#92: CRABTREE, Arthur: Fiend Without A Face (1958)

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CRABTREE, Arthur (United Kingdom)
Fiend Without A Face [1958]
Spine #92
DVD


A scientist's thoughts materialize as an army of invisible brain-shaped monsters (complete with spinal-cord tails!) who terrorize an American military base in this nightmarish chiller, directed by Arthur Crabtree (Horrors of the Black Museum). This outstanding sci-fi/horror hybrid is a special effects bonanza, and a high-water mark in British genre filmmaking.

74 minutes
Black & White
Monaural
1:66:1 aspect ratio
Criterion Release 2000

Director/Writers


Original story by Amelia Reynolds Long.
Screenplay by Herbert J. Leder.
Arthur Crabtree was 58 when he directed Fiend Without a Face.

Other Crabtree films in the Collection:

Eclipse Series 36: Madonna Of The Seven Moons (1945)

The Film

Film Rating (0-60):

60

The Extras

The Booklet

Six-page wraparound featuring an essay by Bruce Kawin.

Commentary

Conversation with executive producer Richard Gordon and genre film writer Tom Weaver.

Illustrated essay

On British sci-fi/horror filmmaking by film historian Bruce Eder.
Collection

Of trailers from Gordon films: Fiend Without a Face, The Haunted Strangler (1958) {Spine #367}, Corridors of Blood (1959) {Spine #368}, and The Atomic Submarine (1959) {Spine #366}.
Rare still photographs

And ephemera, with commentary.
Vintage

Advertisements and lobby cards.
Extras Rating (0-40):

39

60 + 39 =

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