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Rating:  -
Circus of Horrors (1960) is a mostly atmospheric tale of suspense, reminiscent of a Hammer Horror production, involving an unscrupulous doctor and his assistants. Anton Diffring is Dr. Rossiter, a plastic surgeon who flees from England to France, after disfiguring a patient. Changing his name to Schuler, the doctor and his assistants (Kenneth Griffith and Jane Hylton), encounter a circus owner (Donald Pleasance) with a disfigured daughter. Schuler repairs the girl's face, and in return becomes part owner of the circus.
Schuler takes full control of the circus, when the owner is killed in an accident, and things take a weird turn, when the doctor decides to recruit talent for his circus from the streetwalkers and the criminal element on the street. Elissa (Erika Rembert), a disfigured prostitute who has her face repaired by Rossiter, becomes a talented acrobat. The troupe has become a success, but has a dubious reputation. When the star of the circus (Vanda Hudson) plans to leave the big show, Schuler sees that she meets a horrific end during a performance. Another in a series of tragic `accidents', for the `jinxed' circus.
The circus travels to England, but the suspicions of the police have been aroused. The doctor's weakness for the ladies causes him to live dangerously and create unrest. When the disgruntled Elissa is injured in a fall, there is a moment of high tension where the truth almost revealed, but with the police around, it is just a matter of time before matters totally unravel.
Fed by Rossiter's sinister resolve, director Sidney Hayers' film's has a strong atmosphere of suspense, bolstered by the occasional act of violence. Aside from one knifing, there isn't much bloodshed until the very end, when the level of action ramps up nicely. Anton Diffring gives a strong performance, as a fanatic full of hubris, in this campy, entertaining thriller.
Rating:  -
Fete of Death
"Circus of Horrors" has always been one of my favorite horror films. From its very beginning when the disfigured woman confronts her face in the mirror and belts out a deranged scream of "Rossiter! Rossiter!" it grabs you by the throat in an outrageous meolodramatic way. The entire movie has an off-kilter nightmare quality to it, reaching its zenith at the eponymous circus of horrors that Rossiter, Anton Diffring, creates in France. Tame by today's standards compared to horror fare like "Saw," it nevertheless ratchets up the suspense when members of the circus start dying horribly. Anton Diffring has a field day as the psychotic plastic surgeon Rossiter who becomes progressively more psychotic as he has to commit more and more murders to protect his true identity.
Rating: -
I'm too young to have experienced it firsthand, but the late 50's and early 60's must have seemed like a Golden Age to horror movie fans. And I can't think of many films of the era that deliver the goods more effectively than Circus of Horrors. While cinematic horror was still mainly suggestive by today's standards, Circus throws in a few graphic shocks that compare with the best of Hammer Films' output of the period.
But the real joy of the film is in the casting. Anton Diffring gives Peter Cushing a run for his money in the "Mad Men of Science" category (if the comparison really intrigues you, be sure to catch Diffring as Dr. Frankenstein in Tales of Frankenstein). And in the short-lived "scream queen" career of Yvonne Monlaur, her performance here is rivaled only by her leading role in Hammer's BRIDES OF DRACULA (available with 7 other Hammer horrors in Hammer Horror Series (Brides of Dracula / Curse of the Werewolf / Phantom of the Opera (1962) / Paranoiac / Kiss of the Vampire / Nightmare / Night Creatures / Evil of Frankenstein).
With today's anything-goes attitude in movie horror, Circus of Horrors may be a hard-sell. But for those of us who enjoy (slightly) more refined scares, it's still a treat.
Rating: -
Written by George Baxt (Night of the Eagle, Vampire Circus) and directed by Sidney Hayers (Night of the Eagle, Satan's Playthings), Circus of Horrors (1960) stars Anton Diffring (The Man Who Could Cheat Death, Fahrenheit 451, Where Eagles Dare). Also appearing is Jane Hylton (The Manster), Kenneth Griffith (The Assassination Bureau), Erika Remberg (Night of the Vampires), who would later marry the director, Yvonne Monlaur (The Brides of Dracula), Conrad Phillips (Sons and Lovers), Vanda Hudson (Strip Tease Murder), Yvonne Romain (Devil Doll), and Donald Pleasence (The Great Escape, You Only Live Twice).
Anton Diffring plays a character named Dr. Rossiter, a plastic surgeon with a spotty history now on the run from English authorities due to some `unpleasantness'. With the help of his assistants Martin (Griffith) and Angela (Hylton), who are also brother and sister, Rossiter gets new face, along with a new identity as Dr. Bernard Schueler. The trio leave the English isle for France where they happen upon flea bitten, washed up circus run by a man named Vanet (Pleasence), whose young daughter Nicole suffers from a horrible facial disfigurement as a result of the war not so long ago (as the story begins the year is 1947). Anyway, Rossiter, aka Schueler makes a deal with Vanet, one that would allow for Schueler to use the circus as a front while continuing his work in exchange for fixing Nicole's face. Vanet agrees and circumstances eventually lead to Schueler taking over the circus (Vanet got a little too friendly with a bear). Seeing the number of facially disfigured young women running around Europe at the time, Schueler gets the bright idea to focus on those who are criminals (pickpockets, prostitutes, murderesses, etc.), giving them new faces in exchange for their servitude in the circus. Ten years pass and business is booming although the circus does seem to have an unusually mortality rate (where's OSHA when you need them?), particularly among its young and comely female performers, all of whom Schueler's operated on...also Schuler seems to have a habit of falling for each of the women he `fixes', at least until the next one comes along, much to the consternation of Angela, whose had a thing for Schueler as far back when he was known as Rossiter. Eventually the authorities become suspicious, Schueler has a falling out with Martin and Angela, there's an incident with a guy in a bad gorilla suit, there's some more deaths under the big top, Schueler is recognized from someone from his past, all leading up to an exciting finale that proves while the circus may certainly be an entertaining show, not all the action happens within its three rings...
I enjoyed this semi-sleazy English horror nugget a lot despite my perception of there being a slight overabundance of drama and not enough horror (and sleaze)...what horror elements included were certainly impressive and shocking (except maybe for the bear and gorilla attacks, which I'll talk about later), but I think the film could have done with some more. There's more than enough drama to go around as we see Differing's character deal with his various love interests, the numerous circus performers and their problems (not getting top billing, having to share the spotlight, etc.), and so on...that's not to say I don't enjoy good drama but some of it here seemed scattered about haphazardly, one example specifically in terms of the sad sack clown who had a thing for an uppity aerial ballet performer who winds up on Rossiter's bad side (guess what happens to her?). Anyway, there are numerous scenes where we see Bozo (or whatever the hell his name was) on the sidelines, intently watching the woman perform, so we know he's got it bad for her, but then when she suffers a mishap, where does this element of the plot go? Nowhere in particular as Bozo vanishes, never to be seen again which ultimately made me wonder what was the point? Seemed like a dilly of a revenge motif was in the works but oh well...there's certainly more good than bad here as the production values are very solid, the performances professional, and the action exciting. It's nice to see Anton Diffring featured in the lead especially since I've always thought him a character actor relegated to playing German heavies in war pictures. The man had depth, along with the creepy eyes, and did very well bringing to life his character here, one blessed with an amazing ability to change lives yet eventually becomes drunk on his own hubris, lording his gifts over those whom he pretends to help. There was one character, played by Conrad Phillips, which annoyed me somewhat as the film progressed. His was the main hero role, as he was an investigator posing as a pushy reporter. Through most of the last half of the film we see him walking around behind the scenes of the circus, trying to dig up dirt by questioning performers and what not. At one point he's told to beat it as he's not allowed in the backstage areas, yet no one ever really pushes the point which basically results in his having free reign. Seems to me with all the monkey business going on behind the scenes, the last thing you'd want is a nosy reporter (who's actually a police detective) milling about. If it were my show (and my secrets to hide), I would have had the habitual trespasser seriously pummeled by the strongman at the very least. There were a couple of really goofy sequences featuring guys in fake animal suits attacking characters, something the filmmakers obviously knew looked phony given the quick cut shots showing bits of faux fur and not much else. On the flipside I thought the various scars and bits of gruesome horror effects done well, looking highly realistic. All in all Circus of Horrors is worth checking out as it's a better than average film (of its kind) with a strong sense of direction, solid performances all around, some grisly effects (along with some goofy ones), interesting characters, and a decent script.
This DVD release, provided by Anchor Bay Entertainment, includes a sharp looking picture presented in widescreen (1.77:1), enhanced for 16X9 TVs, along with a very solid Dolby Digital mono audio track available in English and Spanish. Extra features include an original theatrical trailer, three television spots, a still gallery, a gallery of posters and advertising material, an Anton Differing biography, and a 5X7 reproduction insert of a poster for the film, the flipside featuring the chapter stops.
Cookieman108
By the way, if you're interested in picking up this film on DVD, you might want to search out a double feature DVD release from Anchor Bay Entertainment, one that includes Circus of Horrors along with Christopher Lee flick titled Theater of Death (1966). Another thing, Lee did appear in a film titled Circus of Fear (1966), which shouldn't be confused with Circus of Horrors as it's not nearly as good.
Rating:  -
I finally purchased this movie. I remember when I saw it on t.v. in the 1960s. The music was haunting and I couldn't get it out of my mind. This movie is typical of the horror flix of the time. You'll enjoy it.
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