Children of the Damned (1964)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Anton Leader

Writers:

John Briley (screenplay)
John Wyndham (novel)

Release Date:

29 January 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

So young, so innocent, so deadly - they came to conquer the world!

Plot:

Scientists discovers that there are six children who each have an enormous intelligence. The children are flown to London to be studied...

Plot Keywords:

Children | Embassy | Intelligence | Scientist | Church

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Ian Hendry	...	Col Tom Llewellyn
Alan Badel	...	Dr. David Neville
Barbara Ferris	...	Susan Eliot
Alfred Burke	...	Colin Webster
Sheila Allen	...	Diana Looran
Ralph Michael	...	Defense Minister
Patrick Wymark	...	Commander
Martin Miller	...	Prof. Gruber
Harold Goldblatt	...	Harib
Patrick White	...	Mr. Davidson
André Mikhelson	...	Russian official (as Andre Mikhelson)
Bessie Love	...	Mrs. Robbins, Mark's Grandmother
Clive Powell	...	Paul
Yoke-Moon Lee	...	Mi Ling (as Lee Yoke-Moon)
Roberta Rex	...	Nina

Also Known As:

Horror! (USA)
The Children (UK) (working title)
The Children Return (UK) (working title)

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

USA:Approved | USA:Unrated (video release) | UK:12 (re-rating) (2006) | UK:X (original rating) | Norway:16 (1964) | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Bermondsey, London, England, UK

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer British Studios

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Svengoolie: Children of the Damned" (1996)

Outstanding 60s sci fi

Children of the Damned is not so much a sequel to Village of the Damned as a supplement to it. This time it's children in the heart of London who are displaying terrifying powers. Instead of personalising the story as in the first film, this time screenwriter John Briley enlarges the scope to encompass some philosophical questions: what right does man have to interfere with evolution? Who's more scared, the adults or the children?

And of course, nature vs. nurture? Highly recommended, Children of the Damned is a fine example of British science fiction filmmaking, as good as Five Million Years to Earth.