The Undying Monster (1942)

Country of Origin: USA
Year of Production: 1942
Running Times: 60m
Length:
Format: 35mm
Colour Format: black and white
Ratio: 1.37:1
Sound: mono

DIRECTION

Directed by: John Brahm

CREW

PRODUCTION
Production Company: Twentieth Century-Fox presents
Copyright: MCMXLII by Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation
Released Through: Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation
Executive Producer: William Goetz (uncredited)
Produced by: Bryan Foy

SCRIPT
Screen Play by: Lillie Hayward and Michael Jacoby
From the Novel by: Jessie Douglas Kerruish

DIRECTION
Assistant Director: Hal Herman (uncredited)

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: Lucien Ballard

EDITING AND POST-PRODUCTION
Film Editor: Harry Reynolds

MUSIC
Music: Emil Newman, David Raksin

SOUND
Sound: George Leverett, Harry M. Leonard
Western Electric Recording

COSTUMES AND MAKE-UP
Costumes: Billy Livingston

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Art Directors: Richard Day, Lewis Creber
Set Decorations: Thomas Little, Walter M. Scott

CAST

with
James Ellison (Robert Curtis)
Heather Angel (Helga Hammond)
John Howard (Oliver Hammond)
Bramwell Fletcher (Dr Jeff Colbert)
Heather Thatcher (Cornelia Christopher)
Aubrey Mather (Inspector Craig)
Halliwell Hobbes (Walton)

UNCREDITED CAST

Eily Malyon (Mrs Walton)
Charles Crisp (groomsman)
Heather Wilde (Millie the new maid)
Matthew Boulton (coroner)
Alec Craig (Will)
Holmes Herbert (Chief Constable)
Clive Morgan (Foster)
David Thursby (Craig's assistant)
Donald Stuart (Charlie Clagpool)
John Rogers (Tom Clagpool)
Virginia Traxler (Kate O'Malley)
Douglas Gerrard (jury foreman)
Harry Carter (Warren)

PLOT SUMMARY

According to local legend, the Hammond family, owners of the large eponymous coastal manor, have been the victims of an ancient curse that takes effect on certain frost-bitten nights, with those taking a shortcut through the manor grounds falling victim to it. (Full Synopsis)

CAPSULE REVIEW

Probably the biggest liability in this production is the script by Lillie Hayward and Michael Jacoby. Littered with very poor dialogue exchanges, which sometimes border on the nonsensical, its main problem is the fact that, despite the best efforts of Brahm and his editor Harry Reynolds, the narrative is a plodding, lumbering affair, making the rather meagre running time seem longer than it actually is. Matters are not helped by very variable performances. (Full Review)

AVAILABILITY

USA
Theatrical Distributors: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
Video Distributors: Sinister Cinema

CENSORSHIP HISTORY

USA
Rating: Approved
MPAA: 8730

TIMELINE

1942
November
27: USA - theatrical release

ALTERNATIVE TITLES

The Hammond Mystery - UK title

LINKS

FOOTAGE INCLUDED IN
Wolfman Chronicles (1991)

REFERENCES

BOOKS

Classic Movie Monsters by Don Glut pp.54-56
review

KEYWORDS

book into film, werewolves

Last Updated: 1 January, 2009