Twisted Nerve (1968)

Country of Origin: UK
Year of Production: 1968
Running Times: 104 mins (Germany)     113 mins (Australia)     118 mins (USA)
Format: Eastmancolor     35mm
Ratio:
Sound: mono

PRODUCTION
Production Companies: British Lion Film Corporation / Charter Films Inc
Executive Producer: John Boulting
Producers: George W. George, Frank Granat
Associate Producer: Frank Granat

SCRIPT
Script: Roy Boulting. Leo Marks
Idea: Roger Marshall, Jeremy Scott
Story: Roger Marshall

DIRECTION
Director: Roy Boulting

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: Harry Waxman

EDITING AND POST PRODUCTION
Editor: Martin Charles

MUSIC
Music: Bernard Herrmann

MAKE UP AND COSTUMES
Costume Designer: Hazel Graeme, Bridget Sellers

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Art Director: Albert Witherick

CAST
Hayley Mills (Susan Harper)
Hywel Bennett (Martin Durnley)
Billie Whitelaw (Joan Harper)
Phyllis Calvert (Enid Durnley)
Frank Finlay (Henry Durnley)
Barry Foster (Gerry Henderson)
Salmaan Peer (Shashie Kadir)
Thorley Walters (Sir John Forrester)
Christian Roberts (Philip Harvey)
Timothy West (Superintendant Dakin)
Gretchen Franklin (Clarkie)
Clifford Cox (Inspector Goddard)
Timothy Bateson (Mr Groom)
Michael Cadman (Mac)
Richard Davies (Taffy Evans)
Basil Dignam (doctor)
Mollie Maureen (lady patient)
Russell Napier (Professor Fuller)
Robin Parkinson (shop manager)
Brian Peck (Detective Sergeant Rogers)
Marianne Stone
Russell Waters (hospital attendant)
Larry Guardino (bit part - uncredited)

Mrs Durnley is the mother to two children, one a mongoloid, the other, Mark suffering from a damaged chromosome that reduces him into a gibbering, psychotic madman. A number of interested parties (including a nagging stepfather and an over sexed landlady) are murdered before Martin is caught trying to murder a young woman who has befriended him.

USA
Theatrical Distributor: National General

Australia
Rating: M

Germany
Rating: 16

UK
Rating: X

USA
Rating: M

AWARDS

1969
British Academy Awards, UK
Best Supporting Actress (Billie Whitelaw) - winner

1970
October
16: West Germany - theatrical release

I nervi a pezzi - Italian title
Nervios rotos - Spanish title

MAGAZINES

Films and Filming vol.15 no.5 (February 1969) p.34 (UK)
credits, review

Kine Weekly no.3191 (7 December 1968) p.10 (UK)
review

Monthly Film Bulletin vol.36 no.421 (February 1969) p.29 (UK)
credits, synopsis, review

Variety 11 December 1968) p.30 (USA)
credits, review

BOOKS

Reference Guide to Fantastic Films p.508
credits

psychopathy, serial killers, axe murders, scissor murders, genetics

Last Updated: 15 October, 2008