The Leech Woman (1960)

User Rating:

3.8/10   

Director:

Edward Dein

Writers:

David Duncan (writer)
Ben Pivar (story)
(more)

Release Date:

May 1960 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Forever young! Forever deadly! She lived off the life blood of male victims!

Plot:

When a very old African woman offers an ambitious endocrinologist the secret of eternal youth, he decides...

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Africa | Eternal Youth | Doctor | Rejuvenation

Cast

Coleen Gray	...	June Talbot
Grant Williams	...	Neil Foster
Phillip Terry	...	Dr. Paul Talbot
Gloria Talbott	...	Sally Howard
John Van Dreelen	...	Bertram Garvay
Estelle Hemsley	...	Old Malla
Kim Hamilton	...	Young Malla
Arthur Batanides	...	Jerry Lando
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Murray Alper	...	Drunk (uncredited)
Harold Goodwin	...	Detective Joe (uncredited)
Chester Jones	...	Ladu, lead bearer (uncredited)
Charles Keane	...	Detective Chief (uncredited)
Paul Thompson	...	Nandos Warrior Leader (uncredited)

Directed by
Edward Dein

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
David Duncan		writer
Ben Pivar		story
Francis Rosenwald		story

Produced by
Joseph Gershenson	....	producer

Original Music by
Irving Gertz
Hans J. Salter		(uncredited)
Henry Vars		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Ellis W. Carter

Film Editing by
Milton Carruth

Art Direction by
Robert Clatworthy
Alexander Golitzen

Set Decoration by
Russell A. Gausman
Clarence Steensen

Costume Design by
Bill Thomas

Makeup Department
Larry Germain	....	hair stylist
Bud Westmore	....	makeup artist

Production Management
F.D. Thompson	....	unit production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Joseph E. Kenney	....	assistant director (as Joe Kenny)

Sound Department
Leslie I. Carey	....	sound
Joe Lapis	....	sound

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Bill Thomas	....	costumes

Music Department
Milton Rosen	....	music supervisor
Frank Skinner	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Universal International Pictures (UI)

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1960) (USA) (theatrical)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1994) (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Deluxe Digital Studios  DVD authoring

Also Known As:

Leech (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

77 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (Certificate #19277) | Finland:(Banned) (1960) | USA:Not Rated (DVD)

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Trivia:

Universal (then Universal-International) made this low budget horror film because they needed a second feature to play with their U.S. release of the Hammer production The Brides of Dracula (1960).

Goofs:

Factual errors: During the ceremony of making the women young again, the process of tapping the pineal gland for hormones involves stabbing the sacrifice at the back of the neck with a short sharp instrument. The pineal gland is actually located deep within the brain.

Quotes:

Old Malla: You will never escape me, you are the one in my dreams of blood!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies (#9.12)" (1997)

could have been better

This film has two chief assets: an excellent performance by Colleen Gray and Bud Westmore's expert makeup. The script, though, leaves a lot to be desired. It's on the dull side and there is very little excitement or chills. It just drags along. Grant Williams, here in a supporting part, is bland as usual. And when Phillip Terry, who plays the lousy husband/doctor, dies, I cheered! Of course the story is unbelievable. That's why they call it science FICTION. A lot promised but little delivered. But see it for Colleen Gray and some convincing old/young makeup.