The Curse of the Fly is a British science fiction horror film released in 1965. It is the third installment in the Fly film series, following The Fly (1958) and Return of the Fly (1959). The film was directed by Don Sharp and produced by Robert L. Lippert. The Curse of the Fly deviates from the earlier films by focusing more on the horror elements rather than scientific experimentation. The plot of the film revolves around the Delambre family, who are descendants of the original scientist André Delambre.
Henri convinces Martin that they must send the unconscious Patricia to London and then follow in order to escape from the police. Martin resists, afraid that she might be harmed, so Henri volunteers to go first. Martin sends Henri to London, unaware that Albert has destroyed the reintegration equipment. Henri does not rematerialize and is lost. Realizing what has happened, Albert leaves the lab, sobbing, and is not seen again.
Madwoman in the Attic On the mansion s grounds are several cells that contain the results of the Delambres s previous experiments, three disfigured people total. Motorist Martin Delambre attempts to keep evidence of his family s bizarre experiments in teleportation hidden from his wife, who is hiding secrets of her own.
The plot of the film revolves around the Delambre family, who are descendants of the original scientist André Delambre. The Delambre family has a secret laboratory where they continue the experiments of André Delambre. However, their experiments have led to horrific results, and the family is faced with a curse that manifests in physical deformities and madness.
Curse of the Fly 1965 REVIEW
The original ‘Fly’ films beginning with the 1958 Vincent Price/Al (David) Hedison picture and its 1959 sequel are a touchstone of sorts for me in my genre viewing.
The sequel film Return Of The Fly 1959 was the first film I watched on a local television show called Horror House. The footage of the fly crashing through the glass lab case sparked a conversation with my friends the next day on the bus. I later found out through the pages of Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine that the series had a third film that rounded out the story.
Curse Of The Fly 1965 is a horror/science-fiction film by Australian-British director Don Sharp. Unlike the other films in the series that were filmed in the USA, this third instalment was produced in the United Kingdom. Oddly Curse of the Fly 1965 was rarely seen as it was the only entry in the Fly film trilogy that did not receive a video release till 2007, when it was in a boxed set with the original series.
Come Fly With Me
American Robert Lippert, who had a reputation for making cheap films but was never a “stinker”, was producing films in England to take advantage of the Eady Levy. The Eady Levy was a portion of the box office that would be given to the British Film industry making sure it employed UK actors in the cast and crew. To reduce costs, English producer Jack Parsons was used as well as director Don Sharp.
Curse Of The Fly 1965 opens with one of the most artistic openings to a genre film in which broken window glass is hurled at the audience.
Reminiscent of Giallo style, a young woman Pat Stanley (Carole Gray) emerges from the window in slow motion clothed only in underwear.
Stanley runs slowly out in the night towards the gate of what is later revealed to be a hospital.
The sequence is photographed atmospherically in black and white with romantic piano accompaniment. Besides the obvious titillation of the sequence, which is handled tastefully, the opening was a metaphor for a rebirth, an emergence from a cocoon not unlike the life cycle of a fly.
Pat meets Martin Delambre (George Baker), who rescues her and takes her on to a new life. The Delambre family is the Canadian family near Montreal that is developing the matter transporter. The first films of the series highlighted the malfunctions of fusing the human body with an accidental house fly. This is the theme of body horror that Canadian David Cronenberg and his son have explored ad nauseum, including a gory remake of The Fly 1986 followed by a sequel.
A Fly In The Ointment
Curse Of The Fly 1965 takes little continuity from the previous films. The story concerns the perfection of the teleportation unit but also the effect of that experimentation on the Delambre Family.
In a moment with a wonderful gothic look and angles by Don Sharp is a sequence reminiscent of Island Of Lost Souls 1932 and the claustrophobic hall moment in Repulsion 1965. This is when the film shows us mutations of the failed experiments. A female that turned out to be the wife of Martin has a facial disfigurement and a mutated foot. The other is a particularly violent elf-like being who flits around grinning in the dark. The device doesn’t work of course as the world order must be re-established and both pay a terrible price for family secrets and the madness of mutating other people,
Fear Of Flying
British film for some reason felt it had to cast American actors in key roles to get the lucrative box office. Once again we have Brian Donlevy of “Quatermass”, who appears as the ageing Henri Delambre, who still is chasing the mad dream of the transporter.
Donlevy’s performance as the tragic scientist is predictably stilted as this was late in his career. Donlevy was more the voice and face of authority in these pictures having done his best work in film noir’s The Glass Key 1942 and Impact 1949.
George Baker as the younger Delambre is the tragic romantic lead as he switches from a hopeless desperate lover/husband of Pat to a driven scientist with a family secret.
Pat Stanley, Carole Gray delivers probably the best performance of the film, giving a very natural 1960s “Love Child” ambience.
The performances by Asian Burt Kwouk and horribly made up non-Asian Yvette Rees, as servants Tai and Wan try hard but viewed today, are seen as sad cliches. Kwouk had a long career in film and television in all genres. He may be best known as Cato Fong, Peter Sellers fighting manservant in the Pink Panther series.
A low budget does limit the sets used and some of the props, however, Don Sharp does a fine job as he would perfect the art of hiding a set and using effective lighting in his Hammer Films and others.
Curse Of The Fly 1965 works on the level of showing the effect of experimentation on people, later moving to the more traditional rampage and payoff.
Have you seen Curse of the Fly 1965? Tell us about it in the comments section below!
The sequel film Return Of The Fly 1959 was the first film I watched on a local television show called Horror House. The footage of the fly crashing through the glass lab case sparked a conversation with my friends the next day on the bus. I later found out through the pages of Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine that the series had a third film that rounded out the story.
The film introduces a new character, Martin Delambre, who is the son of André Delambre. Martin discovers the dark secrets of his family's experiments and is determined to put an end to the curse. He moves into the family's secluded mansion with his wife, Judith. As Martin uncovers more about his family's past, he realizes that his father's experiments have gone too far, and he must find a way to break the curse. The Curse of the Fly is known for its atmospheric and eerie tone. The film creates a sense of dread and suspense through its dark cinematography and haunting score. The special effects, particularly the makeup and prosthetics used to depict the deformed characters, are also notable. While The Curse of the Fly did not receive the same critical acclaim as the original film, it has gained a cult following over the years. The film's focus on horror and the Curse of the Fly storyline adds a new dimension to the Fly film series. It explores the consequences of scientific experimentation and the lengths some individuals will go to break free from a family curse. In conclusion, The Curse of the Fly is a British science fiction horror film that delves into the horrors of a family curse caused by unethical scientific experimentation. The film's atmospheric tone and use of special effects create a chilling viewing experience. While it may not have achieved the same level of recognition as the original film, it remains an interesting addition to the Fly film series..
Reviews for "Forbidden Knowledge: Uncovering the Truth Behind the Curse of the Fly"
1. John - 2/5
I was really disappointed with "Curse of the fly". I was a big fan of the original film, but this sequel felt like a cheap cash grab. The story was weak and lacked any real substance. The special effects were also a letdown, especially compared to the impressive effects of the first film. Overall, it just felt like a rushed and forgettable addition to the franchise.
2. Sarah - 1/5
"Curse of the fly" was a complete waste of my time. The plot made no sense and the characters were completely unlikable. The acting was also terrible, and I found myself cringing at the wooden delivery of the lines. The whole movie felt disjointed and poorly put together. I would definitely not recommend this film to anyone.
3. Mike - 2/5
I was hoping for a scary and thrilling experience when I watched "Curse of the fly", but all I got was boredom. The pacing was incredibly slow, and nothing interesting happened until the very end. The suspense was non-existent, and the jump scares were predictable and cliché. The only redeeming factor was the decent makeup effects, but even those couldn't save this forgettable horror film.
4. Lisa - 2.5/5
I have mixed feelings about "Curse of the fly". While some aspects of the film, such as the set designs and cinematography, were visually appealing, the overall execution fell short. The story lacked originality and failed to engage me as a viewer. Additionally, the characters felt one-dimensional and difficult to connect with. Overall, I found "Curse of the fly" to be a mediocre and forgettable horror flick.