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Cry of the Banshee

Cry of the Banshee

  • Status: Released
  • 22-07-1970
  • Runtime: 91 min
  • Score: 5.304
  • Vote count: 69

In seventeenth century England Lord Whitman wages unending war on what he sees as the ever-present scourge of witchcraft, and many local villagers have suffered at his hands. But one victim uses her occult powers to curse his family, enlisting unknowing help from one of the household.

Vincent Price

Lord Edward Whitman

Essy Persson

Lady Patricia Whitman

Hilary Dwyer

Maureen Whitman

Carl Rigg

Harry Whitman

Stephan Chase

Sean Whitman

Marshall Jones

Father Tom

Andrew McCulloch

Bully Boy

Michael Elphick

Burke

Pamela Moiseiwitsch

Maid

Joyce Mandre

Party Guest

Robert Hutton

Party Guest

Guy Deghy

Party Guest

Elisabeth Bergner

Oona

Patrick Mower

Roderick

Pamela Farbrother

Margaret Donald

Quinn O'Hara

Maggie

Jane Deady

Naked Girl

Hugh Griffith

Mickey

Jan Rossini

Bess

Sally Geeson

Sarah

Godfrey James

Head Villager

Gertan Klauber

Tavern Keeper

Peter Benson

Brander

Richard Everett

Timothy

Louis Selwyn

Apprentice

Micky Baker

Rider

Carol Desmond

Girl

Ann Barrass

Elga

Nancy Meckler

Villager

Hugh Portnow

Villager

Stephen Rea

Villager

Maurice Colbourne

Villager

Dinah Stabb

Villager

Tony Sibbald

Villager

Neil Johnston

Villager

Rowan Wylie

Villager

Tim Thomas

Villager

Ron Sahewk

Villager

Maya Roth

Villager

Philippa Howell

Villager

Guy Pierce

Villager

talisencrw

Though it has its faults, this is a fine and enjoyable film from Vincent Price's Boxed Set III. It has a great and suitable ending as well. You'll especially be fond of this if you appreciated Price's diabolical character, slightly earlier, in 'The Conquering Worm'--it's a very similar shade from Price's acting palette.

Wuchak

***Madness in post-Medieval England with Vincent Price and Hilary Dwyer/Heath*** In Britain during the 1500s a cruel magistrate (Vincent Price) tortures & kills those he deems guilty of witchcraft with the help of his corrupt sons and they take pompous delight in it. This earns the ire of Oona, a witch leader, who conjures a sídhe that masquerades as a man to slay the official’s wicked family one-by-one. “Cry of the Banshee” (1970) is an American International production (similar to Hammer horror) with the vibe of “Conqueror Worm,” aka “Witchfinder General” (1968), and “The Curse of the Werewolf” (1961), but lacking the finesse of both. It also shares a couple of the stars of the former film, Price and the demure, but mind-blowingly alluring Hilary Dwyer (Heath). Since the banshee or bean sídhe (from the Old Irish ban síde) means "woman of the sídhe" has come to denote ANY mystical FEMALE of Irish Isle who proclaims an imminent death by wailing and keening, I’m assuming that the witch Oona is the titular banshee. After all, the person that ends up doing the actual killing is a possessed DUDE or a demon masquerading as a DUDE. While it’s hindered by a peculiar vibe and puzzling script (that makes more sense as the story proceeds), “Cry of the Banshee” is a must for fans of Price and Hilary Dwyer/Heath (as well as Patrick Mower), not to mention those who appreciate dark Medieval flicks that tackle witchcraft & witch-hunting with the required staples, like dirty Middle Age villages, torture chambers, eerie forests, satanic rituals, haughty lords, suffering serfs, etc. The serious, creepy tone involving twisted characters is a plus. The film runs 1 hour and 31 minutes and was shot in Middlesex, England. GRADE: B-/C+