The Sorcerers (1967)

Country of Origin: UK
Year of Production: 1967
Running Times: 86 mins
Format: Eastmancolor     35mm
Ratio:
Sound: mono

PRODUCTION
Production Companies: Curtwel Productions / Global / Tony Tenser Films
Executive Producer: Arnold L. Miller
Producers: Patrick Curtis, Tony Tenser

SCRIPT
Script: Michael Reeves, Tom Baker
Idea: John Burke

DIRECTION
Director: Michael Reeves
Assistant Director: Keith Wilkinson

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: Stanley A. Long
Camera Operator: John Mantell
Camera Assistants: Don Lord, Gordon Thornton
Gaffer: Maurice Corcoran

EDITING AND POST-PRODUCTION
Editors: David Woodward, Susan Michie

MUSIC
Music: Paul Ferris
Songs Performed By: Toni Daly; Lee Grant and the Capitols

SOUND
Sound Mixer: Ken Osborne
Boom Operator: Mike Payne

MAKE UP AND COSTUMES
Make Up: Geoffrey Rodway

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Art Director: Tony Curtis
Construction Manager: Jack Palmer

MISCELLANEOUS
Continuity: Doreen Sloan
Production Secretary: Sheila Miller

LOCATIONS
Locations: West London Studios, London, UK

CAST
Boris Karloff (Professor Marcus Monserrat)
Catherine Lacey (Estelle Monserrat)
Elizabeth Ercy (Nicole)
Ian Ogilvy (Mike Roscoe)
Dani Sheridan (Laura)
Alf Joint (Ron)
Meier Tzelniker (Jewish baker)
Gerald Campion (man in china shop)
Susan George (Audrey)
Ivor Dean (Inspector Matalon)
Peter Fraser (detective)
Martin Terry (tobacconist)
Bill Barnsley (constable in fur store)
Maureen Booth
Victor Henry (Alan - uncredited)
Toni Daly (vocalist - uncredited)

PLOT SUMMARY

Hypnotist Professor Montserrat develops a technique for not only controlling the minds of his subjects but also of sharing their experiences at a distance. He and his wife Estelle use young man about town Mike Roscoe as their test subject, but Estelle gets hooked on the 'kicks' that Mike provides. When his normal lifestyle proves to be not quite exciting enough, Estelle uses the technique to force Mike into violence and murder...

Much has been made of The Sorcerers being a metaphor for cinema, a comment on the way audiences vicariously experience film, but Reeves was far too bright a film maker to leave the movie with this one, simplistic level of meaning. His satirical barbs are fired in many directions (at the tabloid press, at the hedonism of late 60s youth etc) and surprisingly, most of them find their targets with impressive results. Inevitably, The Sorcerers has dated - the scenes set in the 'Swinging London' milieu are particularly embarrassing - but it retains its power and relevance. Like Peeping Tom (1960), a film with which it shares much  in common, its central concerns are as relevant today as when it was made, and there are very few late 60s films that can claim that.

UK
Theatrical Distributor: LMG
Video Distributor: Walton
DVD Distributor: Metrodome / Salvation (MTD5059)

USA
Theatrical Distributor: Allied Artists Pictures Corporation

UK
Rating: 15

1968
January
2: USA - theatrical release

1986
June
20: UK - television broadcast (on ITV (Thames Television))

1993
July
Day Unknown: UK - television broadcast (on Bravo)

1994
August
Day Unknown: UK - television broadcast (on Channel 4)

1996
June
Day Unknown: UK - television broadcast (on Channel 4)

2004
March
1: USA - shown at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (as part of the Bloody Hell: British Horror season)

Im Banne des Dr Monserrat - German title
Los brujos - Spanish title
Il killer di Satana - Italian title

MAGAZINES

Daily Cinema no.9373 (26 May 1967) p.6 (UK)
review

Hammer Horror no.4 (June 1995) pp.34-37 (UK)
illustrated credits, review

Kine Weekly no.3112 (3 June 1967) p.11 (UK)
review

Monthly Film Bulletin vol.34 no.402 (July 1967) p.109 (UK)
credits, synopsis, review

Variety 28 June 1967 (USA)
credits, review

Video Review November 1982 (UK)
review

OTHER SOURCES

British National Film Catalogue vol.5 (1967)
credits

hypnotism, remote viewing, generation gap, nightclubs, rock bands, motorcycles, car chases, car crashes

Last Updated: 15 October, 2008