8mm Forum: Fiend Without a Face (1962)

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Posted by Dino Everette (Member # 1378) on March 17, 2014, 01:04 AM:

FIEND WITHOUT A FACE (1962)
4 x 400ft Super 8 Sound B/W
released by Cinema Eight

I have a number of silent releases from Cinema Eight but this is my only sound feature from them but the quality is outstanding. For those unfamiliar Cinema Eight was both a distributor of exclusive titles and those of other companies. Usually their original material will feature the name "Cinema Concepts" on the head leaders of each reel. Sadly my print came from a collection that was well used and has numerous lines running down the right side.

The story is your typical mad scientist takes his experiments too far then has remorse at the horror he has unleashed. There are some fun stop motion effects when the fiends finally becoming visible. Some are quite gory/bloody for a black and white film...

The print is very sharp with good contrast and decent sound. I did notice some timing errors in the second reel where the lighting goes from bright to dark for about 2-3 minutes. It was enough to make me get up and check my projector to make sure nothing was wrong. Other than that the print is top notch and I recommend if it you appreciate the good old style low budget horror.

I don't drink anymore but if you want a fun drinking game during the film, take a drink every time Major Cummings drives through the forest road.

Posted by David Ollerearnshaw (Member # 3296) on March 17, 2014, 03:28 AM:

Nice review Dino. I have this film too, but the Mountain Films release, I think it is edited a little although it was only about 75 minutes originally.

My print is also very good. one of the better Mountain releases.

The woods where the Major drives could have been the same ones that Hammer used for their films. It was filmed in England.

Posted by Pasquale DAlessio (Member # 2052) on March 17, 2014, 07:38 AM:

Great review Dino. I also have this film in 600' digest. I think the "fiends" are great. Plus the thumping sound effects are like the Jaws shark theme. It adds a lot to the suspense. You just can't beat them old syfy films!

PatD

[ March 19, 2014, 12:42 AM: Message edited by: Pasquale DAlessio ]

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on March 17, 2014, 12:31 PM:

Awesome to see a review of this film by you Dino! Good work!

Posted by Terry Lagler (Member # 1110) on March 17, 2014, 12:49 PM:

Nice review Dino, this has always been one of those guilty pleasures of mine. Such a great climax with those flying stop-motion brains! I would love to find the digest of this film - looks like Pat has a 600' version which I had no idea existed. I could have sworn there was a 400' silent version.

BTW, makes a great double feature with "The Crawling Eye" (another film that would have made a fun digest.

Cheers
Terry

Posted by David Ollerearnshaw (Member # 3296) on March 17, 2014, 02:40 PM:

I think Derann released 'The Crawling Eye' under the UK title 'The Trollenberg Terror' it was a 400ft.

Posted by Mark Williams (Member # 794) on March 17, 2014, 03:02 PM:

Excellent review Dino 😊😊 one of my favourites too,Mountain Films released a 400ft silent version here too.

I must pick up a Super 8 copy one day.

Posted by Terry Lagler (Member # 1110) on March 18, 2014, 02:37 PM:

Oh my, now I must find the 600' Fiend and Trollenberg Terror!
Cheers
Terry

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on March 19, 2014, 12:20 PM:

By the way, Dino, your quite correct, that is a very sharp super 8, high quality!

Posted by Pasquale DAlessio (Member # 2052) on March 19, 2014, 02:28 PM:

Terry

This 600' version I have was edited together by me. I actually found some footage on ebay that was a scene not included on my 1x400' reel.

PatD

Posted by Terry Lagler (Member # 1110) on March 20, 2014, 01:29 PM:

That sounds very cool Pat. Does the 400' version contain all the flying brain footage?

Cheers
Terry

Posted by Pasquale DAlessio (Member # 2052) on March 20, 2014, 02:01 PM:

Yes! The scenes from the trees, off one of the actors etc. The extra footage I got was from the feature. It fit in perfectly. A lucky find.

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