The Awful Dr. Orloff

From The Grindhouse Cinema Database

Revision as of 15:22, 3 January 2010 by Lafnlab (talk | contribs) (re-alphabetizing/numbering for categories)
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Drorloffpost.jpg
The Awful Dr. Orloff Poster (Spain)

Spainflag.jpg France flag.jpg

Also Known As

  • Il Diabolico dottore Satana (Italy)
  • Dr Orloff, o dolofonos ton gymnon gynaikon (Greece)
  • Den Förskräcklige doktor Orlof (Sweden)
  • L'Horrible Docteur Orlof (France)
  • L'Horrible Orlof (Belgium) (French title)
  • Der Schreckliche Dr. Orloff (Germany)
  • The Awful Dr. Orlof (USA)
  • Cries in the Night
  • Screams in the Night (literal English title)
  • The Demon Doctor (UK)
  • The Diabolical Dr. Satan

Taglines

  • You'll get an insight into the face of terror!
  • His Shrine Was the Face of Terror!

Main Details

  • Released in May, 1962 (Spain)
  • Released in May, 1963 (France)
  • Released in Dec., 1964 (US)
  • Black and White
  • Aspect Ratio: (1:66.1)
  • Running Time: 90 Min./86 Min.
  • Production Co: Hispamer Films | Leo-Lax Productions | Ydex Eurocine
  • Distribution Co: Delta (Spain) | Sigma III Corp. (1964) /World Entertainment Corp. (re-release 1968)(US)

Cast and Crew

  • Directed by Jess Franco
  • Written by Jess Franco
  • Starring Howard Vernon, Conrado San Martín, Diana Lorys, Perla Cristal. María Silva
  • Produced by Leo Lax, Marius Lesoeur, Serge Newman
  • Original Music by José Pagán, Antonio Ramírez Ángel
  • Cinematography by Godofredo Pacheco
  • Film Editing by Alfonso Santacana

DVD Review

Dvdicon.jpg

The Awful Dr. Orlof has been overlooked over the years, but Image Entertainment has done the film world (and Franco fans) a great service by releasing this underrated classic on DVD. The film is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.66:1 and, despite a few scratches and shimmer inherent on the source print, looks remarkable. For a film that has been all but forgotten for the last thirty years, the presentation on this DVD is stellar and the minor flaws can certainly be overlooked. The sound, dubbed in English with only a French track as an alternate audio choice, is still crisp and there no drop out present.

There are no extra features on the disc except for some thorough liner notes by Video Watchdog editor Tim Lucas and they are extremely interesting and in-depth. Not only do we learn that Franco liked to use the characters in his first horror film in many of his other 150+ films, but we also learn the reason why he got into the genre that eventually led him to cult popularity. Lucas also mentions some of Franco's influences and one that is not mentioned is readily apparent for fans of Ingmar Bergman films (more specifically The Seventh Seal). It's only a simple shot of the two villains walking across an open field in silhouette, but it evokes the same feel as Bergman's much lauded film.

Film/DVD Review Courtesy of Pockets of Sanity

Newsletter
  • Grindhouse Database Newsletter
  • Exploitation books
  • Kung fu movies
  • Giallo BluRay