And Now the Screaming Starts

Starring:Peter Cushing, Herbert Lom, Patrick Magee, Stephanie Beacham, Ian Ogilvy, Geoffrey Whitehead, Guy Rolfe, Rosalie Crutchley, Gillian Lind, Sally Harrison, Janet Key, John Sharp, Norman Mitchell, Lloyd Lamble, Kay Adrian, David Barclay (II), Blake Butler, Vic Chapman, Frank Forsyth, Daniel Jones
Director: Roy Ward Baker
Studio: Image Entertainment
Product Type: DVD

Description

Set in 1795 England, And Now the Screaming Starts! tells the tale of blissful newlyweds Catherine (Stephanie Beacham) and Charles Fengriffen (Ian Ogilvy) who move into his ancestral family mansion. On their wedding night, Catherine is raped by a malevolent spirit. She is further plagued by a series of haunting visions involving an eyeless woodsman and a murderous disembodied hand. Can a savage act of depravity and violence committed by one of Charles' ancestors be to blame? Charles fears that his bride is going insane and calls for Doctor Whittle (Patrick Magee). Unable to help Catherine overcome her visions, Dr. Whittle calls for assistance from a fellow practitioner, Dr. Pope (Peter Cushing), who uses reason and logic to combat what he assumes is a mental disorder. In time, Dr. Pope finds himself fighting a losing battle against the forces of the supernatural carrying out a bloody family curse. Directed by Roy Ward Baker (Asylum, The Vault of Horror, The Monster Club) and produced by Amicus stalwarts Max J. Rosenberg and Milton Subotsky, And Now the Screaming Starts! has been mastered in High Definition from 35mm vault materials.

Customer Reviews:

The Eyeless Phantom at the Window.......2007-06-29

This is one of a few horror films that features a severed hand crawling around on its own (including Dr. Terror's House of Horrors, among others). You may recognize most of the actors here besides the angular and always distinguished Peter Cushing and the buxom Stephanie Beacham; we also have the housekeeper from 1963's wonderful "The Haunting" (remember creepy Mrs. Dudley, who doesn't come around "in the night...in the dark.."), Guy Rolfe who was "Mr. Sardonicus", and we have the doctor from "Dementia 13" (Patrick Magee plays doctors very often).
Cushing gets top billing and unfortunately makes his entrance halfway through the film. I'd have preferred more of him. He is always a pleasure in these movies. He was particularly enjoyable and very sympathetic in one of the anthology movies (probably Tales from the Crypt) as the sweet, poor man whose evil neighbor is bent on ruining him.

A rather amusing anecdote is that this film was referred to as "The Bride of Fengriffen" until filming wrapped, and then some genius changed it to "And Now The Screaming Starts". The latter makes it sound more like a sensational William Castle piece.

If you enjoy the Amicus productions like Asylum, Tales From the Crypt, and Torture Garden, give this a whirl...it is not an anthology of horror tales; it's more like a Hammer picture as it takes place in 1795. I only give it three stars because for me it just lacks a certain spark that I'm used to in the Amicus/Hammer/Corman flicks. It's just not quite as fun as I had hoped.
DVD image and sound is good and clear. Special features include trailer, commentaries, photo gallery.

Not one of the best, but I'd still recommend it . . ........2007-06-06

This film has a brutal rape scene, as well as bloody violence, that I don't quite remember watching as a child. Aside from that, this is quite a good movie, and serves as both mystery and horror film. It isn't once of the best early horror films, but I'd still highly recommend it.

"The evil you did this day will be avenged.".......2006-08-04

While every family may have `skeletons in the closet', for most it's only a metaphor, alluding to some dark secret meant to be kept hidden from the general public, but that's not necessarily the case with the House of Fengriffen, as illustrated in the Amicus feature And Now the Screaming Starts (1973). Directed by Roy Ward Baker (Quatermass and the Pit, The Vampire Lovers), the film stars Stephanie Beacham (House of Mortal Sin, Inseminoid), Ian Ogilvy (From Beyond the Grave, Death Becomes Her), and Peter Cushing (At the Earth's Core, Star Wars). Also appearing is Geoffrey Whitehead (Kidnapped), Guy Rolfe (Ivanhoe, Mr. Sardonicus), Herbert Lom (Asylum, The Return of the Pink Panther), and Patrick Magee (A Clockwork Orange, Demons of the Mind).

The story, set in England in the year 1795, begins with the arrival of Catherine (Beecham), strained bodice and all, to the House of Fengriffen, a large and expansive estate in the countryside. Seems Catherine is set to marry Charles Fengriffen (Ogilvy), the last of his line, which she does, despite some peculiarities of the ethereal kind inherent within the house (i.e. a severed hand roaming the halls, windows that open on their own, etc.), all of which only Catherine can see (for now). On the couple's wedding night, while Catherine's preparing for the consummation the nuptials, she's attacked by a mysterious figure sans a hand (I think I saw it slinking about in the hallway), one who vanishes once Charles manages to break through the locked door. Well, turns out the House of Fengriffen has a terrible secret in its past, one involving Charles' grandfather Henry Fengriffen (Lom) and Silas (Whitehead), the creepy woodsman who lives on the estate, one that Charles, along with everyone else `in the know', are reluctant to share with Catherine, despite her repeated inquires (those who do seem interested in helping Catherine find themselves in a world of supernatural hurt as Stumpy the Ghost and his detached flipper run interference). As the local doctor, played by Magee, is unable to help Catherine with her `problem', a specialist is called in, one Dr. Pope (Cushing), a practitioner of a new science involving the mind (the thought being Catherine might be going mental, which she is, but only because of bizarre happenings in and about the house). Pope, being an intelligent and practical man, quickly realizes Catherine's condition is somehow related to past events and soon pressures Charles to spill the beans, which he does in a lengthy flashback (the events Charles relates occurred prior to his birth, so he believes it all more or less a legend). After the revelation things really get interesting as events come to a head as a prophecy made long ago comes to fruition...

While I enjoyed this film a lot, I did have a few issues, the main one being I thought Peter Cushing, sporting quite the interesting coif, should have had a bigger role in the story (few at the time seemed as much at home in these period features as Cushing, except for Christopher Lee and Vincent Price, in my humble opinion). His character doesn't make the scene until about forty-five minutes in, and even then he's more or less just a catalyst to draw out the Fengriffen's dirty laundry (it's positively filthy). His character's overall involvement is relatively minimal, as he can do nothing but witness the events that unfold after his arrival. Also, both Lom and Magee have relatively minor parts, the main bulk of the production on Ms. Beecham's lovely shoulders, who did very well, but could have used a bit more help. As far as Charles, played by Ian Ogilvy, I thought he was a curiously detached character, not overly concerned that his wife's worsening condition might be tied to the family secret he was so reluctant to let her in on, at least initially. Perhaps he was so eager to believe it was all so much superstitious nonsense that neglected to see the forest for the trees, but I'd think once the various deaths started to occur, he might have acted sooner than he did...not that he could have done anything to prevent the ultimate outcome, but still...the story isn't laid out for those who like things to be presented in order, but more like someone putting together a puzzle, working from their way in from the border. As a result, the first three quarters of the film may frustrate some less patient viewers as not only is there a good deal of confusion (at least until Charles comes clean), but also the going is somewhat slow. As for myself, I kind of liked being left in the dark, trying to discern the gist of things from what little was offered, up until the revelation. Once the secret is revealed, things quickly become apparent, especially in terms of where the story is going (I guessed most of the twist ending well before it occurred). There were a couple of specific aspects I found downright annoying, the first being a dog howling sound effect would be played about every fifteen minutes like clockwork. Maybe the intent was to re-enforce the gothic nature of the story, but it was unnecessary. The second aspect involved the windows in the Fengriffen estate...these damn things would open constantly, apparently due to supernatural elements gaining entry into the home, but then, if it was a ghost (it was), why the hell would it need to open a window to get inside? The only real reason for this was to let the audience in on the fact something spooky was about to happen, and not because it was actually necessary for the story. I thought the script was written well, and the production values very strong...the period pieces and costumes worked wonderfully in creating a sense of the time the story was meant to take place. As far as the violence and blood, there's not really a lot of either, except for within the flashback sequence (someone's grubby mitt gets lopped off). Overall the film isn't particularly scary, but it kept me engaged and entertained throughout.

This DVD release from Dark Sky Films includes an exceptionally sharp and good-looking anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1) print, along with a strong and clean audio track presented in Dolby Digital 2.0 mono. Extras include two audio commentary tracks, one with director Roy Ward Baker and actress Stephanie Beacham, and a second with actor Ian Ogilvy. Also included are liner notes by Christopher Gullo, biographies, a still gallery, English subtitles, and a theatrical trailer for this film along with one for The Beast Must Die (1974) and Asylum (1972), all three originally released by Amicus Productions and all three recently re-released onto DVD by Dark Sky Films (they were originally released onto DVD by Image Entertainment).

Cookieman108

"AND NOW THE SCREAMING STARTS!" AND THE FUN!.......2006-07-27

"And Now The Screaming Starts!" has the feel of a Hammer Studios horror picture, however, was made by it's rival studio Amicus. The English castle, the haunting story of the ill-fated couple who were so dreadfully wronged by an English nobleman, whose family now carries their curse, and the great atmosphere of the creepy house and it's weird goings-on, make this a fun ride for British horror fans. I video taped this movie from one of cable TVs movie channels, and immediately it became one of my favorites of the genre.

The time is 1795, in England, a young woman Catherine (Stephanie Beacham) moves to the house of her fiancé Charles Fengriffen (Ian Ogilvy) in the country to get married to him. When she arrives, she feels interest in the portraits of the Fengriffen family, particularly in the one of Charle's grandfather Henry Fengriffen (Herbert Lom), which seems to have a sort of evil entity possessing it. While admiring Henry's face, a severed hand attacks Catherine through the picture on the wall. Later, she gets married to Charles, beginning her journey of mystery, eerie apparitions, secrets and deaths. Her days are filled with fear and the nights with horrors in a family that has been cursed.

"And Now The Screaming Starts!" is part of "The Amicus Collection," along with "The Beast Must Die!" (1974) and "Asylum" (1972). I've yet to see the later two titles, but have ordered them from Amazon and should be receiving them shortly. The reviews I've read about them, especially "Asylum," are very good and I can't wait to see them! Here are some other great British horror classics that need to be on dvd, but who knows when that will happen.

The Gorgon (1964)
Dr. Terror's House of Horrors (1965)
The Skull (1965)
Island of the Burning Doomed (1967)
Tales from the Crypt (1972)
Vault of Horror (1973)
From Beyond the Grave (1973)

So, if you see these titles playing on a cable TV movie channel, do yourself a favor and tape it!

Classic Amicus gem being re-released in July 2006!.......2006-04-21

The 70's were hard for horror fans; the only worthwhile films were produced on low bugets by a trio of studios (AIP, Hammer and Amicus). During much of the 70's Hammer's horror output became very uneven in quality. Amicus rose to the occasion putting out a series of worthwhile horror films that continue to work well because of the strong casting and interesting scripts/direction on the films.

"And Now the Screaming Starts!" has a loaded title which fits the film well. Charles and Catherine Fengriffen (Ian Ogilvy and Stephanie Beacham) have just moved into Charles' ancestral home. On their wedding night Catherine is raped by an an evil ghost or spirit haunting the house. After her attack she has a series of strange visions and dreams that disturb her. Charles fears for her sanity and calls on Dr. Whittle (Patrick Magee a part of the Amicus stable who also appeared in "Asylum" and "A Clockwork Orange") who, in turn, calls in Dr. Pope (Peter Cushing naturally)a doctor who uses science to cure mental disease. Pope believes that Stephanie has become unhinged but ultimately ends up in a supernatrual battle that even he doesn't expect.

This re-release from Dark Sky Films (a division of MPI)hasn't been released yet (it releases at the same time as "Asylum" in July 2006)but will feature a new high definition anamorphic transfer done from the original 35mm negative. Also we'll be getting yummy extras including commentary by director Roy Ward Baker and Stephanie Beacham and a second commentary track by actor Ian Ogilvy. Biographies for all the main cast/production team will be included as well as a still gallery and trailers for other Dark Sky Films releases in the Amicus series. There will also be liner notes.

If you're a Amicus fan you may want to pre-order this classic. Don't pay $50.00 for the earlier edition just be patient and you can start screaming all over again.

Average customer rating:

The Eyeless Phantom at the Window
Not one of the best, but I'd still recommend it . . .
"The evil you did this day will be avenged."
"AND NOW THE SCREAMING STARTS!" AND THE FUN!
Classic Amicus gem being re-released in July 2006!

And Now the Screaming Starts
Starring: Peter Cushing , Herbert Lom , Patrick Magee , Stephanie Beacham , and Ian Ogilvy
Director: Roy Ward Baker
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( A ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Asylum
The Beast Must Die
Hollywood's Legends of Horror Collection (Doctor X / The Return of Doctor X / Mad Love / The Devil Doll / Mark of the Vampire / The Mask of Fu Manchu)
Blood of the Vampire/The Hellfire Club
The House That Dripped Blood

ASIN: B0000639GO
Release Date: 2002-04-30

Description

A terrifying secret darkens the halls of the Fengriffen estate, where beautiful young bride Catherine (Stephanie Beacham) finds her romantic wedding night turning to horror when she's ravaged by an eyeless ghost. Meanwhile, a disembodied hand lurks in the darkest corners of the house, unbeknownst to Catherine's aristocratic husband, Charles (Ian Ogilvy). As the newlyweds soon discover, the Fengriffen bloodline has been tainted by a vicious curse passed down from generation to generation, and only with the help of Dr. Pope (Peter Cushing) can the latest victims hope to conquer a supernatural evil which has been lying in wait for centuries. A stellar cast, breathtaking period settings and chilling special effect highlight this stylish gothic shocker. Bolt your doors, secure your windows and turn down the lights--it's time to scream!

Customer Reviews:

The Eyeless Phantom at the Window.......2007-06-29

Not one of the best, but I'd still recommend it . . ........2007-06-06

"The evil you did this day will be avenged.".......2006-08-04

"AND NOW THE SCREAMING STARTS!" AND THE FUN!.......2006-07-27

Classic Amicus gem being re-released in July 2006!.......2006-04-21

And Now the Screaming Starts! [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.0 Import - Australia ]

Average customer rating:

And Now the Screaming Starts! [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.0 Import - Australia ]
Director: Roy Ward Baker
Manufacturer: Umbrella Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000ER3HDQ

Product Description

Australia released, PAL/Region 0 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada. LANGUAGES: English (Dolby Digital 2.0), WIDESCREEN (1.85:1), SYNOPSIS: This creepy, atmospheric horror film from England's Amicus Productions dispenses with much of the tongue-in-cheek presentation of their popular '70s horror anthologies (such as Asylum and Dr. Terror's House of Horrors) in favor of a more adult-oriented approach. The story begins in the 18th century, as a young stable hand tries to prevent nobleman Fengriffen (Herbert Lom) from raping a young servant girl -- who happens to be the stable hand's wife -- and for this transgression has his hand lopped off. Flash forward to the present, where Fengriffen's ancestor (Ian Ogilvy) and his wife (Stephanie Beacham), now living on the ancestral estate, are haunted by the servant's vengeful spirit, as well as the severed hand itself, which roams the gloomy corridors of the mansion. Most video versions are taken from the TV print, which is missing some scenes of violence and nudity. SPECIAL FEATURES: Commentary, Interactive Menu, Scene Access, Trailer(s),

And Now the Screaming Starts! [Region 2]

Average customer rating:

The Eyeless Phantom at the Window
Not one of the best, but I'd still recommend it . . .
"The evil you did this day will be avenged."
"AND NOW THE SCREAMING STARTS!" AND THE FUN!
Classic Amicus gem being re-released in July 2006!

And Now the Screaming Starts! [Region 2]
Starring: Peter Cushing , Herbert Lom , Patrick Magee , Stephanie Beacham , and Ian Ogilvy
Director: Roy Ward Baker
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

( A ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Asylum
The Beast Must Die
Hollywood's Legends of Horror Collection (Doctor X / The Return of Doctor X / Mad Love / The Devil Doll / Mark of the Vampire / The Mask of Fu Manchu)
Blood of the Vampire/The Hellfire Club
The House That Dripped Blood

ASIN: B00007JGLQ

Customer Reviews:

The Eyeless Phantom at the Window.......2007-06-29

Not one of the best, but I'd still recommend it . . ........2007-06-06

"The evil you did this day will be avenged.".......2006-08-04

"AND NOW THE SCREAMING STARTS!" AND THE FUN!.......2006-07-27

Classic Amicus gem being re-released in July 2006!.......2006-04-21

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