at age 9 or 10, in a cheap theater in Douglas, Wyoming, my brother & I saw (for 25 cents) a "scary" movie whose title we cannot remember. It featured a family in an English manor in "modern" times. We saw the film in 1961 but this was a small town so the movie was probably made in the 1950s. The family lived in a large estate in the British countryside. A young man (son?) had returned but w/out a warm welcome. He was dark & broody (Oliver Reed?). The mother was half mad & spent a lot of time in a little girl's room which was empty (kid had obviously died). The room was kept as it had been when the girl died, it seemed. In one scene, the mother shouted at the son for coming into the girl's room & touching her dolls. The fellow ran out of the manor hourse, maniacially, & stood at the edge of the lake, staring into it. He had a "flash back" & saw a large garden party, 2 kids (himself & his sister, I guess) playing rowdily. He pushed her into the lake & she drowned. He stood staring (as a kid, while she went under). The grown ups were drinking, music loud so nobody noticed. The search began around midnight & the girl floated to the top of the lake the next day. There was also a scene where a gardner went into a small place (cellar?) & had his head cut off! This is all I remember, except the young man constantly having "fits" and running around the lake singing & calling to his sister. I think he was singing "Little fishy from the brook, Papa's got you on a hook." What the heck could this movie be?? Dixie in Colorado (Peter Johnson's wife)
It sounds similar to DEMENTIA 13, but that was made in 1963.
Dixie says that, thankyou Wence, but while the similarities are striking, there's the matter of victim gender and age and the gender & age of the beheading victim --
She suggests that perhaps Coppola may have seen the movie she's thinking of -- and then there's the matter of the song --
Plus she's dead certain that the '63 date for Dementia puts it out of the running --
Thankyou for responding & at least suggesting --
C'mon now, youse guys!! This is the best "obscure movie recognition" site on the web, for Zeus's sake!!
The request for help still stands --
peter johnson/denny crane
I don't know the name of it, but the plot sure does sound familiar. I'm sure I've seen it (probably in the 70's on the Saturday afternoon "Shock Theatre" program).
Help, please read this!! You guys are the best trackers in the Universe -- Ulthar remembers this from Shock Theatre --
Where are you, Andrew and Vermin?
peter johnson/denny crane
When I first read the decription the movie "Burnt Offerings" came to mind. It has Karen Black in it as well as Oliver Reed.
It cannot be this movie as Oliver Reed is an adult and it was made in the 70's. E.
Thankyou for trying, Ellie --
What was someone saying about typing in a description at IMDB somewhere & getting a choice of results? I can't find the thread now --
Really, I'm a bit shocked that nobody can get this -- Have you British guys even read this thread? Dixie is pretty certain it was English, as she recalls everyone speaking with accents.
Man, I've seen people on this site type in a one-sentence description of a guy sitting on a sofa, and 3 people write in with correct guesses as to which movie right away!!
Maybe this one really is too obscure -- Hell, I love British horror/suspense films, and have seen more than a few, but I draw a blank on this one too --
It seems as if the song should give it right away --
Anyway, thanks to everyone who has at least read this & thought about it --
Please keep trying to come up with a title!!
Thankyou
peter johnson/denny crane
How about the movie "Paranoiac" with Janette Scott and Oliver Reed. It was made in 1963. I looked up Oliver Reed movies and it sounds like it could be the one you are searching for..although I have never seen it.
Ellie, you're very nice to try & we thank you --
However, we own Paranoiac, and this ain't it -- Dixie was only thinking the guy was LIKE Oliver Reed, or "could" have been him, but I agree with you, that if you just search by star, it doesn't seem like one of his.
Probably some British B/Poverty Row flick that found its way over here, with an unknown cast. Oh, well, perhaps someone will pick up this thread months or years from now with a positive ID, . . . as HAS been known to happen!!
peter johnson/denny crane
Could it be "The Uninvited"? (I think this is the title)
I looked up The Uninvited in the IMDB, and this is one I've been meaning to see for years now -- sounds very cool! -- nice cover, too --
However, the plot description they give there is pretty thin, so can't tell -- I'll bring it to Dixie's attention though as a possible --
Have you seen it, Amanda? Does it have a "fish" song and a decapitation in a cellar? A floating little girl? If so, this could be it --
peter johnson/denny crane