Dead Of Night (1945)

One of myall-time favorite classic horror movies has to be the British anthology "Dead Of Night". Does anyone else remember this movie? I had to search for a while to find it on VHS. The first segment is pretty weak (based on the anecdote from Bennett Cerf's "Famous Ghost Stories") but the other segments are very creepy (except the golfers which is pretty funny). This film is one of the few films that have legitimately scared the sh*t out of me, aside from the Haunting of course.

[MaxRenn]

I love this movie also but it's been a while since I've seen it. What's the first segment? I can't remember. People usually compain about the golf segment because the humor doesn't fit. I like the bus episode and of course the ventriloquist. And the wraparound story is very disturbing.

[marioscido]

I never heard of it! I'll look for it on tape; it sounds interesting.

Just saw on the Anchor Bay site that they are releasing "Dead Of Night" on a double-disc set with the film "Queen Of Spades" in May. Never heard of the second film but looking forward to see Dead Of Night on DVD.

[DVD Connoisseur]

This has been an AB prospect for ages...great to see it drawing near. Great film, must have seen it half a dozen times. A true classic.

[studio1]

Absolutely classic movie, now I know where Amicus got the idea for the mirrow segment in From Beyond the Grave

Dead of Night was for years shown outside the UK only in a crudely re-edited version, eliminating the Sally Ann Howes and the "golfing" vignettes.
http://www.britmovie.co.uk/studios/e...graphy/38.html

The ventriloquists dummy segment made the hairs stand up on
my neck after I first saw it as a kid, I still find this segment pretty effective, which just goes to show just how well these classic movies stand up to most stuff being churned out today.

S1

[MaxRenn]

My favorite episode is the bus segment - the line "Room for one more inside" still gives me the shivers.

[studio1]

I forgot all about that sequence, and you're right that line still gives me goosebumps

the 1st segment was that girl who gets lost while playing hide and seek, and ends up in that room talking to that little boy who is in fact dead.

Classic!!!!

[hell ya!]

sounds great, its on the list

[Paff]

I actually saw Dead of Night a looooooong time ago as part of the Public Library's film program (once a week they screened 16mm films).

I liked it. Can't wait for the DVD. Easily one of the best anthology films ever made.

[MaxRenn]

Originally posted by Paff
Easily one of the best anthology films ever made.

I agree. I think "Dead of Night" and "Black Sabbath" are the best horror anthology films.

[studio1]

This film is one of the few films that have legitimately scared the sh*t out of me, aside from the Haunting of course.

Hell yeah, the Haunting also scared the crap outa me, as well as another classic of the genre "The Innocents", Jeez I had nightmares for months after watching that, I always remember the scene when Miss Jessel (Deborah Kerr) sees the ghost of the former governess standing in the reeds

How this and the haunting have never been released onto dvd is a travesty, 2 classic movies which deserve to be given the critereon treatment.

If you can, try and see the innocents in widescreen as the pan and scam version destroys everything that is superb about this movie.

Right enough of my moaning on, Now if they would only release those 2 gems and Murder by Decree , I would be in 7th heaven

S1

[MaxRenn]

I thought Murder by Decree just got released?

[studio1]

Thanks for that mate, I didn't even know it had a release, with not being checking for ages, thinking it wouldn't get a release for a long time..DAMN!!!!

S1

[MaxRenn]

Time to resurrect this thread.....

I finally watched the DVD of this last night and the movie is in good shape. I have seen “Dead of Night” a few times before and I really enjoyed all the stories but this time I was really struck by the linking story. It is brilliantly constructed and the last 10 or 15 minutes are inspired. Although we are interested in Mervyn Johns’ predicament in the linking story, we are distracted by the other stories and by the friendly and humorous tone of the sections in the cottage. It is hard to believe that his story will take a dark turn and end in such an unsettling manner. There is a disturbing parallel between his character getting caught up and overwhelmed by the stories he heard and the way that stories/films/books can spill over into our waking and dreaming lives.

One other thing; we are all familiar with movies such as “Nightmare on Elm Street” where viewers and characters are stuck in an “Is this a dream or is it real?” situation. “Dead of Night” trumps those by having its main character

Spoiler: stuck inside a nightmare for the duration of the whole movie.

Although I'm sure there are other interpretations.