Nicholson & Karloff in... The Terror!

[Ian Jane Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Jane]

I revisited this one last night for the first time since the VHS era and was really taken by how colorful and quirky the movie is. It maybe doesn't get the love it should as it's been released in crap quality versions by every public domain outfit on the planet hoping to cash in on the Nicholson connection, but seeing it in widescreen and in HD definitely does make a difference.

Awesome use of color in the opening scenes and then throughout the film, a great performance from Karloff and a decent effort from a very young Nicholson also help. Really weird, eerie opening credits sequence, awesome coastal locations.

Good stuff, really. Interesting to see who Corman had helping out on this one too - Coppolla, Jack Hill, Nicholson supposedly worked behind the camera too.

[Roderick Butthorn Find all posts View Profile Close Roderick]

So you watched the new blu disk?

[Ian Jane Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Jane]

Yessir.

[Roderick Butthorn Find all posts View Profile Close Roderick]

Sweet. I must needs have it then.

[Ian Jane Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Jane]

I'll get a review up this weekend with some screen caps. Just for you.

[Roderick Butthorn Find all posts View Profile Close Roderick]

Aw, shucks. You shouldn't, but okay.

[Horace Cordier Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Horace Cordier]

I'm a big fan of this one. Tracked it down after watching the excellent TARGETS that uses scenes from this film. How can you not love a movie with Karloff and Nicholson AS A FRENCH ARMY OFFICER?

[Paul Casey Frito Bandito Find all posts View Profile Close Paul Casey]

Is this the movie where Nicholson plays a French army officer?
I think I read that somewhere, but I'm not sure.

[Ian Jane Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Jane]

Aw, shucks. You shouldn't, but okay.

I was gonna do it anyway. Dementia 13 too.

[Roderick Butthorn Find all posts View Profile Close Roderick]

There you go playing with my emotions again. (I knew you were a big lair, you liar.)

[George Barry Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close George Barry]

Many years ago, I tagged along with a fellow who interviewed Corman on location, while he was filming Bloody Mama. I ended up doing part of the interview myself. The subject of this film came up, especially in context of its connection with Targets. Corman filmed the interiors of The Terror, right after wrapping up The Raven, using the same sets.* He and Leo Gordon had sketched out a rough script treatment only a week or so before. Corman was going to play tennis on a day off, but he got rained out, so they began writing the film instead. It was a union shoot, of course. Exterior filming started weeks later. Corman couldn't direct those sequences, because they were not shot union. After an initial rough cut, Corman felt the movie made little sense and worse, was dull to boot. Additional filming was done and The Terror became a far more involved patch work effort than Corman had ever intended.

*Corman came up with the idea of shooting another film utilizing Daniel Haller's sets, after he started The Raven

[Ian Miller Flattery and foreplay Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Miller]

The new transfer is something (saw it on MGM HD), and will probably go a long way towards people taking THE TERROR a little more seriously.

Of course, I giggle like a fiend when Dick Miller shows up and about anytime Nicholson speaks, but it's all out of love.

[Ian Jane Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Jane]

Some small screen grabs...

[Ian Jane Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Jane]

Corman filmed the interiors of The Terror, right after wrapping up The Raven, using the same sets.

I didn't know this but yeah, once you point that out, you can tell.

[George Barry Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close George Barry]

...The Terror!

Ian M.,
Corman had to use people like Dick Miller, performers who were friends or at least friendly enough, to portray characters who appeared in both interior and exterior scenes. An outside actor could have demanded payment for the relatively long break time between the interior and exterior shoots.