Bloodlust!

Last updated
Bloodlust!
Bloodlust-movie-poster-1961.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRalph Brooke
Written by Richard Connell
Ralph Brooke
Produced byRobert H. Bagley
Ralph Brooke
Starring Wilton Graff
Robert Reed
June Kenney
Gene Persson
Cinematography Richard E. Cunha
Edited byHarold V. McKenzie
Music byMichael Terr
Distributed by Crown International Pictures
Release date
  • September 13, 1961 (1961-09-13)
Running time
68 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Bloodlust! (1961) by Ralph Brooke

Bloodlust! is a 1961 American horror thriller film written, directed and produced by Ralph Brooke and starring Wilton Graff, June Kenney, Joan Lora, Eugene Persson, and Robert Reed. It is based on Richard Connell's 1924 short story "The Most Dangerous Game." It was produced by Robert H. Bagley. Its plot follows four young adults who visit a tropical island only to become prey for a sadistic hunter. It was filmed in 1959 but not released until 1961, when it was the second film on a double feature with The Devil's Hand .

Contents

Plot

Two couples - Betty and Johnny, and Jeanne and Pete - vacation at sea together. When the ship's captain passes out drunk, they decide to go to a nearby jungle island. As they depart, Capt. Tony awakens and calls out, warning them not to.

As they explore the island, Johnny falls into a pit. While pulling him out, the others look up to see Dr. Balleau and two servants. Balleau orders the servants to help get Johnny out.

That night at his house, Balleau tells them he moved to the island "after the war" to indulge his passion for hunting. The couples want to leave, but Balleau says they cannot because wild animals prowl the jungle. Balleau makes his wife Sandra show Betty and Jeanne to the guestroom, while his servant Jondor escorts Johnny and Pete to their room.

Lovers Sandra and houseguest Dean Gerard later discuss Dean's latest plan for their escape. Meanwhile, Johnny and Pete go to Betty and Jeanne's room. The four decide to poke about the house. Sandra and Dean stop Betty and Johnny, taking them back to the guestroom. Jeanne and Pete find a tunnel. They go in and discover a vat of bubbling acid. They are horrified to find a woman's body floating in an aquarium. Jeanne and Pete go back to the guestroom to tell the others what they have seen.

Dean tells them his escape plan: he and Sandra will slip out of the house, steal a boat, go to the mainland and come back with help. As they sneak through the front gate, Balleau, toting a spear, follows.

Two days later, no one has seen Balleau or heard from Sandra and Dean. While hiding, Betty and Johnny discover a secret door. Through it they find Balleau and his "trophies"- the mounted bodies of people he has hunted, Sandra and Dean among them. Balleau used to be a sniper during the war. At first, he detested sniping but then began to enjoy it, and soon the enjoyment "turned into a lust - a lust for blood!"

As Balleau tells both couples that he will hunt Johnny and Pete, Jondor comes in dragging Capt. Tony. Balleau adds Tony to the hunt for failing to bring sufficient inmates from the "penal island." Balleau will hunt only the three men. He will carry a crossbow and only three arrows, one for each man.

Jondor locks the girls in the guestroom. To make things more "sporting", he tosses Tony a pistol and says they will find ammunition in the "Tree of Death." There, they find just one bullet. Tony runs off with it, leaving Johnny and Pete to fend for themselves. When Tony attempts to shoot Balleau, the gun does not fire. Balleau, who has removed the firing pin, kills Tony.

After escaping from the guestroom, Betty and Jeanne enter the secret tunnel. They go into the room with a vat of acid looking for weapons when a servant comes in. He and Betty tussle. Betty, the daughter of a judo expert, throws the servant into the acid, where he dissolves and dies.

The girls head into the jungle. While hunting the men, Jondor falls into a leech-filled pond. Balleau leaves him to drown. Betty and Jeanne find Johnny and Pete. They head for Balleau's house, planning to use his rifles against him. After finding rifles but no ammunition, they are defenseless.

Balleau finds the couples hiding in his trophy room. Holding them at gunpoint, he poses them in the tableau they will be in after dying. Jondor then bursts in, covered with leeches. Jondor grabs Balleau and impales him on a row of spikes, killing him.

Cast

Production

Bloodlust! is an adaptation of Richard Connell's short story "The Most Dangerous Game", first published in Collier's magazine in 1924. [1] Versions of the story have been made as theatrical films, shorts and made-for-television movies at least 17 times between 1932 and 2016. [2]

Bloodlust! was filmed in 1959 at Screencraft Studios in Hollywood by Cinegraf Productions, but it was not released by Crown International Pictures until 13 September 1961, when it premiered in San Diego, California, on a double bill with The Devil's Hand . The film was distributed by Astral Films in Canada in 1963 and was also released in Mexico and the Soviet Union, although at unspecified dates. [3] [4] [5]

Lilyann Chauvin's first name is misspelled "Lylyan" on both American and Mexican posters and lobby cards for the film. She and Graff share top billing on them despite her minor role in the movie. [6]

Reception

Critical reception of the movie was poor. In a review of its co-feature, The Devil's Hand , film critic Margaret Harford wrote just one succinct paragraph about Bloodlust!: "Wilton Graff, another veteran actor turned to villainy, plays a mad scientist in the companion feature. The title is 'Blood Lust.' which should be sufficient warning for anyone." [4]

The anonymous reviewer in "Feature Reviews" in BoxOffice magazine's issue of 20 November 1961 had more to say, but nothing that was much better. He or she wrote that "little, if anything, is left to the individual viewer's imagination" in Bloodlust! and that star Graff "doesn't bring much conviction to the killer doctor part," while "the four young people ... emerge as one-dimensional actors." In summary, the reviewer said, "... this seems to let emotion-mad humans go on all out on a killing spree, and while the adventure-action audiences will find what's happening relatively engrossing, the discriminating won't be able to contain their bored feelings." [7]

In a short review, British film critic Phil Hardy dismissed Bloodlust! as "a wretched misuse of the Richard Connell story" and called the Dr. Baleau character a "dismal pervert pursuing teenagers whose bodies he stores in glass tanks." [8]

Bloodlust! could be mistaken for the similarly-titled Blood Lust, one of multiple English language titles of the 1977 West German film Moskito der Schänder (literally, Mosquito the Rapist ). It and the 1970 American movie Blood Mania shared a "combo" poster of both movies that was used to promote a drive-in theatre double-feature. Both films carried R-ratings in the USA, which required people under age 17 to be accompanied by a parent or an adult guardian. [9] [10] [11] [12]

Television

Bloodlust! was sold to TV in October 1963, about two years after its theatrical release, by Westhamtpon Features, a division of Desilu. It was part of a 41-film package which also included The Devil's Hand . [13]

More recently, it was shown on Mystery Science Theater 3000 on 3 September 1994, in an episode which featured the first appearance of character Pearl Forrester as well as violin playing by Maria Bamford. On 9 January 2009 it was featured on The Schlocky Horror Picture Show and on 8 October 2010 was shown in "The Screaming Skull" episode of Cinemassacre's Monster Madness . [14] [15] [16]

Home media

Bloodlust! has been in home release for a number of years and by at least 22 different distributors, as a single film or in sets of films. Madacy Entertainment was the first, putting the movie out on VHS and DVD in 2001. Reel Media Entertainment had a VHS tape in world-wide release in 2004, followed by Film Annex's world-wide release in all media in 2006. BAC Films distributed a DVD of the movie in France in 2006 and Elstree Entertainment released Bloodlust! on DVD in the UK in 2001.

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Frankensteins Daughter</i> 1958 film by Richard E. Cunha

Frankenstein's Daughter is an independently made 1958 American black-and-white science fiction/horror film drama, produced by Marc Frederic and George Fowley, directed by Richard E. Cunha, that stars John Ashley, Sandra Knight, Donald Murphy, and Sally Todd. The film was distributed by Astor Pictures and was released theatrically as a double feature with Missile to the Moon.

<i>The Servant</i> (1963 film) 1963 British drama film by Joseph Losey

The Servant is a 1963 British drama film directed by Joseph Losey. It was written by Harold Pinter, who adapted Robin Maugham's 1948 novella. The Servant stars Dirk Bogarde, Sarah Miles, Wendy Craig and James Fox.

<i>Tarzan the Ape Man</i> (1932 film) 1932 film

Tarzan the Ape Man is a 1932 pre-Code American action adventure film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer featuring Edgar Rice Burroughs' Tarzan and starring Johnny Weissmuller, Neil Hamilton, C. Aubrey Smith and Maureen O'Sullivan. It was Weissmuller's first of 12 Tarzan films. O'Sullivan played Jane in six features between 1932 and 1942. The film is loosely based on Burroughs' 1912 novel Tarzan of the Apes, with the dialogue written by Ivor Novello. The film was directed by W.S. Van Dyke. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer released two remakes of Tarzan, the Ape Man in 1959 and in 1981, but each was a different adaptation of Rice Burroughs' novel. It is also the first appearance of Tarzan's famous yell.

<i>The Mask of Diijon</i> 1946 film by Lew Landers

The Mask of Diijon is a 1946 American black-and-white horror noir suspense film released from PRC Studios, directed by Lew Landers and featuring Erich von Stroheim, Jeanne Bates and William Wright.

<i>The Monster</i> (1925 film) 1925 film by Roland West

The Monster is a 1925 American silent horror comedy film directed by Roland West, based on the stage play of the same name by Crane Wilbur, and starring Lon Chaney and comedian Johnny Arthur. The screenplay was written by Willard Mack and Albert Kenyon. It is remembered as an early prototype "old dark house" movie, as well as a precedent to a number of horror film subgenres such as mad scientists with imbecilic assistants. Some sources list the film's release date as March 1925, while others say February.

<i>Virgin Witch</i> 1971 British horror sexploitation film by Ray Austin

Virgin Witch is a British horror sexploitation film directed by Ray Austin and starring Ann and Vicki Michelle, Patricia Haines and Neil Hallett. A prospective model and her sister join a coven of white wizards.

<i>The Dark Past</i> 1948 film by Rudolph Maté

The Dark Past is a 1948 American film noir psychological thriller film starring William Holden, Nina Foch, and Lee J. Cobb. Directed by Rudolph Maté, the Columbia Pictures release is a remake of Blind Alley (1939), also released by Columbia, and based on a play by American dramatist James Warwick.

<i>The Werewolf</i> (1956 film) 1956 film by Fred F. Sears

The Werewolf is a 1956 American horror science fiction film directed by Fred F. Sears and starring Don Megowan and Joyce Holden.

<i>Billy the Kid Versus Dracula</i> 1966 film

Billy the Kid Versus Dracula is a 1966 American horror Western film directed by William Beaudine. The film is about Billy the Kid trying to save his fiancée from Dracula. The film was originally released as part of a double feature along with Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter in 1966. Both films were shot in eight days at Corriganville Movie Ranch and Paramount Studios in mid-1965; both were the final feature films of director Beaudine. The films were produced by television producer Carroll Case for Joseph E. Levine.

<i>The Unknown Terror</i> 1957 film by Charles Marquis Warren

The Unknown Terror is a 1957 widescreen American horror science fiction film directed by Charles Marquis Warren and starring John Howard, Mala Powers, Paul Richards and May Wynn. It was produced by Robert Stabler. The narrative follows a group of explorers who, while searching for a missing man, come across the "Cave of the Dead", filled with parasitic fungi and inhabited by foamy, fungus-covered monster men. The film was released theatrically in the US in August 1957 on a double bill with Back from the Dead.

<i>Angry Video Game Nerd</i> Comedy web series about video games

The Angry Video Game Nerd, originally known as The Angry Nintendo Nerd, is an American retrogaming review comedy web series created by and starring James Rolfe. The series centers on Rolfe's titular skit character, often simply shortened to "the Nerd", a short-tempered and foul-mouthed gamer who delivers commentary on retro games of poor quality. While the series began with Rolfe simply playing games while providing retrospective commentary, the show has grown in scope to encompass sketches featuring guest characters, reviews of gaming consoles and peripherals, and short lectures about video game history and culture.

<i>Martin and Lewis</i> (film) 2002 television film directed by John Gray

Martin and Lewis is a 2002 American made-for-television biographical film written and directed by John Gray, exploring the lives of the comedy team of Martin and Lewis. The film stars Jeremy Northam as Dean Martin and Sean Hayes as Jerry Lewis. The film premiered on November 24, 2002 on CBS.

<i>Ashes of Vengeance</i> 1923 film by Frank Lloyd

Ashes of Vengeance is a 1923 American drama film directed by Frank Lloyd and starring Norma Talmadge and Wallace Beery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Rolfe</span> American YouTuber, filmmaker, and actor (born 1980)

James D. Rolfe is an American YouTuber, filmmaker, and actor. He is best known for creating and starring in the comedic retrogaming web series Angry Video Game Nerd (2004–present). His spin-off projects include reviews of retro films, television series, and board games. He is considered a pioneer of Internet gaming videos, and is noted for his widespread influence on YouTube content after the series premiered on the site in 2006.

<i>The Brides of Blood Island</i> 1966 Filipino film

The Brides of Blood Island is a 1966 Filipino horror film directed by Eddie Romero and Gerardo de Leon from a screenplay by Cesar J. Amigo, and starring John Ashley, Kent Taylor, Beverly Hills, Eva Darren and Mario Montenegro. It was the first movie that Ashley made in the Philippines, beginning a long association between Ashley and that country. The Brides of Blood Island was the second in a series of four horror films produced by Romero and Kane W. Lynn known as the "Blood Island" series, which also included Terror Is a Man, The Mad Doctor of Blood Island and Beast of Blood. Brides of Blood was later released to television syndication in some areas as Island of Living Horror.

<i>Jungle Moon Men</i> 1955 American film

Jungle Moon Men (1955) is the fifteenth Jungle Jim film produced by Columbia Pictures. It features Johnny Weissmuller in his second performance as the protagonist adventurer Johnny Weissmuller. The film was directed by Charles S. Gould and written by Dwight Babcock and Jo Pagano.

<i>The Lost Tribe</i> (1949 film) 1949 film by William A. Berke

The Lost Tribe (1949) is the second Jungle Jim film produced by Columbia Pictures. The film features Johnny Weissmuller in his second performance as the adventurer Jungle Jim, co-starring Myrna Dell and Elena Verdugo, along with Joseph Vitale and George J. Lewis as the film's antagonists. It was directed by William Berke and written by Don Martin and Arthur Hoerl.

<i>Killer Ape</i> (film) 1953 film by Spencer Gordon Bennet

Killer Ape (1953) is the twelfth Jungle Jim film produced by Columbia Pictures. It features Johnny Weissmuller in his twelfth performance as the protagonist adventurer Jungle Jim. Carol Thurston also stars. The film was directed by Spencer G. Bennet and written by Arthur Hoerl and Carroll Young.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilton Graff</span> American actor (1903–1969)

Wilton Graff was an American actor.

<i>The Flame Barrier</i> 1958 film by Paul Landres

The Flame Barrier is a 1958 American jungle adventure/science fiction film produced by Arthur Gardner and Jules V. Levy, directed by Paul Landres, and written by Pat Fielder and George Worthing Yates. The film stars Arthur Franz, Kathleen Crowley and Robert Brown. It was released in the U.S. on April 2, 1958 by United Artists as the bottom half of a double feature with The Return of Dracula (1958).

References

  1. ↑ "TCM Data Base". Turner Classic Movies.
  2. ↑ "Movie Connections". Internet Movie Data Base.
  3. ↑ "Filming Locations". Internet Movie Data Base.
  4. 1 2 Harford, Margaret (12 January 1962). "Horror Films Stars Some Old Friends". The Los Angeles Times. p. A8.
  5. ↑ "Company Credits". Internet Movie Data Base.
  6. ↑ "Movie Posters". Wrongsideoftheart.com. Archived from the original on 2017-06-23. Retrieved 2017-06-19.
  7. ↑ "Feature Reviews". BoxOffice magazine.
  8. ↑ Hardy, Phil, ed. (1986). The Encyclopedia of Horror Films. NY: Harper & Row Publishers. p. 139. ISBN   0060550503.
  9. ↑ "Release Information". Internet Movie Data Base.
  10. ↑ "Movie Title". Internet Movie Data Base.
  11. ↑ "Combo Movie Posters". Learnaboutmovieposters.com. Archived from the original on 2017-07-02. Retrieved 2017-06-19.
  12. ↑ "Film Ratings". Motion Picture Association of America.[ permanent dead link ]
  13. ↑ Heffernan, Kevin (2004). Ghouls, Gimmicks, and Gold: Horror Films and the American Movie Business. Durham NC: Duke University Press. p. 237. ISBN   0822385554.
  14. ↑ "MST3K Episodes". MST3Kinfo.com. Archived from the original on 2017-08-14. Retrieved 2017-06-19.
  15. ↑ "The Schlocky Horror Picture Show". Television Data Base.[ permanent dead link ]
  16. ↑ "Cinemassacre's Monster Madness". Internet Movie Data base.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.