The Flesh and Blood Show
| The Flesh and Blood Show | |
|---|---|
 American film poster | |
| Directed by | Pete Walker |
| Screenplay by | Alfred Shaughnessy |
| Produced by | Pete Walker |
| Starring | Ray Brooks Jenny Hanley Luan Peters Patrick Barr |
| Cinematography | Peter Jessop |
| Music by | Cyril Ornadel |
Production company | Peter Walker (Heritage) Ltd. |
Release date | 1972 |
Running time | 96 min. |
| Country | England |
| Language | English |
The Flesh and Blood Show is a 1972 British horror film directed by Pete Walker. It stars Ray Brooks, Jenny Hanley and Luan Peters. [1]
Plot
A anonymous producer assembles a group of unemployed actors and actresses to be in a play, rehearsing in an abandoned theatre beside the sea. A murderer, who wears black gloves, kills all of the actors in various ways. The murderer is later revealed to have previously been an actor, who trapped his wife and her new lover in the wall, re-emerging 30 years later to commit murder again.
Production
The seaside theatre in the film was the Pavilion Theatre in Cromer, England. The film's ending was originally filmed and shown in cinemas in 3-D.[2]
The film's plot of young actors and actresses being murdered became a theme in the director's later work. His later horror films focused on youth and their culture being attacked by people who are older.[3] Walker mixed elements of sexploitation films and slasher films to direct this movie.[4]
The three films that the director is most known for came after this one - House of Whipcord, Frightmare, and House of Mortal Sin.[3]
Reception
Bill Gribron, writing for DVD Verdict, said, "This film could use all the inventive help it can get. Otherwise, it's as stiff as a British businessman's long-lamented upper lip".[2] Ian Jane, of DVD Talk, wrote, "While The Flesh & Blood Show has definitely got its fair share of obvious flaws, it's nevertheless a fun and enjoyable horror movie with enough mildly sleazy thrills and odd characters to provide for some solid entertainment"[5]
Home media
The film was released on DVD by Shriek Show, a division of Media Blasters, in 2006. The special features are a picture gallery, a trailer, and an interview with the director.[2]
Cast
- Ray Brooks ... Mike
- Jenny Hanley ... Julia Dawson
- Luan Peters ... Carol Edwards
- Patrick Barr ... Major Bell / Sir Arnold Gates
- Robin Askwith ... Simon
- Candace Glendenning ... Sarah
- Tristan Rogers ... Tony Weller
- Judy Matheson ... Jane
- David Howey ... John
- Elizabeth Bradley ... Mrs. Saunders
- Jess Conrad ... Young Actor
- Rodney Diak ... Warner
- Penny Meredith ... Angela
- Sally Lahee ... Iris Vokins
- Raymond Young ... Insp. Walsh
- Alan Curtis ... Jack Phipps
- Brian Tully ... Willesden
- Jane Cardew ... Lady Pamela
- Tom Mennard ... Fred
- Stewart Bevan ... Harry Mulligan
- Michael Knowles ... Curran
References
- ^ "The Flesh and Blood Show". BFI.
- ^ a b c Gibron, Bill (3 August 2005). "The Flesh And Blood Show". DVD Verdict. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
- ^ a b Hutchings, Peter (2009). The A to Z of Horror Cinema. Scarecrow Press. p. 325. ISBN 9780810870505. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
- ^ Schwartz, Carol; Olenski, Jim (2002). VideoHound's Cult Flicks & Trash Pics. Visible Ink Press. p. 187. ISBN 1-57859-113-9.
- ^ Jane, Ian (21 July 2006). "The Flesh and Blood Show". DVD Talk. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
