La pieza del diablo

Coming late in the 60's cycle of mature star shockers, Shelley Winters (who sounds as if she did some of her scenes in one take) and Stella Stevens square off in this watchable B that would have gone straight to video these days. Features a mutt with a taste for more than just Shmackos and worth seeing for the riveting cameo by Beverley Garland as the scorned wife drunk at a society party, but basically Stella's the whole show. Lots of zoom camerawork and 60s wigs! Ends suddenly in the best traditions! Perfect double feature with 'The Big Cube'! 6/10

Without trying to spoil too much of the whackiness here, in this ditty, you got a dog making off with someone's severed hand, you got your menacing foot bridge swaying in the breeze and you got your Stella Stevens and your Shelley Winters squaring off in the ham acting department, a few years before they both turned upside down in the Poseidon Adventure. One of them loopy movies following Joan and Bette from ... Baby Jane, where 2 sort of has been actresses vie for screen time by screeching at each other. Stella has a rather spacey look in her eye and Shelley, well, she always was a drama queen. Fun for a few laughs.

I've finally seen this movie again after years of just having a faint memory of it, so I've now got to decide if it lived up to my memory...well it pretty much does. The story concerns Stella Stevens as Ellen, a young woman who's impending marriage is interrupted by news that her younger brother and sister are being released from an asylum where they were committed after the murder of both their parents. Now considered sane, they are handed over into Ellen's custody, despite her misgivings, and the three of them move into the home of Ellen's fiancée's mother in law, played by Shelley Winters, which in turn gives HER major misgivings. And this being a horror film, it isn't long before there's a new murder...

So what still works is the general sense of unease, mostly generated by great performances by the two younger children, played by Michael Burns and Barbara Sammeth. They portray just the right amount of inscrutability, and keep you guessing as to their actual mental stability! Stella Stevens plays Ellen with lots of wide eyed exasperation which suits the role well, and Shelley Winters does her usual job of playing an alcoholic floozy as the landlady/mother-in-law. The overall tone of the story is well handled, and the climax still works. Gore is low but a couple of bloody scenes still stand out, and the best part is still what happens when a dopey dog sniffs out a dead body - great fun. All in all it's a great compact little thriller with some very good performances...check out the ladies charity party when one of the visitors gets a little too drunk - great cameo here by Beverley Garland - which ends in unexpected tragedy that none of the main characters saw coming! I'd love to see this get an official DVD release, but it seems unlikely, and it's hardly ever shown on TV any more either...what a waste, as this film could be entertaining dozens of new fans or just nostalgia buffs who fancy a bit of twitchy suburban horror from 1969

The beautiful and sexy Stella Stevens has always been regarded as a gifted comedy actress, and with good reason. But occasionally, Stevens has turned in a credible and strong dramatic performance. THE MAD ROOM exploits this serious side of Stevens best. A remake of the 1941 Ida Lupino vehicle LADIES IN RETIREMENT, this film features Stevens as a young housekeeper who has been hiding a dark and disturbing secret from her wealthy employer(the great Shelley Winters). The secret is that Stevens has a younger brother and sister who have been committed to an asylum for brutally murdering their mother and father years before. However, it seems that the skeletons that Stevens has worked so hard to keep hidden, may at last tumble out of her closet. The doctor that has been treating Stevens' siblings insists that they are cured and should be released. Needless to say, this will interfere with Stevens' plans to wed her employer's handsome stepson. A fine tale of suspense, THE MAD ROOM features several bizarre twists and shocking scenes, and terrific performances by the all-star cast. Stevens is magnificent as the tormented housekeeper, Winters is superb as her bitchy employer, and Michael Burns and Barbara Sammeth are appropriately menacing as Stevens' disturbed siblings.

From the opening credits this film gives off a creepy feeling. You are never quite sure which character is trustworthy. Stella Stevens gives the right amount of instability in her performance of a woman who is unsure of her future. The younger siblings, played by Michael Burns and Barbara Sammeth, are equally as creepy. This is a must have film for people who like suspenseful movies with minimal gore. As another reviewer noted I am surprised that this movie has not been released on DVD. It would be interesting to have a commentary by Stella Stevens.

PS: The writers of To Die For with Nicole Kidman must have been fans of this film, since the opening credits are similar to The Mad Room's credits.