeson	...	Marjorie Craven
Michael Jayston	...	Arnold Craven
Flora Robson	...	Mrs. Davis
David Tomlinson	...	Lawyer
Jack Warner	...	George
Leslie Dwyer	...	Cemetary Supervisor
Erin Geraghty	...	Ballard's Secretary
Brian Hayes	...	S.T. Reeve
Ian Holden	...	Policeman
Jack McKenzie	...	John, 1st Chauffeur

Also Known As:

Avenging Spirit
Dominique Is Dead (USA) (reissue title)
Dominque Is Dead (UK) (video title)

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Norway:16 | UK:AA | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

England, UK

Company:

Grand Prize Productions

Trivia:

Michael Anderson has stated in interviews that the film was taken out of his hands during editing and tampered against his wishes. Ron Moody was the chief victim of the cuts made.

DOMINIQUE (Michael Anderson, 1978) **

To call a film about a crippled ghost taking revenge from beyond the grave lame and lifeless would be too ironical but this here is an undeniably undistinguished combination of GASLIGHT (1939 & 1944) via LES DIABOLIQUES (1954); while still watchable in itself, it's so cliché-ridden as to provoke chuckles instead of the intended chills. However, thanks to the dire straits in which the British film industry found itself in the late 1970s, even a mediocre script such as this one was able to attract 10 star names - Cliff Robertson (as the conniving husband), Jean Simmons (in the title role), Jenny Agutter (as Robertson's artist half-sister), Simon Ward (as the enigmatic chauffeur), Ron Moody (as an ill-fated doctor), Michael Jayston (as Robertson's business partner), Judy Geeson (as Simmons' best friend and Jayston's wife), Flora Robson (as the housekeeper), David Tomlinson (as the notary reading Simmons' will) and, most surprisingly perhaps, Jack Warner (as a gravestone sculptor) - although most of them actually have nothing parts, I'm sorry to say!