Grip of the Strangler (1958)

Director:

Robert Day

Writers:

John Croydon (writer)
Jan Read (screenplay)
(more)

Genre:

Crime | Mystery | Horror

Tagline:

Their wild beauty marked them for death by . . . The Haunted Strangler

Plot:

A writer investigating the execution of a serial killer known as "The Haymarket Strangler" 20 years...

Plot Keywords:

1880s | Strangulation | Asylum | Escaped Lunatic | Grave

Cast

Boris Karloff	...	James Rankin
Jean Kent	...	Cora Seth
Elizabeth Allan	...	Barbara Rankin
Anthony Dawson	...	Supt. Burk
Vera Day	...	Pearl
Tim Turner	...	Dr. Kenneth McColl
Diane Aubrey	...	Lily Rankin
Max Brimmell	...	Newgate Prison Turnkey
Leslie Perrins	...	Newgate Prison Governor
Jessica Cairns	...	Asylum Maid
Dorothy Gordon	...	Hannah
Desmond Roberts	...	Dr. Johnson
Roy Russell	...	Medical Superintendent
Derek Birch	...	Guyse Hospital Superintendent
Peggy Ann Clifford	...	Kate
John Fabian	...	Young Blood
Joan Elvin	...	Can-Can Girl
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael Atkinson	...	Edward Styles (uncredited)
Yvonne Buckingham	...	Whore (uncredited)
Robert Day	...	(uncredited)
Marie Devereux	...	Bit part (uncredited)
John G. Heller	...	Male Nurse (uncredited)
George Hirste	...	Lost Property Man (uncredited)
Arthur Mullard	...	Male Nurse (uncredited)
George Spence	...	Hangman (uncredited)
Jeremy Young	...	Asylum Guard (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Day

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
John Croydon		writer (as John C. Cooper)
Jan Read		screenplay
Jan Read		story "Stranglehold"

Produced by
John Croydon	....	producer
Richard Gordon	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Buxton Orr

Cinematography by
Lionel Banes

Film Editing by
Peter Mayhew

Production Design by
John Elphick

Makeup Department
Barbara Barnard	....	hair stylist
Jim Hydes	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Ronald Kinnoch	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Douglas Hickox	....	assistant director

Sound Department
H.C. Pearson	....	sound
Terry Poulton	....	dubbing editor

Special Effects by
Les Bowie	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Leo Rogers	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Anna Duse	....	wardrobe supervisor

Music Department
Frederick Lewis	....	conductor

Other crew
Hazel Swift	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Amalgamated Productions

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1958) (USA) (theatrical)
• Criterion Collection, The (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Gorgon Video (video)
• Image Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (USA) (laserdisc)
• Media Home Entertainment (video)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2005) (Australia) (DVD)

Also Known As:

The Haunted Strangler (USA)

Runtime:

USA:78 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | Iceland:12 | Finland:(Banned) (1958) | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Walton Studios, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England, UK

Company:

Amalgamated Productions

Trivia:

Last feature of Leslie Perrins.

A Nice Consolation Prize For Me

I am still kicking myself in the buttocks repeatedly for having missed the double feature of Boris Karloff's "The Haunted Strangler" (1958) and "Targets" (1968) at NYC's Film Forum a little while back. Thus, seeing a nice, crisp-looking DVD version of "Strangler" the other day came as a very nice consolation prize for me. In this one, Karloff plays a writer and social reformer living in London in 1880. He is investigating what he believes to be the wrongful execution of a man 20 years earlier; a man who had been accused of being the notorious Haymarket Strangler. Unfortunately, as Boris proceeds with this Victorian "cold case," all leads come back to...himself, and before long, he begins to act just a wee bit homicidal. As his Hyde-like nature emerges, Boris bites his underlip, sticks his teeth out, closes one eye and sweats a lot; still, it's a fairly impressive-looking transformation. Karloff was 71 when he essayed this role, but he still manages to exude a great deal of energy and enthusiasm (just watch him try to rip himself out of that straitjacket!). Perhaps being back in England again to make a film was somewhat responsible for this boost. And speaking of energy boosts, I must say that a neat surprise concerning Boris' character comes halfway through that really does shake things up. "The Haunted Strangler" also offers some interesting supporting characters, including cancan dancer Vera Day (who, with her bullet bra, made such a double impression on me in the following year's "Womaneater") and Scotland Yard agent Anthony Dawson (who, come to think of it, attempted a bit of strangulation himself in 1954's "Dial M For Murder"). Bottom line: This Karloff pic really ain't half bad!