La noche del terror ciego (1971)

Director:

Amando de Ossorio

Writers:

Jesús Navarro Carrión (additional dialogue)
Amando de Ossorio (writer)

Release Date:

February 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery

Tagline:

Who are these unholy savages who hunt out their victims by sound alone?

Plot:

In the 13th century there existed a legion of evil knights known as the Templars, who quested for eternal...

Plot Keywords:

Knight | Corpse | Blood | 13th Century | Medieval Times

Cast

Lone Fleming	...	Betty Turner
César Burner	...	Roger Whelan
María Elena Arpón	...	Virginia White (as Helen Harp)
José Thelman	...	Pedro Candal (as Joseph Thelman)
Rufino Inglés	...	Insp. Oliveira
Verónica Llimera	...	Nina
Simón Arriaga	...	Morgue keeper
Francisco Sanz	...	Prof. Candal (librarian)
Juan Cortés	...	Coroner
Andrés Isbert
Antonio Orengo	...	Train engineer
José Camoiras
María Silva	...	Maria
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Britt Nichols	...	Sacrificed maiden (uncredited)
Pedro Sempson	...	Train engineer (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Amando de Ossorio

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Amando de Ossorio		writer
Jesús Navarro Carrión		additional dialogue

Produced by
José Antonio Pérez Giner	....	executive producer
Salvadore Romero	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Antón García Abril

Cinematography by
Pablo Ripoll

Film Editing by
José Antonio Rojo

Production Design by
Jaime Duarte De Brito

Set Decoration by
Juan García

Costume Design by
Humberto Cornejo

Makeup Department
José Luis Campos	....	makeup artist
Carmen Teran	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Manuel Amigo	....	production manager
Victor Dacosta	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Paulino González	....	assistant director

Art Department
Rafael Ablanque	....	assistant designer
Jaime Duarte De Brito	....	set designer

Sound Department
Luis Castro	....	sound effects
José María San Mateo	....	sound recordist

Special Effects by
José Gómez Soria	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Félix Mirón	....	camera operator: second unit
Luis Muñoz Alcolea	....	assistant camera
Julio Wizuete	....	still photographer

Editorial Department
Concepción Piño	....	assistant editor

Music Department
L. Fernández Soria	....	music editor

Other crew
Ángela Escribano	....	production secretary
Ramón Escribano	....	production assistant
Dick Randall	....	English adaptor
José Sánchez	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Interfilme
• Plata Films S.A.

Distributors

• Hispamex (1971) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Hallmark Releasing Corp. (1972) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Cinépix Film Properties (CFP) (1972) (Canada) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Redemption Films (1994) (UK) (VHS)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Astro Distribution (1998) (Germany) (VHS)
• Sinister Cinema (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• Divisa Home Video (2004) (Spain) (DVD)
• Blue Underground (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• ARTE (2006) (Germany) (TV)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• European Video Corporation (EVC) (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Paragon Video Productions (USA) (VHS)
• Unknown Video (19??) (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

A Noite do Terror Cego (Portugal)
Crypt of the Blind Dead
La noche de la muerta ciega
Mark of the Devil, Part 4: Tombs of the Blind Dead (USA)
Night of the Blind Dead
Revenge from Planet Ape (USA) (recut version)
The Blind Dead (USA)
The Night of the Blind Terror (International: English title) (literal title)
Tombs of the Blind Dead

Runtime:

USA:86 min | Spain:101 min

Country:

Spain | Portugal

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Spain:18 | New Zealand:R18 | Australia:R | Sweden:(Banned) | UK:18 (cut) | USA:PG | West Germany:18 | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Estoril, Cascais, Lisbon, Portugal

Company:

Interfilme

Trivia:

Some distributors in the U.S. re-cut and released "La Noche del terror ciego" with the title "Revenge from Planet Ape" in an effort to capitalize on the success of the Planet of the Apes (1968). A prologue was added in this cut version to make a dubious connection between the two films. The prologue explains that 3000 years ago a simian civilization of super intelligent apes struggled with man to gain control of the planet. In the end man conquered ape after a brutal battle which saw him destroy the ape, his culture and society. After this battle man tortured and killed all the ape prisoners by piercing their eyes with a red hot pokers. One of the prisoners, who was also the leader of the apes, vowed they would return from the dead to avenge man's brutality at a point in time before man destroyed Earth himself. This alternate prologue is available for viewing on the Blue-Underground DVD release.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: During the films intro titles, the camera is looking around the "abandoned" ruins of the Templars monastery. In one shot, a van with a ladder strapped to its roof-rack can be seen going across a bridge in the background, at the top of the picture.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Free Enterprise (1998)

Blind Blood Drinking Priests....

The story is about a renegade band of crusader-priests that turned from the Church and embraced the black arts. The opening sequence takes us back to the living Knights Templar and their cruel and graphic killing of a scantily-clad young female sacrifice. We then move up to the 20th century and the churchyard is nothing but a ruin, however, at night when females wandering about in the middle of nowhere chance upon the ruin, the knights wake from their crypts to feed on the blood of such passersby. Interesting story and one that has many problems of belief. These knights rise from the ground one moment, and in the next they are galloping on horses. Where did the horses come from? I couldn't find an answer....perhaps you can. The acting is passable, and I concede that grudgingly. But do not think I hold only contempt and despair for this film, because I really heartily recommend it. It is scary. It is very atmospheric. It is very intense at times. These dead knights are wonderfully made-up and really create frightening moments in the film as they walk toward their victims screaming. The knights were blinded after death and now when they rise from their earthy chambers they can only hear their way toward their victims. That is a very inventive concept. The director, Amando de Ossorio, knows what to do with lighting, set creations, and pacing the plot. There were three sequels to this film and that in itself shows it has SOME merit. The film also set the trend for mixing sex and gore. There is a good bit of both, more on the sex side, and what the female leads lack in acting ability they certainly make up for some of it in their...well how shall I put it....their physical presence.