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| language = English
| language = English
| budget =
| budget =
| gross =$1.4 million (US/Canada)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/variety-1963-01/page/n69/mode/2up?q=1963|magazine=Variety|date=9 Jan 1963|page=13|title=Big Rental Pictures of 1962}} Please note these are rentals and not gross figures</ref>
| gross =
}}
}}
'''''Experiment in Terror''''' is a 1962 [[neo noir|neo-noir]] [[thriller film|suspense-thriller]] released by [[Columbia Pictures]]. It was directed by [[Blake Edwards]] and written by [[Mildred Gordon (writer)|Mildred Gordon]] and [[Gordon Gordon]] based on their 1961 novel ''Operation Terror''. The film stars [[Glenn Ford]], [[Lee Remick]], [[Stefanie Powers]] and [[Ross Martin]].<ref name="amg">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmovie.com/work/experiment-in-terror-16358|title=Experiment in Terror: Overview &ndash; Allmovie|author=Erickson, Hal|work=Allmovie|access-date=August 27, 2010}}</ref> The musical score was performed by [[Henry Mancini]].
'''''Experiment in Terror''''' is a 1962 American [[neo-noir]] [[thriller film]] released by [[Columbia Pictures]]. It was directed by [[Blake Edwards]] and written by [[Mildred Gordon (writer)|Mildred Gordon]] and [[Gordon Gordon]] based on their 1961 novel ''Operation Terror''. The film stars [[Glenn Ford]], [[Lee Remick]], [[Stefanie Powers]] and [[Ross Martin]].<ref name="amg">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmovie.com/work/experiment-in-terror-16358|title=Experiment in Terror: Overview &ndash; Allmovie|author=Erickson, Hal|work=Allmovie|access-date=August 27, 2010}}</ref> The musical score was composed by [[Henry Mancini]].


==Plot==
==Plot==
A sadistic killer, Garland "Red" Lynch, uses a campaign of terror to force [[San Francisco]] bank teller Kelly Sherwood to steal $100,000 from the bank for him. Despite Lynch's threat to kill Sherwood or her teenage sister Toby if she goes to the police, Sherwood contacts the [[San Francisco]] office of the [[FBI]], where agent John Ripley takes charge of the case.
A sadistic killer, Garland "Red" Lynch, uses a campaign of terror to force [[San Francisco]] bank teller Kelly Sherwood to steal $100,000 from the bank for him. Despite Lynch's threat to kill Sherwood or her teenage sister Toby if she goes to the police, Sherwood contacts the [[San Francisco]] office of the [[FBI]], where agent John Ripley takes charge of the case.


Ripley interviews a woman who implies that she is involved in some way in a serious crime, but before she can give Ripley the details, Lynch murders her. Sherwood continues to be terrorized with phone calls, an [[asthma|asthmatic]] condition making the unseen Lynch's voice all the more sinister.
Ripley interviews a woman who implies that she is involved in some way in a serious crime, but before she can give Ripley the details, Lynch murders her. Sherwood continues to be terrorized with phone calls, an [[asthma]]tic condition making the unseen Lynch's voice all the more sinister.


The FBI identifies the criminal, noting that Lynch has a record of convictions for statutory rape, forgery, criminal assault, armed robbery and murder. They track down his girlfriend, Lisa Soong, whose six-year-old son has just had a hip replaced. Lynch is paying all the hospital bills. Because of this, Lisa refuses to believe that Lynch is a criminal and will not cooperate with the investigation. Ripley nevertheless manages to get some information about "Uncle Red" from the boy.
The FBI identifies the criminal, noting that Lynch has a record of convictions for statutory rape, forgery, criminal assault, armed robbery and murder. They track down his girlfriend, Lisa Soong, whose six-year-old son has just had a hip replaced. Lynch is paying all the hospital bills. Because of this, Lisa refuses to believe that Lynch is a criminal and will not cooperate with the investigation. Ripley nevertheless manages to get some information about "Uncle Red" from the boy.


Lynch finally gives Sherwood a time and date to steal the money, and just to make sure that she does, he kidnaps her sister Toby and holds her captive. The climax is a chase through [[Candlestick Park]] after a nighttime baseball game between the [[Dodgers–Giants rivalry|rival]] [[San Francisco Giants]] and [[Los Angeles Dodgers]]. On-field action includes several closeups of Dodger pitcher [[Don Drysdale]]. Ripley and his men ultimately surround Lynch on the infield of the stadium. As Lynch takes aim at a police helicopter, Ripley shoots him and he dies on the pitchers' mound.
Lynch finally gives Sherwood a time and date to steal the money, and just to make sure that she does, he kidnaps her sister Toby and holds her captive. The climax is a chase through [[Candlestick Park]] after a nighttime baseball game between the [[Dodgers–Giants rivalry|rival]] [[San Francisco Giants]] and [[Los Angeles Dodgers]]. On-field action includes several closeups of Dodgers pitcher [[Don Drysdale]]. Ripley and his men ultimately surround Lynch on the infield of the stadium. As Lynch takes aim at a police helicopter, Ripley shoots him and he dies on the pitcher's mound.


==Cast==
==Cast==
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* [[Ross Martin]] as Garland Humphrey "Red" Lynch
* [[Ross Martin]] as Garland Humphrey "Red" Lynch
* Roy Poole as Brad
* Roy Poole as Brad
* [[Ned Glass]] as Popcorn
* [[Ned Glass]] as "Popcorn"
* Anita Loo as Lisa Soong
* Anita Loo as Lisa Soong
* Patricia Huston as Nancy Ashton
* [[Patricia Huston]] as Nancy Ashton
* Gilbert Green as Special agent
* Gilbert Green as Special Agent
* [[Clifton James]] as Capt. Moreno
* [[Clifton James]] as Captain Moreno
* Al Avalon as Man who picks up Kelly
* Al Avalon as Man Who Picks Up Kelly
* [[William Bryant (actor)|William Bryant]] as Chuck
* [[William Bryant (actor)|William Bryant]] as Chuck
* [[Dick Crockett]] as FBI agent #1
* [[Dick Crockett]] as FBI agent #1
* [[James Lanphier]] as Landlord
* [[James Lanphier]] as The Landlord
* Warren Hsieh as Joey Soong
* Warren Hsieh as Joey Soong
* Sidney Miller as Drunk
* Sidney Miller as Drunk
Line 55: Line 55:
* Harvey Evans as Dave
* Harvey Evans as Dave
* William Sharon as Raymond Burkhart
* William Sharon as Raymond Burkhart
* [[Don Drysdale]] as himself
* [[Don Drysdale]] as Himself
{{Div col end}}
{{Div col end}}


==Production==
==Production==
[[Herb Stein]] reported on the film's five weeks of production in the Bay Area. Following the Giants-Dodgers game filming, "Later the picture gang rented Candlestick to shoot reaction In the stands, hired about 1000 extras from the unemployed here—their take running from $25 to $50 a night. Notwithstanding the fact that Candlestick Park is probably the windiest stadium in the country, the Hollywood company brought its own wind machines from the studios just in case the Giants home grounds disappointed. Also hauled were fog machines, in the event the Twin Peaks locale, famous for its fog, was clear the nights the company planned to shoot….Cost of the location runs to $50,000 a day which, over a five week stretch, adds up."<ref>Stein, Herb. "Best from Hollywood." Philadelphia Inquirer, 6 September 1961, H23.</ref>
⚫
''Experiment in Terror'' was filmed on location in [[San Francisco]]. Kelly Sherwood's house is at 100, St. Germain Avenue in the [[Clarendon Heights]] district, (now demolished). Kelly works at the [[Crocker National Bank|Crocker-Anglo Bank]] (now Wells Fargo Bank) located at One Montgomery Street. The climactic chase at the end of the film was filmed at [[Candlestick Park]]; other nearby filming locations included [[Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco|Fisherman's Wharf]] and [[North Beach, San Francisco|North Beach]].

⚫
''Experiment in Terror'' was filmed on location in [[San Francisco]]. Kelly Sherwood's house is at 100 St. Germain Avenue in the [[Clarendon Heights]] district (now demolished). Kelly works at the [[Crocker National Bank|Crocker-Anglo Bank]] (now Wells Fargo Bank) located at One Montgomery Street. The climactic chase at the end of the film was filmed at [[Candlestick Park]]; other nearby filming locations included [[Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco|Fisherman's Wharf]] and [[North Beach, San Francisco|North Beach]].


==Release==
==Release==
The film opened in New York on 13 April 1962.<ref>TCM [http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=19820 Overview]</ref>
The film opened in New York on April 13, 1962.<ref>TCM [https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/19820/experiment-in-terror#overview Overview]</ref>
The film was originally released in the UK under the title '''''The Grip of Fear'''''.<ref name="amg" />
The film was originally released in the UK under the title '''''The Grip of Fear'''''.<ref name="amg" />


==Awards==
===Reception===
On [[review aggregator]] [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film has an approval rating of 100% based on 8 reviews, with an average score of 8.40/10.<ref>{{Citation |title=Experiment in Terror |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/experiment_in_terror |publisher=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |language=en |access-date=2022-03-19}}</ref> It has been shown on the [[Turner Classic Movies]] show 'Noir Alley' with [[Eddie Muller]].

===Awards===
Ross Martin was nominated for a 1963 [[Golden Globe Award]] for Best Supporting Actor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmovie.com/work/experiment-in-terror-16358/awards|work=Allmovie|title=Experiment in Terror: Awards &ndash; Allmovie|access-date=August 27, 2010}}</ref>
Ross Martin was nominated for a 1963 [[Golden Globe Award]] for Best Supporting Actor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmovie.com/work/experiment-in-terror-16358/awards|work=Allmovie|title=Experiment in Terror: Awards &ndash; Allmovie|access-date=August 27, 2010}}</ref>


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[[Category:American black-and-white films]]
[[Category:American black-and-white films]]
[[Category:American crime thriller films]]
[[Category:American crime thriller films]]
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[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:American psychological thriller films]]
[[Category:American psychological thriller films]]
[[Category:Columbia Pictures films]]
[[Category:Columbia Pictures films]]
[[Category:1960s English-language films]]
[[Category:1960s English-language films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Henry Mancini]]
[[Category:Films scored by Henry Mancini]]
[[Category:Films about kidnapping]]
[[Category:Films about kidnapping in the United States]]
[[Category:Films about bank robbery]]
[[Category:Films about bank robbery]]
[[Category:Films about psychopaths]]
[[Category:Films based on American novels]]
[[Category:Films based on American novels]]
[[Category:Films directed by Blake Edwards]]
[[Category:Films directed by Blake Edwards]]
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[[Category:Films about the Federal Bureau of Investigation]]
[[Category:Films about the Federal Bureau of Investigation]]
[[Category:American neo-noir films]]
[[Category:American neo-noir films]]
⚫
[[Category:1960s American films]]
[[Category:English-language crime thriller films]]

Latest revision as of 19:51, 12 April 2024

Experiment in Terror
Theatrical release poster
Directed byBlake Edwards
Written byMildred Gordon
Gordon Gordon
Produced byBlake Edwards
StarringGlenn Ford
Lee Remick
Stefanie Powers
Ross Martin
CinematographyPhilip H. Lathrop
Edited byPatrick McCormack
Music byHenry Mancini
Production
company
Geoffrey-Kate Productions
Distributed byColumbia Pictures
Release date
  • April 13, 1962 (1962-04-13)
Running time
123 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$1.4 million (US/Canada)[1]

Experiment in Terror is a 1962 American neo-noir thriller film released by Columbia Pictures. It was directed by Blake Edwards and written by Mildred Gordon and Gordon Gordon based on their 1961 novel Operation Terror. The film stars Glenn Ford, Lee Remick, Stefanie Powers and Ross Martin.[2] The musical score was composed by Henry Mancini.

Plot[edit]

A sadistic killer, Garland "Red" Lynch, uses a campaign of terror to force San Francisco bank teller Kelly Sherwood to steal $100,000 from the bank for him. Despite Lynch's threat to kill Sherwood or her teenage sister Toby if she goes to the police, Sherwood contacts the San Francisco office of the FBI, where agent John Ripley takes charge of the case.

Ripley interviews a woman who implies that she is involved in some way in a serious crime, but before she can give Ripley the details, Lynch murders her. Sherwood continues to be terrorized with phone calls, an asthmatic condition making the unseen Lynch's voice all the more sinister.

The FBI identifies the criminal, noting that Lynch has a record of convictions for statutory rape, forgery, criminal assault, armed robbery and murder. They track down his girlfriend, Lisa Soong, whose six-year-old son has just had a hip replaced. Lynch is paying all the hospital bills. Because of this, Lisa refuses to believe that Lynch is a criminal and will not cooperate with the investigation. Ripley nevertheless manages to get some information about "Uncle Red" from the boy.

Lynch finally gives Sherwood a time and date to steal the money, and just to make sure that she does, he kidnaps her sister Toby and holds her captive. The climax is a chase through Candlestick Park after a nighttime baseball game between the rival San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers. On-field action includes several closeups of Dodgers pitcher Don Drysdale. Ripley and his men ultimately surround Lynch on the infield of the stadium. As Lynch takes aim at a police helicopter, Ripley shoots him and he dies on the pitcher's mound.

Cast[edit]

Production[edit]

Herb Stein reported on the film's five weeks of production in the Bay Area. Following the Giants-Dodgers game filming, "Later the picture gang rented Candlestick to shoot reaction In the stands, hired about 1000 extras from the unemployed here—their take running from $25 to $50 a night. Notwithstanding the fact that Candlestick Park is probably the windiest stadium in the country, the Hollywood company brought its own wind machines from the studios just in case the Giants home grounds disappointed. Also hauled were fog machines, in the event the Twin Peaks locale, famous for its fog, was clear the nights the company planned to shoot….Cost of the location runs to $50,000 a day which, over a five week stretch, adds up."[3]

Experiment in Terror was filmed on location in San Francisco. Kelly Sherwood's house is at 100 St. Germain Avenue in the Clarendon Heights district (now demolished). Kelly works at the Crocker-Anglo Bank (now Wells Fargo Bank) located at One Montgomery Street. The climactic chase at the end of the film was filmed at Candlestick Park; other nearby filming locations included Fisherman's Wharf and North Beach.

Release[edit]

The film opened in New York on April 13, 1962.[4] The film was originally released in the UK under the title The Grip of Fear.[2]

Reception[edit]

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 100% based on 8 reviews, with an average score of 8.40/10.[5] It has been shown on the Turner Classic Movies show 'Noir Alley' with Eddie Muller.

Awards[edit]

Ross Martin was nominated for a 1963 Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor.[6]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ "Big Rental Pictures of 1962". Variety. 9 Jan 1963. p. 13. Please note these are rentals and not gross figures
  2. ^ a b Erickson, Hal. "Experiment in Terror: Overview – Allmovie". Allmovie. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  3. ^ Stein, Herb. "Best from Hollywood." Philadelphia Inquirer, 6 September 1961, H23.
  4. ^ TCM Overview
  5. ^ Experiment in Terror, Rotten Tomatoes, retrieved 2022-03-19
  6. ^ "Experiment in Terror: Awards – Allmovie". Allmovie. Retrieved August 27, 2010.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Experiment_in_Terror&oldid=1218619597"