Eye of the Devil

Eye of the Devil is a 1966 British mystery/horror film with occult and supernatural themes directed by J. Lee Thompson and starring Deborah Kerr, David Niven and Sharon Tate. The film is set in rural France and was filmed at the Château de Hautefort and in England.[2] Eye of the Devil is based on the novel Day of the Arrow by Robin Estridge and was initially titled Thirteen.[3]

Eye of the Devil
Original film poster
Directed byJ. Lee Thompson
Produced byJohn Calley
Martin Ransohoff
Screenplay byRobin Estridge
Dennis Murphy
Based onDay of the Arrow
by Philip Loraine
StarringDeborah Kerr
David Niven
Donald Pleasence
David Hemmings
Sharon Tate
Music byGary McFarland
CinematographyErwin Hillier
Edited byErnest Walter
Production
company
Filmways Pictures
Distributed byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer (1966,original) Warner Bros. (2011, DVD)
Release date
  • July 1966 (1966-07)
Running time
96 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget$3 million[1]

Plot
from the film's trailer

David Niven plays the owner of a vineyard, who is called back to the estate when it falls on hard times. Accompanied by his wife (Deborah Kerr), the couple are confronted by a beautiful witch (Sharon Tate), who also lives on the estate with her brother (David Hemmings). As time passes it becomes clear that a blood sacrifice is expected to return the vineyard to its former glory.

Cast

Production
Donald Pleasence in the trailer for the film.

Development

The Day of the Arrow was published in 1964. The New York Times praised it for telling the story from a male point of view, but said the ending would not surprise anyone who had read The Golden Bough.[4] Film rights were bought by Martin Ransohoff of Filmways, who had a multi-picture deal with MGM.[5]

The script was written by Robin Estridge, author of the novel. Terry Southern was brought in to do an uncredited "tighting and brightning" of the screenplay.[6]

Kim Novak was signed to play the lead.[7] (Novak had signed a three-picture deal with Ransohoff in 1961.[8]) David Niven joined her as co-star. It was the first feature film for Sharon Tate who had been discovered by Ransohoff when she went to audition for Petticoat Junction; he was impressed and put her under a seven-year contract.[9] Tate had spent months studying and playing small roles at Ransohoff's expense before making her debut.[10] "Everybody should make an effort to show a new face in every major picture," said Ransohoff.[11]

The original director was Sidney J. Furie, who had signed a three-picture deal with Ransohoff.[12] In August 1965, shortly before filming was to begin, Furie was replaced by Michael Anderson.[13] When Anderson fell ill, he was replaced in turn by J. Lee Thompson.[14] Shortly before filming started the title of the movie was changed to 13.[15]

Shooting

Filming started on 13 September 1965. In November, with only two weeks of shooting to be completed, Novak injured her back in a riding incident. While doing an important scene on location in France, she was thrown from a horse.[16] The film was shut down while Novak sought treatment. She tried to resume filming two weeks later but was exhausted after only one day of work and was unable to go on. "There is no permanent damage to Kim's back," said her husband Richard Johnson. "It is not something that will trouble her for the rest of her life. She will recover eventually. It is going to take time and will not be an easy matter."[1] (Novak later said the injury was a broken vertebra.[17])

"It is tragic, but without Kim or a replacement, we cannot go on," said David Niven. "The person I feel most sorry for is director J. Lee Thompson. He has put everything into this picture."[1]

She was replaced by Deborah Kerr.[18][19] As a result, many scenes had to be reshot, with Novak seen only in some long shots.[19] However, David Hemmings recalls in his autobiography that he witnessed a bitter argument between Kim Novak and Martin Ransohoff near the end of filming led Kim Novak to be sacked and the film to be reshot with Deborah Kerr.[20][21] Filming resumed with Kerr in December.[22]

When asked what it was like to act with such a distinguished cast Tate said "Of course I was nervous but I was flattered rather than intimidated because everybody put me at such ease. They are such pros. You don't see their technique but when you are surrounded by the best it brings out the best in you."[9]

To give the pagan rites some authenticity, Alex Sanders, an English occultist and Wiccan, was hired as a consultant to the film.[23]

Critical reception and box office

The film features the debut performance of Sharon Tate, cast by Filmways executive Martin Ransohoff, who hailed her as his great discovery. The film attracted little attention and had little impact on Tate's career. A The New York Times review referred to Tate's "chillingly beautiful but expressionless" performance.

Although Eye of the Devil was not a commercial success in the United States when first released, it was popular in Europe, and it has acquired a degree of cult status, largely due to its surreal themes, and the 1969 murder of Tate. The film is also notable for its distinguished supporting cast,[19] which includes veteran actors Donald Pleasence, Flora Robson, Emlyn Williams, Edward Mulhare and John Le Mesurier.

In 1968 the film was listed as one of only three Ransohoff films that did not make money, the other two being Don't Make Waves and The Loved One. [24]

DVD

Eye of the Devil was released to DVD by Warner Home Video on 21 February 2011 via its Warner Archive DVD-on-demand service as a Region 1 widescreen DVD.

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References
  1. Palmer, Raymond E. (27 November 1965). "Kim Novak Not Able to Continue Film Role". Los Angeles Times. p. 18.
  2. Crowther, Bosley (7 December 1967). "Screen: 'Eye of the Devil' Begins Run". New York Times.
  3. Chibnall, Steve (2001). J. Lee Thompson. Manchester University Press. p. 307. ISBN 9780719060120.
  4. Boucher, Anthony (1 March 1964). "Criminals At Large: Criminals". New York Times. p. BR28.
  5. Bathollywood, Peter (3 January 1965). "Message Merchant On The Run". New York Times. p. X9.
  6. Hill, Lee (2001). A Grand Guy : the Art and Life of Terry Southern. New York: Harper Collins. ISBN 9780380977864.
  7. "Movie Call Sheet: Kim Novak Will Star in 'Day of the Arrow'". Los Angeles Times. 30 April 1965. p. c14.
  8. "Kim Novak Signs Three-Picture Deal". Los Angeles Times. 28 July 1961. p. A7.
  9. Thomas, Kevin (18 January 1966). "Miss Tate: Old, New Hollywood". Los Angeles Times. p. c11.
  10. Browning, Norma Lee (8 September 1966). "Starlet Discovered After 3 Years Under Wraps". Chicago Tribune. p. c1.
  11. Thomas, Kevin (1 May 1966). "Ransohoff: Mr. Big in Land of Giants". Los Angeles Times. p. 10.
  12. Martin, Betty (12 June 1965). "Another Role for Shelley". Los Angeles Times. p. 23.
  13. Martin, Betty (7 August 1965). "Movie Call Sheet: Couple Reteamed in 'Time'". Los Angeles Times. p. B8.
  14. Martin, Betty (26 August 1965). "Movie Call Sheet: Thompson Will Direct '13'". Los Angeles Times. p. d12.
  15. Martin, Betty (12 July 1965). "Movie Call Sheet: Shaw Signed". Los Angeles Times. p. c13.
  16. Kleno, Larry (1980). Kim Novak on Camera. LaJolla, California: A.S. Barnes & Company. pp. 230–231. ISBN 9780498024573.
  17. "Kim Novak's Injury Assessed". New York Times. 14 December 1965. p. 55.
  18. "Deborah Kerr to Take Injured Kim's Role". Chicago Tribune. 30 November 1965. p. b4.
  19. Capua, Michelangelo (2010). Deborah Kerr: A Biography. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. pp. 148–49. ISBN 978-0-7864-5882-0.
  20. Hemmings, David (2004). Blow Up... and Other Exaggerations: The Autobiography of David Hemmings. Robson. p. 125.
  21. Statman, Alisa; Tate, Brie (21 February 2012). Restless Souls: The Sharon Tate Family's Account of Stardom, the Manson Murders, and a Crusade for Justice. Harper Collins.
  22. "'Thunderball' Stirs Box Office Storm". Los Angeles Times. 18 December 1965. p. a13.
  23. Ellis, Bill (2000). Raising the Devil: Satanism, New Religions, and the Media. University Press of Kentucky. p. 157. ISBN 0-8131-2170-1.
  24. Haber, Joyce (14 January 1968). "'Baggy Pants' Ransohoff Changes Suits, Image". Los Angeles Times. p. d8.
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