I've not heard of this hysterical melodrama before but it's very entertaining, a sort of updated Frankenstein story starring Peter Cushing that ups the ante for gore and sex with even old Pete getting more snog action than usual.
He plays Sir John Rowan an eminent surgeon engaged to a much younger photographic model Lynn . She takes him to a groovy party where he becomes enraged by the attentions of sleazy photographer Mike ( Anthony Booth ) and their fight results in Lynn becoming facially disfigured. Obsessed with guilt, Rowan finds a way of temporarily curing her but it requires a constant supply of young human pituary glands.
Sue Lloyd ( as Lynn )
Sex : Lynn appears in a bikini
Death : Killed by a wayward laser that she set in motion
Sue was a former dancer who became a familiar TV face after appearing in The Baron . In film she was noted for appearing in two Harry Palmer films with Michael Caine and both of Joan Collins's racy pictures The Stud and The Bitch . In 1979, she started a six year stint in Crossroads as the wife of Ronald Allen's character. They were sacked to refresh the soap in 1985 and six years later she married the gay actor for real just before his death from cancer. In leaner times she earned her living from painting. She herself died of cancer in 2011 aged 72.
Kate O' Mara ( as Val )
Sex : No
Death : Killed by the wayward laser
Originally Frances Carrell from Leicester, Kate had an early film role as a child but her career on stage and screen really started in the mid-sixties. She appeared in quite a few horror pictures as we'll see. She turned down a contract with Hammer for fear of being typecast then spent much of the rest of her career playing bitches in soaps notably The Brothers, Triangle, Howard's Way and Dynasty. She died in 2014 of ovarian cancer aged 74
Wendy Varnals ( as Teri )
Sex : Teri appears in wet underwear. Later we see some foreplay with her husband
Death : Throttled by Rowan
Wendy only appeared in a couple of films but she had regular roles on TV as an actress in something called The Sullavan Brothers and a presenter on a pop show A Whole Scene Going. This is her last screen credit so I'm guessing she got married. She is now 77.
Vanessa Howard ( as Kate )
Sex : No
Death : Survives
The 17 year old from Worthing was making her film debut here and she became rather typecast in horror pictures. She married an American film producer in the early seventies and quit acting for good. She died in L.A. in 2010 aged 62
Marian Collins ( as girl in flat )
Sex : The girl is a prostitute who takes her bra off before Rowan excites her suspicions
Death : Repeatedly stabbed in the abdomen by Rowan who then cuts her head off
Marian was a bit part actress who agreed to go topless for a European cut of the film after the actress who appeared in the UK version ( Jan Waters demurred ). It did nothing for her career; in fact by the looks of things it killed it stone dead. She is now 78.
Alexandra Dane ( as Sandy )
Sex : Sandy has huge boobs
Death : Survives
Alexandra was born in South Africa . She remained a bit part player in films but had regular roles on TV in The Doctors and Not On Your Nellie . After doing a series of Smith & Jones in 1986 she retired from acting and ran a touring puppet show. She is now 72.
Valerie Van Ost ( as girl on train )
Sex : No
Death : Stabbed and decapitated by Rowan
Valerie was a bit part actress although she had more substantial roles in subsequent films. She retired in 1976 and worked as a casting director in the eighties. She is now 73.
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