Buy Maniac (1963) Movie. Watch online or Download
Genres: ThrillerHor
Starring: Arnold Diamond, Donald Houston, Nadia Gray, George Pastell, Jerold Wells, Norman Bird, Kerwin Mathews
Director(s): Michael Carreras
Country: UK
Year: 1963
Available Quality: DivX
IMDB Rating: 5.7 out of 10 (273 votes)
Kerwin Matthews, playing a dissolute drifter down on his luck, is stranded in a cheap bar in France where he falls for Annette, the pretty daughter of the proprietor, played by Nadia Gray. Nadia Gray gradually shifts the young mans attentions to herself, rather than her daughter, and together Matthews and Gray concoct a plot to help Grays estranged husband, now a homicidal maniac confined in an institution after a grisly series of killings dubbed The Acetylene Murders by the press, out of the mental institution so he can escape from the country.
 |
Maniac (1963) (DivX) | Resolution: 608x256 px | Total Size: 698 Mb |
|
Movie Photos:
We have taken some photos of "Maniac (1963)". They represent actual movie quality.
Visitors Review
getcater (25 May 2012)
A Hammer film that's more than the usual blunt instrument
As a Hammer film, Maniac comes as something of a surprise. One normallyassociates the brand with studio-based horror films of average to lowquality, typical Brit-flick production values and a home-grown cast ofstolid, reliable faces. If that's what you've come to expect fromHammer, Maniac will either disappoint or delight.Shot extensively on location in the Camargue, in high contrast blackand white 2.35:1 widescreen, the movie makes effective use of somestartlingly dramatic scenery that's exploited to the full by a clearlyabove average director of photography. The film noir mood andatmosphere are reminiscent of 1962's Cape Fear, and whilst Maniac failsto match that film's pitch of sustained suspense and repressed anger,it's a creditable attempt by Hammer to do something a bit darker andmore mature than usual.The acting is efficient, if somewhat underplayed, and it's a surpriseto see an actor of the calibre of Donald Houston being dubbed (itsounds like Roger Delgado  any offers?) Thriller fans will bedisappointed at the lack of any truly scary moments, and the plot has afew more twists than are absolutely necessary; but if you appreciategood black and white photography and films that don't slavishly tickall the predictable boxes, Maniac has much to recommend it. A goodrestoration would certainly find an audience on DVD.
laffinsal (24 May 2012)
A Few Twists, Not Enough Good Turns
A Hammer production, filmed at M.G.M., and released through Columbia.Sound confusing? Well, so is the plot to this attempt at out-psycho-ing"Psycho".Kerwin Matthews is actually pretty good, in this tale of an Americanartist visiting France, who gets mixed up with both a young woman, andthe woman's stepmother (notice she's a "stepmother"; hint, hint, wink,wink). For some reason I had an easier time believing Matthew'sinterest in the young woman, but not so much in her stepmother (whosehigh painted eyebrows, and puffy bouffant hair reminded me of Divine).Along the way Matthews learns of the older woman's husband, and how hecommitted a crime trying to protect his daughter years before. They tryto help the husband escape from an asylum (so they can be together),and then the confusion starts.Though the location footage, and stark black and white photography helpthis film create a good atmosphere, the direction is somewhat muddled,as is the dialogue, which at times I found difficult to follow. TheFrench accents, in addition to some questionable dubbing make it hardto understand what they are saying. When I could understand thedialogue, it seemed forced and elementary; characters having to explainthings that just happened, to further the story (and make sure that weget it).Overall a slow start and a bunch of interesting twists in the latterhalf, but only a couple mildly startling moments. I found myself ratherunsatisfied at the end. Perhaps this would have benefited by beingdirected by Freddie Francis...his collaboration with Jimmy Sangsterthat same year, for "Paranoiac", produced a much better film then thisis.
melvelvit-1 (21 May 2012)
A gialloesque Hammer noir
American landscape painter Geoff Farrell (Kerwin Matthews), stranded inEurope, is attracted to Annette, a young French barmaid, but ends upfalling for her seductive step-mother, Eve (Nadia Gray), instead. Fouryears earlier, the teen-aged Annette was raped on her way home fromschool and her father, Georges, institutionalized for taking anacetylene torch to her assailant. Eve soon convinces Geoff to help herhusband, now a local hero, escape from the insane asylum but, oncefree, a frightening series of events makes it look like Georges was ahomicidal maniac after all...In the wake of PSYCHO, England's Hammer Studios made a few black andwhite "mini-Hitchcock" thrillers that tried to emulate the "Master ofSuspense". PARANOIAC, MANIAC, and HYSTERIA all featured real orimagined madness, murder, sex, and deception -along with numerous plottwists- to keep viewers on the edge of their seats with varying degreesof success. There's a stark, creepy, noir-like quality to MANIAC andthe unseen rape, torture and murder in the beginning is quitedisturbing. The location shooting in the isolated region of the FrenchCamargue is a decided asset and the compelling story, written by JimmySangster, includes a number of suspenseful sequences before a surpriserevelation that is near impossible to see coming. I've read complaintsthat this wasn't directed by Freddie Francis but Michael Carreras doesjust fine with the gialloesque material. Recommended.
MarieGabrielle (21 May 2012)
The lady Eve....
portrayed by the lovely Nadia Gray, Roumanian born actress. Thissuspenseful thriller is a nice surprise, and it has Polansky undertonesto it which make it chilling.The idea of a maniac with a blowtorch, and no one knows who or what ishis next target. The actor portraying said villain was very good, andmenacing as well as believable.Eve has a daughter whose father is languishing in prison. He may be theblowtorch killer. He may have committed crimes. We don't know until theend.Some of the scenes with the outdoor markets reminded me of Montmartre.So real and well photographed. A must see for any suspense film fan.9/10
jim riecken (20 May 2012)
xxx
Hammer apparently wanted to branch out from the "Grand Guignol" gothichorror thrillers they were cranking out at the time, and began turning outseveral psychological thrillers vaguely in the PSYCHO/DIABOLICmode.PARANOIAC (1963) and HYSTERIA (1965) are two examples along with the film indiscussion here; MANIAC. MANIAC stars Kerwin(7th VOYAGE OF SINBAD) Mathewsas an unhappily American in France who gets involved with a married womannamed Eve Beynat whose husband is locked away in a mental hospital for thewelding torch murder of the man who tried to rape his daughter Annette.Mathews gets tricked into helping Eve's "husband" escape from the mentalhospital thinking this will allow him to have Eve to himself. As canexpected, not all is what it seems. I won't reveal much more cause thatwould be a spoiler, but the film has good twist ending.MANIAC is not the best of Hammers psychological thrillers, but it is stillinteresting and worth viewing. Kerwin Mathews who was fine in films withlots of physical action is a bit out of his depth here, but over all hegives an acceptable performance. This seems to be the last film of thelovely Liliane Brousse. She seems to have disappeared from the screen afterthis picture.
lastliberal (19 May 2012)
You take a man's wife, Mr. Farrell, but not his money?
Hammer films are usually enjoyable, so I take the time to tune in towhat promises to be an interesting story.I don't know much about Liliane Brousse (Annette). She only made 12films in a short period, and this was the next to last one. She plays ayoung girl who helps an artist (Kerwin Mathews ) who is stranded intown.Her stepmother Eve(Nadia Gray) has plans for the young man. Plans thatinvolve her incarcerated husband.Plenty of double-crosses to keep you interested, but you are leftwanting something that is not provided.
ferbs54 (17 May 2012)
Carrying A (Blow)Torch For His Lady Love
Up until recently, I had been aware of only two films with the title"Maniac": the 1934 camp classic directed by Dwain Esper and therepugnant 1980 picture with Joe Spinell as a deranged mannequin lover.The existence of the British "Maniac," a 1963 product from the greatHammer Studios, thus came as a nice surprise for me. Part of the Hammer"Icons of Suspense" six-film box set, the picture shares a DVD with thestudio's 1958 film "The Snorkel," with which it shares manysimilarities. Both are finely crafted exercises in suspense, shot inbeautiful B&W, written by Jimmy Sangster and taking place on theMediterranean coast. In "Maniac," we meet a hunky-dude American artist,Geoff Farrell (appealingly played by Kerwin Matthews, who many viewerswill recall from the Ray Harryhausen films "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad"and "The 3 Worlds of Gulliver"), who finds himself marooned in the wildsouthern region of France known as the Camargue after breaking up withhis wealthy girlfriend (Justine Lord, known to this viewer best asSonia, from my favorite episode of "The Prisoner," "The Girl Who WasDeath"). Staying at a small "pension," he gets lustily involved withthe attractive proprietress, Eve (Romanian actress Nadia Gray, who I'donly previously encountered in another "Prisoner" episode, "The Chimesof Big Ben"), AND her beautiful young stepdaughter, Annette (LilianeBrousse, who reminds this viewer a lot of the young Marianna Hill). Toobad, though, that the gals' husband/father--a homicidal nutjob who had,four years earlier, grotesquely murdered a man with an acetyleneblowtorch(!)--has escaped from his asylum and is now seeking newvictims...."Maniac" is surely a film that will keep the viewer guessing, and hasbeen cleverly plotted--perhaps overly plotted--by Sangster. Indeed,there are at least three plot twists in the film, one too many for thisviewer, although the story does manage to cohere together. Personally,I preferred the simpler story line and greater suspense of "TheSnorkel," but that's just me. To his credit, director Michael Carrerasdoes a fine, imaginative job here, exhibiting a shrewd sense of cameraplacement; he would go on to helm such Hammer entertainments as "TheCurse of the Mummy's Tomb," the shlocky camp dud "Prehistoric Women"and "The Lost Continent." Like "The Snorkel" again, "Maniac" featuressome beautiful nighttime photography, and its evocation of place isvery well brought off, whether the film was shot in France or not (Idon't believe it was). Matthews, as usual, makes for an enormouslylikable leading man, here playing a basically decent person whosuddenly finds himself in way deep over his head. Viewers, by the way,might enjoy making a drinking game out of "Maniac," taking a shot everytime Farrell does (I counted at least 10 such instances!). The filmfeatures an unfortunately weak ending, taking place in what appears tobe a deserted quarry of sorts, and, at the risk of belaboring a point,this denouement pales greatly in contrast to the supremely satisfyingdouble ending to be found in "The Snorkel." Still, the 1963 pictureremains a perfectly acceptable and riveting entertainment, and easilythe best exemplar of the filmmaking craft as compared to those othertwo "Maniac"s mentioned above!
Scarecrow-88 (17 May 2012)
Maniac
Artist Paul Farrell(Kerwin Mathews) escaping a bad relationship, getsin over his head when he falls in love with the seductive step-motherEve(Nadia Gray) of a young beauty, Annette(Liliane Brousse)who operatesa sea-side café for which he's renting a room. Annette's father,Georges, is locked away in an asylum due to his brutal murder of arapist who assaulted her. Paul, so completely blinded by his love forthe married woman, agrees to help Eve in the escape of Georges, withdire consequences yielding problems he could never imagine. Georges,through a supposed conversation with Eve, wishes to escape hoping torendezvous with his daughter Annette in another place far away fromthose out to get him. But, another missing prisoner, who might'vepossibly escaped with Georges, will come back to haunt Paul and Eve.With Inspector Etienne(George Pastell)often poking around, askingquestions, it's only a matter of time before a sure-proof plan unravelswith betrayal and deception on the horizon..Super-slick and slippery as only Hammer scribe Sangster can deliveroffers several twists, with certain characters not as they appear. Oneparticular character twist some might see coming because of the endlessparade of thrillers and courtroom dramas which have come after"Maniac." But, there's one twist regarding the escaped madman whichmight raise eyebrows..it's certainly inspired, I'll say that. Moodyphotography helps enhance the mystery as it slowly develops and thesetting is alluring. The attractive cast also adds to the alreadybeautiful landscape the characters inhabit, and the seedy elements givethe film a nice naughty quality. You know, Hammer is known for theirgorgeous Gothic color films, but I really think the studios producedsome excellent B&W psychological thrillers as well.The opening sequence is quite startling in how it sets up the tone ofthe rest of the film, with a salivating old man looking on at aninnocent teenager from behind the bushes, offering her a ride home,moving her out of the visibility of the viewer behind waves of green,as one of Annette's school chums gets her father, with the result of anoff-screen altercation and blow-torch murder giving way to the creditsof the film.
lorenellroy (08 May 2012)
Proficient little chiller
Hammer Studios will always best be remembered for the horror movies theymade but their ventures into other styles were by no means negligible andthis neat little mystery is a good example of the thrillers they embarkedupon now and again.Kerwin Matthews is Paul Farrell ,an American stranded in a small Frenchvillage in the Camargue ,where some four years earlier a young girl had beenraped and her attacker murdered by her father ,who is languishing in prisonfor the crime.The girl works at the hotel/bar where Farrell is staying andshe falls in love with the personable young American who in turn isattracted to her mother ,Eve ,played by Nadia Gray.Together Farrell and Eveplot to help her husband escape and flee the country so they can be free topursue a relationship.The plot goes awry and soon they are coping with a body in the trunk oftheir car and mysterious activity in their garage .The twist ending is neatand unexpected .The acting is a little under powered but the whole thing is a neat littlepiece of double bill fodder that will keep an audience diverted till themain feature arrives.
Woodyanders (07 May 2012)
So-so Hammer thriller
Handsome nice guy American drifter Paul Farrell (a solid and appealingperformance by Kerwin Mathews) finds himself stuck in rural France. Heseeks room and board in the home of the alluring Eva Bryant (wellplayed with beguiling sexiness by Nadia Gray) and her sweet, butequally fetching teenage daughter Annette (a charming portrayal by theadorable Lilliane Brousse). Paul agrees to help Eva break herdangerously unstable husband Georges (a suitably menacing turn byDonald Houston) out of an asylum. Sound good and exciting? Well, alasthis middling Hammer thriller doesn't amount to much because of MichaelCarreras' competent, but pedestrian direction and Jimmy Sangster'sstrangely bland, talky, and uneventful script. The key problem is thatCarreras and Sangster let the meandering narrative plod along at tooleisurely a pace and crucially fail to generate much in the way oftension or momentum; it's only in the last third of the picture thatthe story finally starts cooking to some moderate degree with a niftydouble twist surprise ending. On the plus side, Wilkie Cooper's crispwidescreen black and white cinematography offers plenty of breathtakingshots of the lovely French countryside scenery and Stanley Black'sswinging jazzy score hits the right-on groovy spot. Moreover, the castdo their best with the blah material: Mathews, Gray, and Brousse areall fine in the lead roles, with sturdy support from George Bastell asthe no-nonsense Inspector Etienne and Arnold Diamond as affable localconstable Janiello. A strictly passable time-killer.
cynthia_h_49509 (07 May 2012)
Good Acting, interesting photography and scenery, poor plotting
I enjoyed the first part of this thriller produced by Hammer. KerwinMatthews is very appealing as the leading man and the first half of themovie I wasn't sure where it was going, who to trust and who wasdeceiving who. But the twist at the end made the actions of some of thecharacters in the first half of the movie illogical. When a films givesyou a twist at the end, I like to be able to look back and say, oh wow,now I see it. "Ten Little Indians", 1965, and "The Sixth Sense" ,1999,both are good examples of surprise endings that make sense when youlook back. This one doesn't. "Spoiler" When Eve's real motivations arerevealed at the end and we find out who Georges really is, the wholefirst part of the film unravels and Eve and "Georges" behavior isinexplicable. " Spoiler" I would recommend this to other fans of 60'sEnglish Cinema with the caveat that it is worth watching for theactors, and the scenery (even in black and white) but the plot has lotsof holes.
Brian Walker (06 May 2012)
Cast off
A good script from Hammer stalwart Jimmy Sangster who also wrote theexcellent Paranoiac, and matched by sharp direction and photography. Ashame, then, that the cast are such a let-down. The well-known hamDonald Houston lives down to his reputation - his voice was dubbed, apity that his performance couldn't be erased. The French actressLillian Brousse is excellent as the innocent daughter, but the AmericanKerwin Matthews makes for a very anodyne lead. The rest of the cast areBritish, utilizing French accents straight out of 'Allo 'Allo. Hammerhave made some excellent non-horror movies such as Taste of Fear, andbut for the dreadful acting this could have been one of them.
(02 May 2012)
Basic summary of the film
Maniac is one of those rare Hammer films, a truly suspensefulhorror.Its wonderful to watch, and so much better in widescreen. The unseen storyintrigues, where the visual whets the appetite.A truly twisted story of intrigue and unrequited love, with a macabre twistthat could only come from the studio that bred Christopher Lee and PeterCushing as the ultimate horror team.Although not as good as some of their other work, nevertheless, I was keptguessing as the plot became more complex, and enthralled by the scenery andstyle.What is more, it is a contemporary film (well, 1963) and set in modernFrance, with real French actors!
MARIO GAUCI (01 May 2012)
MANIAC (Michael Carreras, 1963) **1/2
This was one of two Hammer thrillers (even if it was watched on a"Fantasy" day) that had eluded me thus far; for the record, theremaining title  CRESCENDO (1970)  has, controversially, just beenreleased on DVD-R as part of Warners' U.S. exclusive "ArchiveCollection". While MANIAC has a reasonable reputation, I have to saythat I was ultimately let down by it and I would place the film in thelower rank of the studio's efforts in this vein. Its main fault,basically, lies in a not very interesting plot (courtesy, as were manyof these outings, of screenwriter Jimmy Sangster): besides, it tries Âbut fails  to recapture the sense of eeriness inherent in a remoteseaside location (in its case, the Camargues) already seen in the muchsuperior TASTE OF FEAR (1961) and THE DAMNED (shot in 1961 but onlyreleased 2 years later). That said, characterization is quite wellrounded: Kerwin Mathews, infrequently seen in a modern-day setting,makes for a surprisingly effective lead (in fact, he had previouslystarred in Hammer's splendid adventure film THE PIRATES OF BLOOD RIVER[1962]); Nadia Gray is sultry and conniving, Liliane Brousse heringenue  but no less sexy  stepdaughter (who gets raped in the film'svery opening sequence!). Coming into play during the latter stages isDonald Houston as the titular figure, though he proves to be someoneother than who the audience had been led to believe; therefore, we havea number of nice twists (and implied violence) here but, then, end upwith a rather ordinary mystery  actually anticipating a number ofgialli in this regard! Unfortunately, my enjoyment of the film wasfurther dampened by all kind of technical problems (after the picturein the copy I acquired initially failed to visualize)  with stretchedimage (fixed by altering the TV setting to 16:9), fuzziness, combing(the latter also causing the audio to drop out a couple of times) andlip-synch issues all rearing their ugly head throughout the viewing!
Review total: 14, showing from 1 to 14