Review of Tormented (1960) by Jessica H — 14 May 2011

A real bow-wow, this sucker smells worse than 3 days of relatives on your wedding night. Man is "tormented" by a ghost, a former lover who would not take the hint to get lost. A blind landlady completes this torrid and tormented film.

Directed, written and produced by Bert Gordon. Must have been a real low budget film. He might have starred in it too.

Jazz pianist Tom Stewart (Carlson), who lives on a Cape Cod island community, is preparing to marry his fiancee Meg. Shortly before the wedding, Tom's old girlfriend Vi (Juli Reding) visits and informs him that she will end Tom's relationship with Meg, using blackmail if necessary.

While arguing on top of a lighthouse, the railing Vi is leaning against gives way. She manages to briefly hang on, but Tom refuses to help and watches her fall to her death.

Moderately paced, this is one of those questionalble films that are fun to scorn. As serious cinema? Come on, not even close. But as I vowed not to review rottens, I barely gave this a fresh. Hey, do I want to be haunted by a female ghost? Not a chance, I have Illsa Lund to do that job.

NOTES about the film:

1 The "ferry-driving beatnik" mentioned was played by Joe Turkel, who appeared in two other productions from Bert I. Gordon: The Boy and the Pirates and Village of the Giants, and who would go on to play "Lloyd the bartender" in Stanley Kubrick's 1980 version of The Shining; and "Eldon Tyrell" in Ridley Scott's 1982 film, Blade Runner.

2 The MST3K version of the film has been released by Rhino Home Video as part of the Collection, Volume 11 box set.

3 Tormented is a 1960 horror movie directed and produced by Bert I. Gordon for Allied Artists Pictures Corporation, and starring Richard Carlson.

Starring.

Richard Carlson.

Susan Gordon.

Lugene Sanders.

Directed by Bert I. Gordon.

Produced by Bert I. Gordon.

Joe Steinberg.

Written by Bert I. Gordon.

George Worthing Yates.

Music by Albert Glasser.

Calvin Jackson.

Cinematography Ernest Laszlo.

Editing by John Bushelman.

Distributed by Allied Artists Pictures Corporation.

Release date(s) 22 September 1960.

Running time 75 min.

Country United States.

Films directed by Bert I. Gordon.

1950s King Dinosaur (1955) · Beginning of the End (1957) · The Cyclops (1957) · The Amazing Colossal Man (1957) · Attack of the Puppet People (1958) · War of the Colossal Beast (1958) · Earth vs. the Spider (1958).

1960s The Boy and the Pirates (1960) · Tormented (1960) · The Magic Sword (1962) · Village of the Giants (1965) · Picture Mommy Dead (1966).

1970s Necromancy (1972) · The Mad Bomber (1973) · The Food of the Gods (1976) · Empire of the Ants (1977).

1980s Burned at the Stake (1981).

1990s Satan's Princess (1990).