The Man Who Could Cheat Death (1959)

Director:

Terence Fisher

Writers:

Barré Lyndon (play)
Jimmy Sangster (screenplay)

Release Date:

June 1959 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

His terrifying secret - his hideous obsession made him... [The Man Who Could Cheat Death]

Plot:

A remake of "The Man in Half Moon Street" (1945) (qv.). Dr. Bonner plans to live forever through periodic gland transplants from younger...

Plot Keywords:

Beautiful Woman | Murder | Death In Title | Based On Play

Cast

Anton Diffring	...	Dr. Georges Bonnet
Hazel Court	...	Janine Dubois
Christopher Lee	...	Dr. Pierre Gerard
Arnold Marlé	...	Prof. Ludwig Weiss
Delphi Lawrence	...	Margo Phillipe
Francis De Wolff	...	Insp. LeGris
Gerda Larsen	...	Street Girl
Middleton Woods	...	Little Man
Michael Ripper	...	Morgue Attendant
Denis Shaw	...	Tavern Customer
Ian Hewitson	...	Roget
Frederick Rawlings	...	Footman
Marie Burke	...	Woman At Private View
Charles Lloyd Pack	...	Man At Private View
John Harrison	...	Servant

Runtime:

83 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Finland:(Banned) (1960) | Sweden:15 | West Germany:18 | UK:X

Filming Locations:

Bray Studios, Down Place, Oakley Green, Berkshire, England, UK

Company:

Cadogan Films

Trivia:

Anton Diffring was second choice for Dr. Bonnet.

Movie Connections:

Version of The Man in Half Moon Street (1945)

A fine film well worth watching.

The Man Who Could Cheat Death is a remake of The Man In Half Moon Street, the stage version of which also starred Anton Diffring. The book of this title gives much more back-ground to the character of Georges Bonnet which explains his actions, but unfortunately is lost in the film version, but I think Anton Diffring conveys the torturous life of Bonnet very well. Although he appears cold and heartless he is in fact in desperate need of being loved in a secure relationship, but because of his past he cannot allow himself to achieve this. He is incapable of understanding why his actions are so wrong, and this makes him a vulnerable character despite his obvious intelligence, success and wealth and in the end invokes pity from the audience. I believe Peter Cushing was originally down to play the starring role in this film opposite his familiar adversary Christopher Lee, but because of other commitments he had to turn down the part and suggested Diffring instead. From appearing cold and heartless to pleading and frightened I think Anton Diffring excels in this film and was the perfect choice for the role, although in some parts the acting would have benefited from more positive directing. Christopher Lee and Hazel Court are excellent in their roles and give fine performances in what is a thought provoking and beautifully shot film.