‘The operation is a success … when the patient dies’
Horror Hospital is a 1973 British satirical horror film directed by Antony Balch. After the success of his episodic art/exploitation feature debut Secrets of Sex (aka Bizarre, 1969), Balch envisioned his second film as an out-and-out horror movie and one with a continuous narrative.
The movie stars Robin Askwith (Tower of Evil; Queen Kong), Michael Gough (Konga; Horrors of the Black Museum), Vanessa Shaw, Ellen Pollock, Dennis Price (Twins of Evil) and Skip Martin (Masque of the Red Death; Vampire Circus).
The film was produced by veteran Richard Gordon (First Man into Space) and has also been released as Computer Killers; Eastworld; Death Ward 13; Frankenstein’s Horror-Klinik; Doctor Bloodbath and Madhouse.
Plot:
When attempts to break into the pop business leave him with nothing but a bloody nose, songwriter Jason Jones (Robin Askwith) decides to take a break with “Hairy Holidays”, an outfit run by shifty, camp travel agent Pollock (Dennis Price). After failing to chat Jason up, Pollock sends him to a pseudo-health farm – Brittlehurst Manor.
On the train journey there Jason meets Judy (Vanessa Shaw), who is also on the way to the same destination to meet her long-lost Aunt. Both are unaware that the health farm is a front for Dr Storm (Michael Gough) and his lobotomy experiments that turn wayward hippies into his mindless zombie slaves.
The wheelchair-bound Doctor surrounds himself with an entourage that including Judy’s aunt, and erstwhile brothel madam, Olga (Ellen Pollock), dwarf Frederick (Skip Martin) and numerous zombie biker thugs. Doctor Storm also has a Rolls Royce car fitted with giant blades that decapitate escapees and interfering parties…
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Buy: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk
Choice dialogue:
Jason Jones [Robin Askwith]: “Yeah, I fancy something a little hairy. Yeah, might be some nice birds down there.”
Jason Jones [Robin Askwith]: “There’s nothing healthier than, er… sex.”
Doctor Storm [Michael Gough] “Women can be very troublesome, Mr Jones. But then, so can little men!”
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Trailer:
Horror Hospital – free on YouTube [240p – poor quality]:
Cast and characters:
Michael Gough … Doctor Christian Storm
Robin Askwith … Jason Jones
Vanessa Shaw … Judy Peters
Ellen Pollock … Aunt Harris
Dennis Price … Mr Pollack
Skip Martin … Frederick
Kurt Christian … Abraham
Barbara Wendy … Millie
Kenneth Benda … Carter
Martin Grace … Bike Boy
Colin Skeaping … Bike Boy
George Herbert … Laboratory Assistant
James Boris IV … ‘Mystic’ Rock Group (as James IV Boris)
Allan ‘The River’ Hudson … ‘Mystic’ Rock Group (as Allan {The River} Hudson)
Simon Lust … ‘Mystic’ Rock Group
Filming locations:
Knebworth House, Stevenage, Hertfordshire (Brittlehurst Manor exteriors, also a location for Haunted Honeymoon (1986), Lair of the White Worm (1988) and Batman (1989))
Wandsworth Old Town Hall, London, England (Brittlehurst Manor interiors)
Waterloo Station, London, England
Wimbledon Common, Wimbledon, London, England (grounds near Brittlehurst Manor)
