The Seventh Victim (1943)

Director:

Mark Robson

Writers:

DeWitt Bodeen (story)
Charles O'Neal (story)

Release Date:

21 August 1943 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Mystery

Tagline:

ROBBED OF THE WILL TO LOVE! (original half-sheet poster-style A)

Plot:

A woman in search of her missing sister uncovers a Satanic cult in New York's Greenwich Village, and finds that they may have something to do with her sibling's random disappearance.

Plot Keywords:

Cult | Satanic Cult | Cafe | Chase | Dead Body

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Tom Conway	...	Doctor Louis Judd
Jean Brooks	...	Jacqueline Gibson
Isabel Jewell	...	Frances Fallon
Kim Hunter	...	Mary Gibson
Evelyn Brent	...	Natalie Cortez
Erford Gage	...	Jason Hoag, Poet
Ben Bard	...	Mr. Brun
Hugh Beaumont	...	Gregory Ward
Chef Milani	...	Mr. Jacob Romari
Marguerita Sylva	...	Mrs. Bella Romari

Also Known As:

The 7th Victim (USA) (promotional title)

Runtime:

71 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:M | USA:Approved (PCA #9370)

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

The original story for the film (outlined by DeWitt Bodeen) was to be about an orphaned heroine caught in a web of murder against a background of the Signal Hills oil wells. If she didn't find out the killer's identity in time, she would become his seventh victim. Producer Val Lewton wanted the story to go in a different direction and called in a second writer to help reshape it.

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the beginning of the movie we see a quote from John Donne. "I run from death, and death meets me as fast, And all my pleasures are like yesterday." The movie attributes the quote to John Donne's Holy Sonnet #7. But it is actually from Holy Sonnet #1.

Quotes:

Nancy: Jacqueline, you've spoken so often of ending it all I can't understand why this should be so difficult for you. You have only to drink a little.
Esther Redi, Jacqueline's Partner: Yes, Jacqueline. You were always talking suicide; ending your life when you wanted to.
Jacqueline Gibson: Yes, when *I* wanted to.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Val Lewton: The Man in the Shadows (2007)

None of The Lord's Prayer survives in British TV print.

I'm amazed not one reviewer has mentioned the outstanding contribution by Jean Brooks as the missing Jacqueline Gibson. Although she makes a late appearance Jean is very impressive in her five scenes, particularly her monologue describing how she came to join the Palladists and her nighttime flight being pursued by the assassin with the switchblade. None of the Lord's prayer survives in the print shown on British television. This is strange as two lines were reportedly intact when the film was originally shown in British cinemas.The excellent Brooks who appeared in two other Lewton films was sadly wasted by RKO and subsequently relegated to support and bit roles.