‘Who was possessed by the Devil at Longleat?’
Blue Blood – also known as Blueblood – is a 1973 British psychological drama film directed by Andrew Sinclair. The movie stars Oliver Reed, Fiona Lewis (Doctor Phibes Rises Again; Bram Stoker’s Dracula; Strange Behavior), Derek Jacobi, Anna Gaël (Dracula and Son) and Meg Wynn Owen.
The film is based on the novel The Carry-Cot by Alexander Thynn – subsequently reissued by Star Books as Blue Blood to tie-in with the film’s release – and was shot on location at Longleat House in Wiltshire. In Italy, the film was cheekily promoted as a sequel to The Devils (1971) which also stars Oliver Reed.
Plot:
A debauched young aristocrat (Derek Jacobi) entrusts the running of his country house to Tom, the butler (Oliver Reed), on whom he depends absolutely.
Before long the servant begins to dominate his master, to the alarm of the newly hired German nanny (Wynn Owen) who senses sinister, demonic intent in Tom’s control of the house…
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Reviews:
“It really doesn’t contain enough sex, horror or weirdness to be entertaining for the most part but is made satisfying by Oliver Reed, who chews scenery and exudes power in every scene he is in. Fiona Lewis is at her icy best as the often absent lady of the estate who is indifferent towards her husband so long as the riches stay in her name.” Sinful Celluloid
“Pointing back to The Servant and forward to The Grotesque, the film unclothes Fiona Lewis at regular intervals but has nothing to recommend it other than Harry Waxman’s luscious photography of its Longleat House location.” Jonathan Rigby, English Gothic (2015)
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“Oliver Reed almost transcends the foolishness and hamminess of the enterprise by playing to the hilt – bull-necked, gimlet-eyed, and moving with a strange reptilian menace – one of the most physically repellant of screen villains.” BFI Monthly Film Bulletin, January 1975
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Cast and characters:
Oliver Reed as Tom
Fiona Lewis as Lily
Derek Jacobi as Gregory
Anna Gaël as Carlotta
Meg Wynn Owen as Beate
John Rainer as Clurman
Richard Davies as Jones
Gwyneth Owen as Agnes
Patrick Carter as Cocky
Elaine Ives-Cameron as Serena
Tim Wylton as Morrell
Hubert Rees as Dr Barratt
Dilys Price as Mrs Barratt
Andrew McCall as Gerrard
Sally Anne Newton as Susannah
