Fright

When I first saw Fright I was fascinated. Fascinated by an acting apearence I wouldn't have expected like this. Till I watched Fright I knew Eric Fleming only from Rawhide. I had read that he drowned while shooting a ABC-television movie and began to research. I found out, he had appeard in a 1965 movie named Fright, so I searched for it on YouTube. When I found the whole movie I was to frightened to watch it, because I saw it was a 'psychotical-thriller'. All I knew about psycho-thrillers was, they are scary and brutal. After a while I thaught: what could happen? And I watched it. I was thrilled. I would never have thought Eric could act something like this! A hypnotist-psychologist who falls in love with one of his patients. He lives a life like James Bond. Drinks in bars, easy women and so ahead. The only Thing on this movie, really getting on my nerves are the cigarettes! They put a cigaret on, stick it in the mouth one time, just one, and then put it out again! And that's in every single scene!!!!!! But all in all the movie's very nice ans definetly worth to watch it.;-)

Dishwater dull director W. Lee Wilder strikes again with 1956's "Fright," his take on the Bridey Murphy reincarnation hoax, which also inspired Alex Gordon's "The She-Creature," Roger Corman's "The Undead," and even Ed Wood's "The Bride and the Beast." Wilder's Planet Filmplays ("Phantom from Space," "Killers from Space," "The Snow Creature," "Manfish") again produced the final result, working titles including "I Cast No Shadow" and "Spell of the Hypnotist," his son Myles scripting on a real life incident involving the unsolved 1889 death of married Archduke Rudolf of Hapsburg, found alongside the corpse of his teenage lover Baroness Maria Vetsera, either murder/suicide or politically motivated. Eric Fleming plays the central role of New York psychiatrist James Hamilton, displaying an affinity for successfully using hypnosis on highly susceptible patients, as shown in the opening scene featuring escaped murderer George Morley (Frank Marth) quietly acquiescing to authorities at the sound of Hamilton's voice. Also present as a witness is 25 year old Ann Summers (top billed Nancy Malone), revealed to possess the same qualities as Morley but needing to be certain that she's not capable of such crimes. Despite some effort, Hamilton soon finds himself falling in love with his attractive new patient, who admits she has never been to Germany yet can both write and speak the language, soon revealed to have a split personality with Baroness Maria. Ann's sudden disappearance due to an unflattering news story quickly has police wondering if there's a murder case on their hands, the doctor a prime suspect, while Lady Olive Fitzmaurice (Elizabeth Watts) is able to fill Hamilton in on the girl's father and his dalliance with an Austrian nurse. It's totally preposterous and not terribly complicated, the lackluster finale taking place in an office where two hypnotic subjects take part in a fabricated double suicide, typically presented in the director's usual unwavering camera setups and uncinematic presentation. The future star of RAWHIDE, Eric Fleming possesses a magnificent voice but little expression, and after this W. Lee Wilder relocated to Europe for "The Man Without a Body," "Spy in the Sky!," "Bluebeards Ten Honeymoons," and "The Omegans" his legacy never reaching the heights of elder brother Billy Wilder. Incidentally, there is no connection between this instantly forgotten quickie and a more recent "Fright" starring Susan George in 1971.

Psychiatrist Eric Fleming talks a serial killer down from a bridge so the police can capture him. Among the crowd watching is Nancy Malone. While the press makes a fuss over over the doctor, she approaches him to see if he can help her with her general dissatisfaction. He suggests dinner, but she wants a professional appointment, so they wind up doing both. Gradually he comes to realize that she thinks she is the reincarnation of Baroness Mary Vetsera of the Mayerling Incident, in which the lady and her lover, Crown Prince Rudolf killed themselves. He figures out why this is, but then she vanishes and the police come to him with a letter accusing him of wanting to kill her. They aren't fashed about it, just investigating.

Despite its title, W. Lee Wilder's movie isn't frightening, creepy, or anything but the sort of thing someone who was born in Vienna during the Empire might think is interesting when maudlin drunk. Lew Davies offers a score that consists of a warbling theremin and woodwinds in a minor key, and while Miss Malone is ok, Fleming talks like he is a television doctor peddling cigarettes. The script is by Wilder's son Myles, who had more success with television sitcoms. Ned Glass and Sid Raymond have tiny roles.

I totally disagree with a previous review to this film. We are presented here with an extremely low budget film with mostly up and coming young actors or unknowns. The story is interesting, the acting is erratic- but Eric Fleming is rather good in his first leading role and shows promise for the future lead in TV's Rawhide.The doctor played by Fleming investigates a rash of murders and discovers a young lady believing herself to be the reincarnation of a princess.Due to a erratic script and lack lustre direction, both leads - Nancy Malone and Eric Fleming have to provide us with the interest and for me they succeed.There is one hauntingly good sequence when Fleming is alone studying and he feels the presence of Malone behind him. If you need blood and gore to satisfy your film needs then this is not for you. On the other hand if you are interested in Fleming's early work and also a rare minor film then this is worth a look. Try to judge the film on it's merits and appreciate when it was made, then you could find it's a worthwhile look.I give it a 6 and recommend it for a true vintage film buff, especially for fans of "b" movies and Eric Fleming. Also I note that another reviewer states the film did little to advance the careers of the lead actors, this is totally incorrect. Eric Fleming of course achieved TV immortality as Gil Favor in the classic TV western series " Rawhide " and is forever remembered for the classic command, "Head em up move em out" at the end of each episode. Nancy Malone was an extremely prolific actress for many years and then moved successfully onto directing. I think that both these people did have successful careers, however Fleming's was cut short by his tragic, untimely death.

Ann Summers (Nancy Malone) starts seeing a psychiatrist (Eric Fleming) after she witnesses him talking a desperate criminal down from a bridge. After a few sessions, the doctor realizes that either Ann has two distinct personalities, or she is the reincarnation of a Baroness who died in 1889.

FRIGHT is a well-made thriller with a solid plot. While the subject matter is questionable, it's presented in a way that allows for the suspension of disbelief. Some nice twists add to the fun, and the finale is quite original...