Captain Clegg (1962)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Peter Graham Scott

Writers:

Anthony Hinds (writer)
Barbara S. Harper (additional dialogue)
(more)

Release Date:

13 June 1962 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Adventure | Horror

Tagline:

Who knows the truth about the curse of Captain Clegg?

Plot:

In this engaging costume melodrama of skulduggery on the low seas set back in the 18th-century, the...

Plot Keywords:

Captain | Smuggling | Marsh | Ghost | Lovers

Cast

Peter Cushing	...	Rev. Dr. Blyss (Capt. Clegg)
Yvonne Romain	...	Imogene Clegg (serving wench)
Patrick Allen	...	Capt. Collier
Oliver Reed	...	Harry Cobtree
Michael Ripper	...	Jeremiah Mipps (coffinmaker)
Martin Benson	...	Mr. Rash (innkeeper)
David Lodge	...	Navy bos'un
Derek Francis	...	Squire Anthony Cobtree
Daphne Anderson	...	Mrs. Rash
Milton Reid	...	The Mulatto
Jack MacGowran	...	Frightened Man
Terry Scully	...	Sailor Dick Tate
Sydney Bromley	...	Old Tom Ketch
Peter Halliday	...	Sailor Jack Pott
Rupert Osborne	...	Gerry (as Rupert Osborn)
Gordon Rollings	...	Wurzel
Bob Head	...	Peg-Leg
Colin Douglas	...	Pirate bos'un
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gerry Crampton	...	Tattooed sailor (uncredited)
Harold Gee	...	Fiddler (uncredited)

Directed by
Peter Graham Scott

Writing credits
Anthony Hinds		(writer) (as John Elder)
Barbara S. Harper		(additional dialogue)
Russell Thorndike		novel "Dr. Syn" (uncredited)

Produced by
John Temple-Smith	....	producer

Original Music by
Don Banks

Cinematography by
Arthur Grant

Film Editing by
Eric Boyd-Perkins

Production Design by
Bernard Robinson

Art Direction by
Don Mingaye

Makeup Department
Roy Ashton	....	makeup artist
Frieda Steiger	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Don Weeks	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
John Peverall	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Jock May	....	sound recordist
Terry Poulton	....	sound editor

Special Effects by
Les Bowie	....	special effects
Ian Scoones	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Len Harris	....	camera operator
Jack Curtis	....	chief electrician (uncredited)
Tom Edwards	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Molly Arbuthnot	....	wardrobe supervisor
Rosemary Burrows	....	wardrobe mistress

Editorial Department
James Needs	....	editorial supervisor

Music Department
Philip Martell	....	musical director

Other crew
Tilly Day	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Hammer Film Productions
• Major Pictures

Distributors

• J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors (1962) (UK) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (1962) (USA) (theatrical) (retitled)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Universal International Pictures (UI)  us releasing agent

Also Known As:

Night Creatures (USA)

Runtime:

80 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

USA:Unrated | Norway:16 (1962) | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Hammer Film Productions

Movie Connections:

Remake of Doctor Syn (1937)

Hammer at their very best

This is one spooky film, yet there are no horror or supernatural elements per se, even though it feels like there are. Probably my favorite film from my childhood along with Disney's "The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh". It was years later before I discovered that they had the same source material and they were released the same year. Disney sued Hammer over rights to the character of Dr. Syn, so Hammer changed the main characters name to Dr. Blyss, and the Scarecrow became a supporting character instead of the lead.

I have to disagree with the reviewer who called this a confusing mess, as the storyline is pretty basic and quite clear cut. The movie is filled with such atmosphere that you can practically get a cough from the constant fog. The highlight of the film is the Marsh Phantoms, a group of smugglers who dress up as skeleton and ride skeleton horses. It is a very eerie sight to see.

Special mention should be made of the incredibly beautiful Yvonne Romaine. She only made a handful of films yet she may possibly be the most beautiful woman who ever appeared on screen.

I have heard that the reason this film is not available is that Universal (I think) has the rights to it and refuses to do anything with it. Sad for all of us.