Gorgeously filmed, totally insane Gothic pastiche from Riccardo Freda holds its marvelously overwrought tone through to the fiery climax. At the center of it is Barbara Steele's Cynthia, the neurotic second wife of the eponymous Dr. Hichcock, who, from the second she arrives in her husband's creaky and apparently haunted mansion, is picturesquely threatened by the hostile maid, by a mysterious figure in white, purported to be the maid's sister, and by her own increasingly mad husband, who was already predisposed to pseudo-necrophilia, but who really starts to tip over the brink as he begins to believe his first wife has come back from the grave. It's all both lavish and ludicrous, and profits from Steele's incredible screen presence and the weight of its own images. Spectacular use of color, as well. Essential viewing.

The plot ,which could be considered a horror "Rebecca" ,complete with the late wife who haunts the maleficent mansion,the unpleasant governess,in Mrs Denvers ' mold .One can also find the movie too slow-moving,but it does not matter.

The wonderful scenery (this house is a splendor) , the clever lightings , the superb colors make it a winner ;add the presence of Barbara Steele ,par excellence the Goth girl , an Edgar Poe atmosphere ,and a fancy for necrophilia ,and you get a must for horror buffs.

London, 1885. Respected Dr. Hichcock (Robert Flemyng) has had a rough day at work. He goes home to his wife Margarets' (Teresa Fitzgerald) piano recital. She plays badly enough for friends to whisper comments. After she's through playing, she pleads a headache and the attendees quickly leave. The doctor then mixes up a medicine to knock out the Mrs., so he can have sex with her as though she was dead. A few days later, the doctor puts too much barbiturate into his formula and kills his wife for real. After her funeral, he leaves London for twelve years.

Fast forward to 1897. The doctor has married Cynthia (Barbara Steele), who was a mental patient of his and has no idea of his past. They return to London and Hichcock's old house. Strange events start to happen.

The film looks expensive and fussily Victorian. Director Riccardo Freda has all of the music a note or so off key, to suggest things aren't right in the characters minds and that things aren't as placid as they may seem. The film utilizes most of the old cliches successfully; a dark and stormy night, a window banging, a piano playing by itself, etc. The film owes a lot to Alfred Hitchcock, and steals some ideas from his films. There's even a direct copy of one of his most famous shots, the glass of milk from "Suspicion" (1941).

Steele was a underrated actress, and is at her best here. Flemyng is good as a man struggling not to become totally crazy.

I suppose how horrible you think Doctor Hitchcock is depends on your own view of necrophilia. I mean, sure, the first time we see him he's bashed the head of a gravedigger so he can have a quick go on a corpse's paps, but then he did show his kinder side by also being the Doctor who stitched up the poor guy's head at the hospital later. And it's not necrophilia is his wife is still alive, and only looks dead because of the drugs he pumps her full of, is it? It's a complicated issue.

This film also gives us a Double Scouse Lead Actor Line-up! (or D.S.L.A.L for short)! Not only do we have Birkenhead born Barbara Steele in the film, but playing Doctor Hitchcock is Liverpool born actor Roberyt Flemyng! Very little is known of this actor, except that he was an aristocratic-looking character actor, with a 60-year long theatrical career stretching back to 1931. The son of a Liverpool physician, he had a brief medical career, which he abandoned in preference to becoming a thespian. Rose to prominence as Keit Neilan in 'French Without Tears' in 1936. Thereafter, had leading roles on the London and Liverpool stages. Also appeared on Broadway and went on tour in 1952 opposite Katherine Cornell in 'The Constant Wife'. During World War II, he served with the Royal Army Medical Corps, reaching the rank of full colonel. He was awarded the MC (Military Cross) in 1941, mentioned in dispatches and was awarded the military OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1944 King's Honours List for his services to the Royal Army. On 21st March, 1995, he suffered a serious stroke and was for a time comatose. He eventually recovered consciousness, but was incapable of speech and was limited in his movements. He died as a patient in St. Thomas's Hospital in London in the early hours of May 22nd, but that's all I can think of off the top of my head.

Barbara by the way is Dr Hitchcock's second wife, because Hitchcock accidentally killed his first wife with those drugs while trying to turn her into a fake-corpse. Hitchcock, after twelve years, has now returned to his creepy old mansion with Barabararararara, who immediately takes a dislike to meddlesome ratbag housemaid Harriet White. After some screaming is heard, an alarmed Barararararbara is told that's just Harriet's crazy sister and that she's getting shipped off to some loony bin the next day. If that's the case, however, who's running around laughing, being spooky, and making use of the mansion's standard-issue secret passageways? And why is that creepy cat still alive after twelve years?

Barbara Steele sure does a lot of fainting in this film! Someone leaves a skull in her bed = faint. She's out in the garden when a ghostly bridesmaid runs about = faint. She looks through a keyhole and sees someone preparing a noose = keels over. That last one doesn't work out too well for her either. Someone's up to something, and while all that's happening Dr Hitchcock is getting a hankering for some cold flesh, and constantly nearly keeps getting caught at the hospital morgue for this troubles (mainly by suspicious Silvano Tranquili, who has the hots for Barbara).

I'm going to level with you here and say that this film isn't exactly a white knuckle ride. It's pure undiluted Gothic horror that takes it's sweet time getting to conclusion, but just like his other film The Ghost, Riccardo Freda makes good use of colour and throws in loads of mood (and thunderstorms, don't forget thunderstorms). There's one particularly weird scene where Barbara hallucinates Hitchcock's face swelling up while red light fills the screen. That said, I do prefer the Ghost if I had to compare the two.

It is set in 19th London , there a surgeon : Robert Fleming undergoes risked operations . He is the prestigious doctor Hitchock , but he bears a dark secret, he really turns out to be a necrophiliac who likes drug his spouse Margarettha : Maria Teresa Vianello for sexual funeral games ; one day things go awry while engaged in sexual antics and his wife dies . Some years later , he remarries to Barbara Steele who suddenly discovers the dark secrets her hubby . The candle of his lust burnt brightest in the shadow of the grave¡ .

This is an Italian classic terror movie filled with chills , thrills , sinister atmosphere and scary events . A terrifying and mysterious tale of gothic horror and black madness in which a creepy secret was at a coffin named desire . Dealing with a mad doctor who remarries to bring the first wife missus back from the dead . This is one of the best films made by the craftsman Riccardo Freda who realized some good terror films such as Vampiri , this Horrible Dr Hitchcock and sequelled by " The ghost or Lo Spetto" , also starred by Barbara Steele . As Freda was a pioneer from Horror/Fantasy genre originated in Italy , along with Mario Bava who directed "Black Sabbath" and subsequently Dario Argento , all of them created the famous genre : Giallo . The movie is said by those involved to have hurriedly filmed. Nice acting by Robert Fleming as a sinister doctor with necroliphic tendences who accidentally administers an overdoses with fateful consequences , though she might be coming back from the tomb , as he attempts to heal and rejuvenate her by injecting new blood . Robert Fleming attempted to quit when to be aware the film involved necrophilia and he resulted to be a necrophiliac doctor . Barbara Steele is very good as the frightening wife whose husband tries to reborn the old spouse by use her blood , as she suffers torments and is really shatteted for the mysterious circumstances take place at the ghastly as well as horrifying mansion .

This motion picture is strong on visual style and interesting script by prolific Ernest Gastaldi , being well shot by Riccardo Freda in only 14 days , including nimble direction assistants who filmed close-ups , rapid frames and cutaways to save time .It displays an atmospheric and extremely creepy score by Roman Vlad . Colorful cinematography full of lights and shadows by Raffaele Masciocchi , being photographed in Villa Peruchetti , Lacio , Rome , Italy . Compellingly made by Freda , his movies had popular appeal and were usually commercial hits . He often used psedonyms as Dick Jordan , George Lincoln and here Robert Hampton . Some reviewers have praised him as an exploitation stylist and present-day his movies have somewhat of cult following . He made various horror gothic movies , from there he went to spy , melodrama and even made one Western .Riccardo directed/ wrote all kinds of genres , such as adventures and Peplum : Dartagnan's daughter , Salamander of desert , Mongols , Magnificent adventurer , Black Eagle , Vendetta of Black Eagle , The mysterious Cavalier , Don Cesare Di Bazan , Il cavalier di San Marcos , Il Figlio di D'artagnan , Spartacus , Maciste in Inferno , Maciste in court of Great Khan, The giants of Thessaly ; Drama: Two orphans in Paris , Beatriz Cenzi , Genoneva Di Bravante , Lovers of Verona ; Giallo : Tragic ceremony in Villa Alexander , Murder obsession ; Eurospy : Agent Coplan FX18 ; Monster movie : Caltiki ; and Western : No killing with dollars .

The Horrible Dr. Hichcock (1962)

*** (out of 4)

Dr. Hitchcock (Robert Flemyng) administers a drug to his beautiful wife but he accidentally gives her too much, which causes her to overdose and die. The pain causes him to leave him home but years later he returns with his new wife Cynthia (Barbara Steele). It doesn't take too long for the new wife to start seeing and hearing mysterious things, which could be the dead wife.

THE HORRIBLE DR. HITCHCOCK is a pretty good horror film from director Riccardo Freda who skips out on blood or graphic violence and instead delivers atmosphere and some great performances. The film became a pretty big hit when it was originally released and it continued to gain new fans as it showed up on American television. There are two different versions out there with the original Italian version running twelve-minutes longer than the American cut but it's the American version that is currently available on Blu-ray and is what I watched.

For the most part this is a pretty good film that works perfectly in that "old dark house" way where we're given an innocent woman put into a dangerous situation and we're not quite sure what's going on. Is she losing her mind? Is her new husband playing sinister tricks? Has the dead wife returned? These are the questions that are asked throughout the picture and Freda keeps the film moving at a nice pace. There's no question that it's a well-made film that contains some beautiful cinematography as well as a nice music score. Freda builds up a very good and rich atmosphere that carries the picture to the end.

Another major plus is the fact that the performances were so good. Flemyng is very good in the role of the husband because he plays it so perfectly down the middle that you can never tell what he's up to. Then you've got Steele who once again delivers a great performance as the wife who finds herself seeing ghosts and other strange objects. THE HORRIBLE DR. HITCHCOCK isn't a flawless movie but it's certainly an entertaining one.

Many people, like me, will see The Terror of Dr Hitchcock purely for it's cult value. This is the best reason to see the film, as the value outside of it's cult status isn't exactly vast; but the film does offer other reasons that makes viewing worthwhile. First and foremost is the fact that it stars 'The Queen of Horror' Barbara Steele. Steele is an odd beauty, and her looks always ensure that she serves whatever film she's in well. She stars alongside Robert Flemyng, who takes the title role as Dr Hitchcock. Given that the film is supposed to be about him, I was surprised to find that most of the screen time focuses on Barbara Steele's character. This is either the result of Steele's status within the genre, or the fact that Flemyng's character is actually quite boring. This is the film's main problem. The themes on offer are intriguing and often make for great horror movies; but because the central character never really gets a chance to let his motives and desires shine through the performance; it's difficult to really connect with him or the film.

The story follows the aforementioned doctor. Dr Hitchcock is into necrophilia, and when his game that involves drugging his wife goes wrong and she winds up dead, Hitchcock is unable to let go and keeps her body in the cellar. He remarries and plans to use the blood of his new wife to bring back his old one. Like most Italian horror films from this period; the cinematography is awesome, and this is brought about by lavish sets and excellent use of lighting. A lot of the running time is spent on watching Steele run about the various rooms of the castle, and this would be quite boring if the film wasn't so beautiful to look at. The cinematography isn't enough to save the film, however, as a lot of what goes on does look suspiciously like padding for an otherwise thin plot. The film starts off slowly, and the pacing does pick up towards the end where the film is at it's most interesting. The Terror of Dr Hitchcock isn't a great film, or even a great genre film; but it's an interesting little flick that is best remembered for it's beautiful cinematography and the fact that it stars one of horror cinema's great actresses.

THE TERROR OF DR.HICHCOCK (L'ORRIBILE SEGRETO DEL DR.HICHCOCK is a masterpiece! It seems I have come to appreciate this picture more with each viewing. Whereas NIGHTMARE CASTLE is focused on generating an atmosphere of ugliness and treachery capped with a satisfying supernatural pay-off, HICHCOCK goes for more and immerses the viewer in a suffocating fog of loathsomeness and horror. Robert Flemyng as Bernard Hichcock is marvelous. He perfectly calibrates his performance so as to expose his character's slow descent into unbridled derangement. The film opens with Hichcock practicing necrophilia, but we soon see that the Doctor, while obviously demented, is quite capable of protecting the secret of his awful desires. But, as the story unfolds, it becomes apparent that his abominable passions are slowly overtaking his intellect and his ability to maintain the appearance of normality. Much of the film's horror stems from this powerful presentation of the insidious and irresistibly intensifying nature of sexual psychosis. It also seems this film holds the ultimate moment of horror in Barbara Steele's exceptional career as a genre actress. The scene as her character, Cynthia, wakes from a drugged sleep is stunning. Cynthia finds herself strapped to a cot and watches as her husband materializes out of the darkness and menacingly advances upon her. To her full horror she stares wide-eyed as Hichcock's face distorts into a misshapen, glowing red mask of malignancy and evil. This magnificent shot was achieved with the use of surrealistic, nightmarish lighting and facial bladders attached to Flemyng's face, which, as they were slowly inflated, dreadfully perverted the actor's features.

One of the major contributing factors to this film's impact is the sumptuous score by Roman Vlad. Vlad produced a lush tapestry of fully-formed themes and motifs. Most noticeable is the superb piano concerto elegantly performed by Hichcock's first wife, the ill-fated Margherita Hichcock. Simultaneously beautiful and unsettling, I have no qualms about favorably comparing Vlad's fine effort with that other exalted "gothic horror film" composition for solo piano, James Bernard's Vampire Rhapsody from KISS OF THE VAMPIRE. Vlad also composed what I will call Hichcock's Theme; a superlative example of emblematic impressionism. The piece effectively advances a fresh orchestral paraphrase for things dark and depraved, and does so without being prosaic or overwrought. Oddly, Vlad refrained from employing any of these principal themes in the opening titles. THE TERROR OF DR.HICHCOCK is just as shocking today as it was 40 years ago. Don't miss it!

As far I remember it was one of few pictures over this odd subject, here addressed of light way, where a avant-garde English Doctor (Robert Fleming) who use a special anesthetic developed by himself, despite to be a successful man he hides his black side, he uses this newest anesthetic on his wife (Teresa Fitzgerald) until using a poison to kill her, afterward he disrobes your sick and deranged mind, ends up making necrophilia, he leaves London for twelve years brings back to home his new wife Cynthia (Barbara Steele) however in dark environment and reminiscence from the past on an old eerie house, disturbing facts starts happens, a true nightmare of the newcomer, actually a bit complex storyline, just settled on the final sequence, nevertheless worth a look in this Italian gothic horror tale, surely the strong colorful photography is one of the highlights!!!

Resume:

First watch: 2019 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7.25

London, 1885: surgeon Dr. Bernard Hichcock (Robert Flemyng) likes his women to be quiet when he makes love. Dead quiet. Accordingly, he injects his beautiful willing wife Margaretha (Maria Teresa Vianello) with anaesthesia to achieve a death-like state before getting fruity with her, but his plan backfires when she really carks it during one of his night-time visits. Distraught, he leaves home.

Twelve years later, the doctor returns to London with a new wife, Cinzia (Barbara Steele), who is blissfully unaware of her husband's particular sexual proclivities. But old habits die hard, and it's not long before the doc is up to no good, fondling the female stiffs at his hospital, and injecting Cinzia while she sleeps. Seeing a ghostly figure roaming the grounds at night, Cinzia suspects that something is very wrong and confides in her husband's dashing colleague Dr. Kurt Lowe (Silvano Tranquilli). Will Kurt realise the horrifying truth before Cinzia follows Margheretha to the grave?

If the title didn't make it clear, director Riccardo Freda's gothic horror The Horrible Dr. Hichcock owes a debt to dear old Alfred H., not just in the Psycho-style closing scene, in which the demented doctor's true nature is finally revealed to Cinzia, but also with several other references to Hitch's work: the gothic structure of Rebecca, the poisoned glass of milk from Suspicion, the 'skull in the bed' from Jamaica Inn. Freda's imagery is great, with stunning lighting and beautiful cinematography, but his storytelling isn't a patch on Hitchcock's, the action moving at a dreary pace that threatens to send the viewer into a deep sleep, anaesthetic not required.

The ending is also more than a tad confusing: according to both my trusty Aurum Encyclopedia of Horror and Wikipedia, Margaretha was buried alive and came back from the grave, presumably a little less sane for her experience. Did creepy housekeeper Martha (Harriet Medin) look after her for all the time that the doctor was away? Why didn't Martha contact Bernard to tell him? Or did he know all along? I haven't the foggiest. Not sure why the doctor thought that Cinzia's blood would revive Margaretha's looks either!

4.5/10, rounded up to 5 for the hilarious Anglicised name given to production designer Franco Fumagalli in the opening credits: Frank Smokecocks.

This minor but interesting entry in the Italian Gothic/horror genre is a first in that no film had ever dealt before with the subject of necrophilia. Set in London in 1885, Robert Flemyng portrays Dr. Bernard Hichcock who kills off his first wife, digs her up for a little body worship, then marries the ever-ravishing Barbara Steele. Harriet White Medin is perfect as the spooky housekeeper with an ample supply of nasty secrets and protectress of the demented doctor. Flemyng, Steele & White Medin are quite a terror-ific trio and this flick is lots of fun. Beware of the truncated, rather mutilated American version known as THE HORRIBLE DR. HICHCOCK. The dictatorial director Riccardo Freda was responsible for making this film on a bet in just a few days but it doesn't show. HICHCOCK benefits from superb Technicolor and some nice locales and art direction. Even the castle mascot is a black cat named Jess-Belle. Required viewing for all fans of Barbara Steele as it is among her best Italian work. Freda was only equal or better with his work on I VAMPIRI and CALTIKI, IL MOSTRO IMMORTALE.

This is what happens when a woman marries an unsuitable but respectable man, and a man marries too hastily on the rebound. I know, his wife is 'dead' and it's been twelve years since her interment. Given the cat is still around, and as spry as ever, it feels more like twelve days, and nights...

It's curious how quick some reviewers and fans are to fling the word masterpiece at any old cobblers. To call this a masterpiece would be like calling a pot of instant noodles a moveable feast. Still, the eyes of Barbara Steele are always fetching. Here she is the new wife of a necrophiliac surgeon. His first wife died from an accidental overdose of sleeping draught, during one of their nightly games. Or did she?

The dubbing is, well, dubious. The music is consistently overwrought, so much so one always knows when the next unscary scare is coming. Or am I being unfair? Actually the music is pretty spinetingling stuff. The setting is atmospheric. The elements cobbled together derive more from Edgar Allan Poe and his Gothic antecedents than Hi(t)chchock. A perverse doctor. A black cat. A phantom corpse bride. A dark and stormy night. Another dark and stormy night. A creepy housekeeper (that at least recalls Hitch's Rebecca, in a very small way). The administering of drugs to trap a victim (also a bit reminiscent of Notorious). The necrophiliac elements are played rather too coyly. The actor apparently was most unwilling. He just doesn't look lascivious enough for a man with such dismal desires. He has the face of a strangler, not a corpse cuddler.

It builds to an impressively nasty final act, which gave me heebie jeebies, and that's all one really needs from a flick like this. No masterpiece but effective in parts.

Well, I had never heard about this 1962 horror movie titled "L'orribile Segreto Del Dr. Hichcock" (aka "The Horrible Dr. Hichcock") prior to stumbling upon it by random chance here in 2024. And given my fascination with the horror genre, of course I opted to check out the movie and see what I had been missing out on.

Writer Ernesto Gastaldi put together an adequate enough script and storyline for the movie, though it was by no means a particularly outstanding viewing experience.

Given my extremely limited exposure to the Italian cinema, much less 1960s Italian cinema, then I wasn't familiar with a single actor or actress in the movie. It should be noted, however, that the acting performances throughout the course of the movie were actually fairly good.

I was unfortunate to sit through an English dubbed movie, which was disappointing, as I enjoy watching movies in their original language. And I had the subtitles on, as I was expecting the movie to be in Italian, and it turned out that the subtitles weren't fully the same as the English dubbed dialogue, so I guess the subtitles were for the Italian language and sort of got cluttered with the English dub. It made for a good laugh though.

Visually then "L'orribile Segreto Del Dr. Hichcock" was an okay movie. It definitely looked and felt like an era-specific movie, and it added a lot to the overall impression of the movie, and also to the overall enjoyment of the movie.

My rating of director Riccardo Freda's 1962 movie "L'orribile Segreto Del Dr. Hichcock" lands on a four out of ten stars.

Actually what I have on VHS (recorded off the TV) is the full-length version of the film, released in the U.K. as THE TERROR OF DR. HICHCOCK (in the U.S. it was cut by 10 mins. and retitled).

From the little I have watched of 'Euro Horror', this is definitely one of the highlights; most critics place it at the top of Freda's canon and it's easy to see why. Visually the film is stunning (even if the print I have watched has seen better days) with any number of striking images that are not easily forgotten.

Still, the film's greatest coup, perhaps, is its unabashed (but not sensationalistic) treatment of necrophilia, a theme that was pretty much taboo at the time - and probably still is! (I urge you all to read Glenn M. Erickson's excellent and highly perceptive essay on the film on the 'Images Journal' website - incidentally, you will find a whole section here devoted to Italian horror films.) In this respect, THE TERROR OF DR. HICHCOCK would make a fine companion piece to Mario Bava's LA FRUSTA E IL CORPO/THE WHIP AND THE BODY (1963), another unhinged (and extremely personal) Gothic masterwork!

The exemplary cast is headed by Barbara Steele and Robert Flemyng. Steele is pretty good in what she has to do (though never quite scaling the heights of LA MASCHERA DEL DEMONIO/THE MASK OF Satan [1960]) but is overshadowed by Flemyng as Dr. Bernard Hichcock (an inspired choice for a name!) who is utterly credible in all the various facets of manic lust his character has to go through. Indeed, this doctor would not have been amiss in a Poe story and, much as I love Vincent Price in the AIP/Corman adaptations, Flemyng here emerges a far more sinister figure - without ever resorting to camp!

Finally, I wonder how this film's follow-up LO SPETTRO/THE GHOST (1963), which I have never watched, compares with the original. Hopefully both films will one day be adequately represented on DVD, possibly released as a double-feature.

Robert Flemyng is the title character, Dr. Bernard Hichcock, a doctor / surgeon in 19th century London. His wife Margaret (Maria Teresa Vianello) dies under suspicious circumstances, and years later, Bernard marries younger woman Cynthia (a radiant Barbara Steele). She begins to see and hear strange things, and one of the questions that the story asks is whether Cynthias' visions are real or imagined. Certainly Cynthia starts to suspect her husband of something sinister. Bernards' colleague Dr. Kurt Lowe (Silvano Tranquilli) cares for her and starts wondering about Bernard himself.

Written by Ernesto Gastaldi, and directed by Mario Bavas' mentor Riccardo Freda, "The Horrible Dr. Hichcock" is fairly engrossing as a mystery, with the two of them being as vague as possible as to what Bernards' intentions are. All we know that is Bernard has a particular kink as part of his personality; this viewer won't mention it here. That helps to give a bit of a lift to what is ultimately a pretty routine story. But the story isn't the principal attraction. It's Fredas' stylized presentation, and the performances of the cast. This is a handsomely produced, suspenseful, atmospheric film, enhanced by a good soundtrack by Roman Vlad. Freda downplays elements such as sex and gore, making his film of more interest to more traditional genre lovers. It's also well paced, clocking in at a mere 77 minutes. (There is a longer, international cut running about 11 minutes longer.)

Flemyng is effective in his subtlety when it comes to his villainy. You're not quite sure what to make of him. Tranquilli is an utter stiff, but Vianello is fine as the wife, and American actress Harriet Medin, a familiar face in Italian genre cinema during this time, also comes off well as the loyal maid. Still, "The Horrible Dr. Hichcock" truly belongs to the lovely young Ms. Steele, who's got some of the most expressive eyes one will ever see. We've seen her score in villainous roles herself, and here she shows that she can also be a sympathetic heroine.

Not really a great film in this viewers' humble opinion, but it still provides fine entertainment for any fan of Italian horror.

Followed by "The Ghost".

Six out of 10.

There are definitely shades of Daphne du Maurier in this slightly hysterical telling of a supernatural tale. Robert Flemyng is an eminent surgeon who has a penchant for necrophilia - he drugs them first then has his fun; they awaken none the wiser some hours later. However, when he overdoses his first wife and she dies he is bereft and departs for twelve years. When he returns to his home with a new wife (not entirely dissimilar to her predecessor) he picks up where he left off - not just with his wife, but with the cadavers in his hospital mortuary too. When wife No. 2 (Barbara Steele) starts hallucinating and gets suspicious, she confides in her husband's colleague (Silvano Tranquilli) and instead of finding a ghost, they find something altogether more sinister. It's certainly formulaic, but the film has a good look about it and the two stars keep it eerie and suspenseful for most of it.

1962's "The Horrible Dr. Hichcock" (L'Orribile Segreto del Dr. Hichcock) served as Barbara Steele's triumphant return to Italian horror after her ill fated Hollywood period, just one notable movie role opposite Vincent Price in AIP's "Pit and the Pendulum." Riccardo Freda was the director who spearheaded the genre's revival in Italy (its first horror film was 1920's lost "Il Mostro di Frankenstein") with the 1957 release of "I Vampiri," on which his cinematographer was none other than Mario Bava, whose "Black Sunday" made Barbara a European star. Freda worked fast in color, the actress spending ten days on set in the midst of shooting of Federico Fellini's "8 1/2," leading man Robert Flemyng as Doctor Bernard Hichcock, a renowned surgeon devoted to submissive wife Margaretha (Maria Teresa Vianello) and their secret midnight trysts, coming to an untimely end with his use of an untested anesthetic that proves lethal. Leaving housekeeper Martha (Harriet Medin) behind to look after things, he abandons his London abode for 12 years, only returning in 1897 with new bride Cynthia (Barbara Steele), whose love for him is severely shaken once they're under the same roof. Mysterious footsteps in the night are all too casually dismissed by Bernard, and each new revelation for Cynthia is ascribed to a vivid imagination. A figure clad in white could lay claim to being Martha's sister, awaiting a trip to the local asylum, but Hichcock's second wife is not so easily deceived despite a nervous breakdown prior to the wedding. She finds an ally in fellow doctor Kurt Russ (Silvano Tranquilli), and ensures her own survival by foiling her husband's carefully laid plans to honor his deceased Margaretha. The finale dispels any suggestion of the supernatural, disappointing those expecting something less traditional, but as always the atmosphere prevails. Barbara Steele at first appears to be playing the stock role of a terrorized bride, but with enough pluck to deny her dismissive husband his long awaited triumph in service to the deceased, cast more to type in a semi sequel, "The Ghost" (Lo Spettro del Dr. Hichcock), also directed by Freda. As one might surmise, the carefully spelled "Hichcock" unsurprisingly references several of Alfred's most famous titles: "Rebecca" (a menacing housekeeper devoted to her former mistress), "Suspicion" (a poisoned glass making its way up or down stairs), "Vertigo" (the protagonist's increasingly obsessive behavior about a deceased loved one), and of course "Psycho" with its suggested necrophilia. Robert Flemyng's almost palpable disinterest fits the devious doctor quite well, though his sideways glances at naked female corpses (and protruding tongue) nearly creates a comic tone despite the unsettling subject matter. He's most effective in silent doses, either fondling the deceased in their coffins or gently watching his first wife take one last breath via injection before he proceeds to ravish her (it's possible that only pedophilia might be just as, if not more, disturbing to filmgoers than necrophilia, as both must be considered off limits since the 'anything goes' explosion of taboo items during the permissive 1970s). Flemyng was a busy television actor almost always cast as military types in feature films (in accordance with his real life service during WW2), accepting this extraordinary role for a trip to Rome before realizing its disturbing implications, rising to the occasion to convey the struggle to hide his unhealthy compulsions in the company of fellow physicians. He would not fare so well with Peter Cushing's "The Blood Beast Terror," in which he was called upon on short notice to play the stock mad scientist part vacated by the sudden death of Basil Rathbone in July 1967 (Flemyng was just coming off a later Emma Peel episode of THE AVENGERS, "You Have Just Been Murdered," featuring a petrified character named Lord Rathbone!).

Enticing, beautiful and absorbingly atmospheric Italian Gothic horror film from the absolute golden period, the early 60's, and starring one of the world's most radiantly gorgeous female creatures; Barbara Steele. "The Terrible Secret of Dr. Hichcock" - notice there's no "T" in the name to avoid lawsuits against the master of suspense himself – takes place in London in the year 1885, at the peak of the Victorian era in other words, and certainly contains all the necessary ingredients of a delicious Gothic cocktail, but unfortunately the film is a bit slow-moving and it takes slightly too long before something really substantial occurs. Director Riccardo Freda generates a compelling and ultra-macabre Gothic atmosphere, with numerous thunderstorms and dark château passageways, but he doesn't have a fascinating enough plot to go with the ambiance. Usually writer Ernesto Gastaldi punctually delivers engaging and superb scenarios, but maybe this time he seemingly had a bit of an off-day. After his wife dies from a mysterious condition, which he may or may not have inflicted himself, Dr. Hichcock promptly leaves his mansion and prominent job at the hospital. He returns twelve years later with an even lovelier new wife (Mrs. Steele!) Cynthia and reprises his profession. During her many dull days alone in the mansion, Cynthia notices a sinister presence and it doesn't take too long before she starts losing her mind further on. She suffers from horribly nightmarish hallucinations in which she hears disturbing screams and spots Dr. Hichcock's previous wife meander through the house and nearby woods completely covered in a white ghostly nightgown. Is her mental condition really deteriorating or could it be that the good Doctor's first wife never really passed away? I think the title alone already answers this haunting question. Overall a very derivative and forgettable story but, as said, it are the spooky atmosphere and Victorian elements that'll keep you alert in this movie. The decors are stunning and the black-and-white photography is stylishly elegant. If you've never seen this type of movie before, "The Terrible Secret of Dr. Hichchock" perhaps isn't the ideal place to start, but experienced horror fanatics will certainly appreciate spotting all the luscious trademarks.

Riccardo Freda actually was the mentor of the greatest Italian horror director who ever lived; Mario Bava. Freda took a step sideways on the film sets of "I, Vampire" and "Caltiki"; offering Bava a chance to complete his first films as director as well next to being the cinematographer. I always wondered whether or not Freda ever regretted this initiative, because from the very first moment the acolyte surpassed his mentor in terms of pure and genuine craftsmanship. For example this "The Terrible Secret of Dr. Hichckock" is a nice and worthwhile Gothic horror installment, but it undeniably can't hold a candle to Bava's "Black Sunday" (also starring Barbara Steele) or "The Whip and the Body".

In the Nineteenth Century, in London, Prof. Bernard Hichcock (Robert Flemyng) is married with Margaretha Hichcock (Teresa Fitzgerald) and they live in a house with their maid Martha (Harriet Medin). Out of the blue, Margaretha dies and Dr. Hichcock leaves his house with Martha and travels. Years later, he returns to London remarried with the young Cinzia Hichcock (Barbara Steele) and meets Martha in the house. But soon Cinzia sees and hears strange things and feels uncomfortable at home. When Dr. Hichcock gives a glass of milk to Cinzia, she throws it off but keeps a sample in the glass. Then she asks her friend Dr. Kurt Lowe (Montgomery Glenn) to analyze the milk, and he learns that there is a high quantity of poison. What will Cinzia and Dr. Lowe do?

"L'orribile segreto del Dr. Hichcock" is a cult horror movie with wonderful cinematography and atmosphere. Barbara Steele is very beautiful and Robert Flemyng and Harriet Medin are creepy. The screenplay is confused and the viewer needs to read about the story to fully understand the plot. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "O Horrível Segredo do Dr. Hichcock" ("The Awful Secret of Dr. Hichcock")