Frenzy (1972)

Director:

Alfred Hitchcock

Writers:

Arthur La Bern (novel)
Anthony Shaffer (screenplay)

Release Date:

21 June 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Horror | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

Just an ordinary necktie used with a deadly new twist. [Australia Theatrical]

Plot:

A serial killer is murdering London women with a necktie. The police have a suspect... but he's the wrong man.

Plot Keywords:

Police | Serial Killer | Necktie | Revenge | Jail

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Golden Globes. Another 1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Jon Finch	...	Richard Blaney
Barry Foster	...	Robert Rusk
Barbara Leigh-Hunt	...	Brenda Blaney
Anna Massey	...	Babs Milligan
Alec McCowen	...	Chief Inspector Oxford
Vivien Merchant	...	Mrs. Oxford
Billie Whitelaw	...	Hetty Porter
Clive Swift	...	Johnny Porter
Bernard Cribbins	...	Felix Forsythe
Michael Bates	...	Sergeant Spearman
Jean Marsh	...	Monica Barling
John Boxer	...	Sir George
Madge Ryan	...	Mrs. Davison
George Tovey	...	Neville Salt
Elsie Randolph	...	Gladys
Jimmy Gardner	...	Hotel Porter
Gerald Sim	...	Solicitor in Pub
Noel Johnson	...	Doctor in Pub
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Joby Blanshard	...	Man in Crowd (uncredited)
Gerry Cowper	...	Spectator at Opening Rally (uncredited)
June Ellis	...	Maisie - Barmaid (uncredited)
Harry Fielder	...	Covent Garden Lorry Driver (uncredited)
Drewe Henley	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Alfred Hitchcock	...	Spectator at Opening Rally (uncredited)
Robert Keegan	...	Hospital Patient (uncredited)
Bunny May	...	Barman (uncredited)
James Payne	...	Covent Garden - Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Jack Silk	...	Police Driver (uncredited)
Rita Webb	...	Mrs. Rusk (uncredited)
Richard Wyler	...	Truck Driver (uncredited)
Jeremy Young	...	Detective (uncredited)

Directed by
Alfred Hitchcock

Writing credits
Arthur La Bern		(novel "Goodbye Piccadilly, Farewell Leicester Square")
Anthony Shaffer		(screenplay)

Produced by
William Hill	....	associate producer
Alfred Hitchcock	....	producer (as Alfred Hitchcock's Frenzy)

Original Music by
Ron Goodwin

Cinematography by
Gilbert Taylor		(director of photography) (as Gil Taylor)
Leonard J. South		(uncredited)

Film Editing by
John Jympson

Casting by
Sally Nicholl

Production Design by
Syd Cain

Art Direction by
Robert W. Laing		(as Bob Laing)

Costume Design by
Julie Harris		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Harry Frampton	....	make-up
Patricia McDermott	....	hairdresser (as Pat McDermott)
Peter Frampton	....	makeup assistant (uncredited)

Production Management
Brian Burgess	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Colin M. Brewer	....	assistant director
D. Howard Grigsby	....	third assistant director (uncredited)
Ben Harrison	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Simon Wakefield	....	set dresser
Leon Davis	....	construction manager (uncredited)

Sound Department
Rusty Coppleman	....	sound editor
Peter Handford	....	sound mixer
Gordon K. McCallum	....	sound recordist
John Hayward	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
Michael Hickey	....	sound camera operator (uncredited)
David Stephenson	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Albert Whitlock	....	special photographic effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Paul Wilson	....	camera operator
Peter Taylor	....	focus puller (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Dulcie Midwinter	....	wardrobe supervisor
Charles Guerin	....	wardrobe master (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Alan Strachan	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Ron Goodwin	....	conductor

Other crew
Angela Martelli	....	continuity
Peggy Robertson	....	assistant: Mr. Hitchcock
Ron Allday	....	production accountant (uncredited)
Ian Goddard	....	location manager (uncredited)
Dan Slater	....	publicist (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures (presents)

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1972) (UK) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (1972) (USA) (theatrical)
• CIC (1972) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1975) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• MCA Home Video (1985) (USA) (VHS)
• CIC Video (1989) (UK) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures (1999) (Germany) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD) (rental)
• Universal Pictures (2001) (UK) (DVD)
• Universal Home Video (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD) (retail)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (new 35mm print)
• Argentina Video Home (2008) (Argentina) (DVD)
• CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (video)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)
• Universal Studios Home Video (DVD)

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Finland:K-15 (2001) | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1972) | Spain:13 | Iceland:16 | Brazil:12 | USA:R (certificate no. 23143) | USA:TV-14 (edited tv version: AMC print) | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Italy:VM14 | Norway:16 | Peru:14 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | UK:X (original rating) (cut) | West Germany:16 | UK:18 (video rating)

Filming Locations:

119 Oxford Street, London, England, UK

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Henry Mancini was originally hired to score the film. According to accounts, upon hearing the proposed score, Alfred Hitchcock yelled at Mancini: "If I had wanted Bernard Herrmann, I would have hired him!" Mancini was fired from the project. His recording of his main title to Frenzy is available on one of his compilation of film music excerpts.

Goofs:

Continuity: As Blaney complains about his "large" brandy, the note scrunched up in his hand with the glass disappears between shots.

Quotes:

Solicitor in Pub: We were just talking about the tie murderer, Maisie. You'd better watch out.
Maisie, Barmaid: [salaciously] He *rapes* them first, doesn't he?
Solicitor in Pub: Yes, I believe he does.
Doctor in Pub: Well I suppose it's nice to know that every cloud has a silver lining.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Robot Holocaust (#2.9)" (1990)

Exceptional Hitchcock thriller

"Frenzy" was Alfred Hitchcock's next-to-last film. And though it's not a great classic like "Psycho" and "North by Northwest", it's still a very good movie. After making mostly American movies for four decades, Hitchcock returned to his native Britain to make "Frenzy". It's about a series of murders that's devastating London. These murders have two things in common: 1) The victims are all women; and 2) they're all raped and then strangled with a neck-tie. When a marriage counselor is murdered this way, the police suspect the woman's ex-husband is the culprit. But actually the husband is innocent, and is forced to hide out from the cops. "Frenzy" has all the usual Hitchcock elements: thrills, suspense, comedy, and Hitchcock's cameo appearence. The two best scenes in the movie are the hilarious moments when the police inspector (who's heading up the investigation of the neck-tie murders) is served two gourmet dinners by his wife. These scenes are very funny. The comic moments is what gives "Frenzy" a edge over Hitchcock's previous film "Topaz". Plus, it's a more entertaining thriller.

*** (out of four)