Il trono di fuoco (1970)

Director:

Jesus Franco

Writers:

Michael Haller (writer)
Harry Alan Towers (story)
(more)

Release Date:

May 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

Horror will hold you helpless!

Plot Keywords:

Judge | Witch Trial | 1600s | Blind Woman | Witch Hunt

Cast

Christopher Lee	...	Lord George Jeffreys
Maria Schell	...	Mother Rosa
Leo Genn	...	Lord Wessex
Hans Hass Jr.	...	Harry Selton (as Hans Hass)
Maria Rohm	...	Mary Gray
Margaret Lee	...	Alicia Gray
Pietro Martellanza	...	Barnaby (as Peter Martell)
Howard Vernon	...	Jack Ketch
Milo Quesada	...	Satchel
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Werner Abrolat	...	Inquisitor Matt (uncredited)
Giuliana Garavaglia	...	(uncredited)
Diana Lorys	...	Sally Gaunt (uncredited)
José Martínez Blanco	...	Steven Truro (uncredited)
José María Prada	...	Palafox (uncredited)
Vicente Roca	...	Chief Prosecutor (uncredited)
John Thompson	...	Jonathan Dickens (uncredited)
Serena Vergano	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Jesus Franco		(as J. Frank Manera)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Michael Haller		writer
Harry Alan Towers		story (as Peter Welbeck)
Anthony Scott Veitch		writer

Produced by
Harry Alan Towers	....	producer

Original Music by
Bruno Nicolai

Cinematography by
Manuel Merino

Film Editing by
Derek Parsons
Gertrud Petermann		(German version)

Art Direction by
Jack Taylor		(as George O. Brown)

Set Decoration by
Jack Taylor		(as George O'Brown)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Alberto Chiarolla	....	assistant director (as Alberto Chianella)
John Thompson	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Joyce Oxley	....	dubbing editor

Editorial Department
Rick Greenhead	....	telecine colorist

Production Companies

• Fénix Cooperativa Cinematográfica
• Prodimex Film
• Terra-Filmkunst
• Towers of London (in association with)

Distributors

• American International Pictures (AIP) (1972) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Astral Films (1972) (Canada) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Constantin Film (1970) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Arce Films
• Astro Distribution (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• Blue Underground (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Blue Underground (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Cinefear (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Divisa Home Video (2004) (Spain) (DVD)
• GEE Video (video)
• Stomp Visual (2005) (Australia) (DVD)
• UFA Video (1980) (West Germany) (VHS)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2009) (Australia) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Der Hexentöter von Blackmoor (West Germany)
El juez sangriento (Spain)
El proceso de las brujas (Spain)
Night of the Blood Monster (USA)
The Bloody Judge
Throne of the Blood Monster (USA)
Trial of the Witches (USA)
Witch Killer of Broadmoor (USA)
Witches' Trial (USA)

Runtime:

Argentina:97 min | Spain:96 min | Sweden:94 min (banned version) | West Germany:82 min | USA:84 min

Country:

Liechtenstein | Italy | Spain | West Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:MA | Australia:R (DVD rating) | New Zealand:R18 | West Germany:18 (nf) | Argentina:16 | Sweden:15 (Banned) | UK:18 (video rating) | USA:PG

Company:

Fénix Cooperativa Cinematográfica

Trivia:

Dennis Price was originally cast as Lord Wessex but withdrew at the last moment (he was replaced by Leo Genn). Some film posters and advertising material from the time credit Price as appearing in the movie.

Quotes:

Lord George Jeffreys: You are all condemned, for crimes against king and kingdom, to hang... to dangle until you are but dead, to be then cut down still alive, to have your entrails drawn out and thrust into your own mouths, to be further hanged, then quartered like the carcasses of beef you are. You number five hundred, but even if you were five thousand, the execution of this sentence would be just before God Almighty... and may He have mercy upon your souls.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Son of Svengoolie: Night of the Blood Monster (1970) (#1.29)" (1980)

One of Franco's best!!

First of all, "Night Of The Blood Monster", is a stupid and misleading title. "Bloody Judge" is exactly what the excellent Christopher Lee portraits in this big budget (yeah, Jess Franco with money!?!) witch hunting flick. The plot is almost the same as "Mark Of The Devil" and "Witchfinder General", also from that period. It's beautifully shot and filled with impressive battle scenes and lots of politics (based on a true story!). If you see the uncut LBX version you'll get a sleaze-o-rama of torture, nudity, whipping etc. Franco regular Howard Vernon is over-the-top as the chief torturer (made me think of Marty Feldman in "Young Frankenstein"!). Franco and Lee should be proud of this film, think of that when you're watching Franco-bombs like "Golden Temple Amazons" and "Man Hunter". Vintage Euro-horror at it's best!