Taste of Fear

Hammer Film Productions

Industry	Film production
Headquarters	United Kingdom
Products	Films

Taste of Fear (known in the United States as Scream of Fear) is a British suspense film from 1961, directed by Seth Holt. The cast includes Susan Strasberg, Ronald Lewis, and Ann Todd, with Christopher Lee appearing in a supporting capacity.

Plot

Following the suicide of her closest friend, Penny Appleby, a wheelchair-bound heiress, travels to her distant father's residence on the French Riviera. Her stepmother, whom Penny has only recently met, informs her that her father has been called away on business and does not have a definite return date. Although the stepmother attempts to put Penny at ease, Penny remains wary. She becomes convinced she has seen her father's dead body in a guesthouse on the property; however, when others investigate, the body is nowhere to be found. The stepmother and family physician suggest that Penny’s traumatic past and psychological issues may be causing her to experience hallucinations.

The family chauffeur confides in Penny that he believes she witnessed something out of the ordinary and offers to assist her in uncovering the truth. As they delve deeper, Penny begins to question whether he is genuinely supportive or if he has ulterior motives. Meanwhile, a police inspector conducts his own inquiry, suspecting that Penny might be concealing important information.

Cast

• Susan Strasberg as Penny Appleby
• Ronald Lewis as Robert
• Ann Todd as Jane Appleby
• Christopher Lee as Doctor Gerrard
• John Serret as Inspector Legrand
• Leonard Sachs as Spratt
• Anne Blake as Marie
• Fred Johnson as Father

Production

The screenplay was originally penned by Jimmy Sangster for Sidney Box, who also took on producing duties. The film was part of a slate from Sydney Box Associates under Rank titled See No Evil. When Box became ill, his brother-in-law Peter Rogers, engaged with the Carry On series at the time, assumed control. Sangster later reacquired the rights from Rogers and sold the project to Michael Carreras, who then took on producing responsibilities. Principal photography commenced at Bray Studios in Berkshire on 24 October 1960.

This project marked Seth Holt’s first directorial effort for Hammer and was Ronald Lewis's second of three films with the studio.

Release

The UK premiere of Taste of Fear occurred on 5 June 1961. In the United States, it was released under the title Scream of Fear on 22 August 1961, with no differences between versions. The film enjoyed commercial success in both territories as well as throughout Europe, becoming one of Hammer’s most lucrative titles and inspiring a wave of similarly styled thrillers.

In March 2013, Sony revealed plans for a remake to be helmed by director Juan Antonio Bayona, recognized for his acclaimed 2007 Spanish horror feature The Orphanage.

Box office

According to Kinematograph Weekly, the film "performed solidly domestically and was a significant hit in the United States."

Critical

Variety characterized it as "somewhat contrived yet skillfully crafted."

The Monthly Film Bulletin observed that Taste of Fear bore strong influences from Psycho and Les Diaboliques, with writer Jimmy Sangster firmly rooted in Hammer’s stylistic traditions. Despite a somewhat predictable conclusion and convoluted storyline, director Seth Holt executed the film professionally, effectively employing atmospheric devices such as creaking shutters and flickering candlelight to build suspense. While occasionally bordering on the absurd, it was regarded as more engaging than typical Hammer productions.

Legacy

Christopher Lee regarded this movie as the finest Hammer production in which he was involved, commending its direction, ensemble, and narrative. Conversely, Ann Todd voiced dissatisfaction with both the film and her character, noting challenges in collaborating with co-star Susan Strasberg due to Strasberg's adherence to "Method" acting techniques.

See also

• List of Hammer films

External links

• Taste of Fear filming locations featured on ReelStreets