Tormented

Lillian Adams Director: Bert I. Gordon Bert I. Gordon

Overview

In this low-budget, campy horror film, a murderous pianist pays for his crime when body parts from the lover he pushed from a lighthouse come back to haunt him just before he is to marry a prominent socialite.

Product Details

Release Date:	08/13/2013
UPC:	0883316843796
Original Release:	1960
Rating:	NR
Source:	Warner Archives
Presentation:	[Full Frame]
Time:	1:10:00
Sales rank:	35,041

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Lillian Adams	Real Estate Broker
Susan Gordon	Sandy
Vera Marshe	Mother
Julie Reding	Vi Mason
Gene Roth	Lunch Stand Operator
Lugene Sanders	Meg
Joe Turkel	Nick
Harry Fleer	Father
Richard Carlson	Tom Stewart
Vera Marsh	Actor
George Stanley	Actor
Merritt Stone	Clergyman

Technical Credits

George Worthing Yates

Bert I. Gordon	Director,Producer,Special Effects
Albert Glasser	Score Composer,Songwriter,Musical Direction/Supervision
Flora Gordon	Special Effects
Calvin Jackson	Score Composer
Ernest Laszlo	Cinematographer
Lewis Meltzer	Songwriter
Joe Steinberg	Producer
George Worthing Yates	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

Jazz pianist Tom Stewart (Richard Carlson) tries to break it off with his lover, a desperate, brassy barroom singer named Vi (Julie Reding). She is incensed at being ditched in favor of Tom's wealthy young fiancée, and threatens to tell all about their affair in hopes of derailing the wedding. Their emotional quarrel takes place in the tower of an abandoned lighthouse, and when the railing breaks and Vi is hanging on for dear life, Tom consciously withdraws his helping hand, and she plummets to the sea. Though he reasons to himself that he did not actually take her life, Tom is aware of his part in her death, and he tries to ignore the guilt. But Vi's ghost will not rest, and is intent on making herself heard; not only that, but a blackmailing beatnik knows too much for Tom to let him live. Tormented is a fine B-grade chiller that overcomes some hokey effects and budgetary blemishes to tell a fun, fast-paced tale of morality and mayhem. Richard Carlson is a little old for his intended bride (he appears to be sucking in his gut through most of the picture), and his wooden expression never changes, whether he's practicing the piano or stuffing his dead girlfriend's disembodied head into a bag. His character is such a crumb that there's great satisfaction in watching his life fall apart, and the audience is sure to root for the ghostly Vi and cheer on her supernatural pranks. Mystery Science Theater 3000 fans will know Tormented already (see episode #414), though there's certainly other films far more deserving of their sarcasm, and director Bert I. Gordon is himself responsible for a bushelful. Tormented can be found unmolested as a special feature of the Monsters Crash the Pajama Party: Spook Show Spectacular DVD.

All Movie Guide - Fred Beldin