Circus of Fear - Misplaced Pages

1966 film by Werner Jacobs, John Llewellyn Moxey

Circus of Fear
DVD cover
Directed by	John Llewellyn Moxey
Written by	Harry Alan Towers
Based on	Again the Three Just Men by Edgar Wallace
Produced by	Harry Alan Towers
Starring	Christopher Lee Leo Genn Anthony Newlands Heinz Drache Eddi Arent Klaus Kinski Margaret Lee Suzy Kendall Cecil Parker Victor Maddern Maurice Kaufmann
Cinematography	Ernest Steward
Edited by	John Trumper
Music by	Johnny Douglas
Production companies	Circus Films Proudweeks
Distributed by	Warner-Pathé Distributors (UK) Constantin Film (W. Germany) American International Pictures (US)
Release dates	29 April 1966 (1966-04-29) (W. Germany) November 1967 (1967-11) (UK)
Running time	90 minutes
Countries	United Kingdom West Germany
Language	English

Circus of Fear (German: Das Rätsel des silbernen Dreieck / Mystery of the Silver Triangle); also Scotland Yard auf heißer Spur, also Circus of Terror; US title Psycho-Circus) is a 1966 Anglo-German international co-production thriller film directed by John Llewellyn Moxey and starring Christopher Lee, Suzy Kendall, Leo Genn and Cecil Parker. Werner Jacobs directed the version released in West Germany. It was written by Harry Alan Towers based on the 1928 novel Again the Three Just Men by Edgar Wallace.

Plot

The film is set in London, mainly in the East End and docklands. When an armoured car is robbed, in a daring daylight raid co-ordinated on Tower Bridge, one of the guards is shot and killed by Mason. The gang escape on the river. Part of the gang escape northwards on the M1 motorway. The police catch up and force them off the road, killing one man. Meanwhile Mason dumps his car in a lake and takes a suitcase full of money to nearby buildings. An unseen knife-thrower kills Mason as he turns to leave.

We are introduced to the characters of Barberini's Circus, including Drago, who wears a full mask to hide his fire damaged face. Manfred arrives at the circus seeking employment. It is revealed that Mr Big (the midget) is blackmailing Drago. An unseen person unlocks the lion and it almost kills one of the circus girls. The police are led to the circus but also require to investigate a body found with a knife next to it. The police interview the girl who was attacked by the lion and soon after is herself murdered by a thrown knife. The police interview the circus knife-thrower. Drago confesses to his niece that he found a suitcase of money and hid it. Manfred is the next victim of the knife-thrower who this time also sets a fire.

A police manhunt causes Drago to fall to his death and the suitcase of money is retrieved. However, detective Elliot (Leo Genn) decides this is not the killer. His examination of all the clues leads to a final denouement in front of the assembled suspects during a knife-throwing act.

Cast

Christopher Lee as Gregor
Leo Genn as Elliott
Anthony Newlands as Barberini
Heinz Drache as Carl
Eddi Arent as Eddie
Klaus Kinski as Manfred Hart
Margaret Lee as Gina
Suzy Kendall as Natasha
Cecil Parker as Sir John
Victor Maddern as Mason
Maurice Kaufmann as Mario
Lawrence James as Manley
Tom Bowman as Jackson
Skip Martin as Mr. Big
Nosher Powell as Red
Gordon Petrie as man
Henry B. Longhurst as hotel porter
Dennis Blakely as Armoured van guard
George Fisher as fourth man
Peter Brace as speedboat man
Roy Scammell as speedboat man
Geoff Silk as security man
Keith Peacock as security man
John Carradine as narrator

Production

It was shot at Hammer Film's Bray Studios in Berkshire and on location around London.The film was partially shot at Billy Smart's Circus. The film was co-produced by the leading German distributor Constantin Film, which was at the same time releasing Rialto Film's long-running series of Wallace adaptations in Germany. Heinz Drache, Eddi Arent and Klaus Kinski were regular performers in that series and were added to this production to appeal to German audiences.

Release

The film premiered in Germany on 29 April 1966 and in the UK in November 1967.

Reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "A stolid thriller incorporating every cliché known to circus settings. Acting, script and direction are all equally flaccid."

The Radio Times wrote, "Christopher Lee wears a black woolly hood for nearly all of his scenes in this lame whodunnit, with minor horrific overtones...but the stalwart efforts of the cast including Klaus Kinski and Suzy Kendall act as a welcome safety net for the shaky plot" ; while Britmovie called it "fairly suspenseful."

References

"Circus of Fear". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
Sandra Brennan. "New York Times: Circus of Fear". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 12 October 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
"Circus of Fear". BFI. Archived from the original on 12 July 2012.
"Network ON AIR > Edgar Wallace Presents: Circus of Fear". networkonair.com. Archived from the original on 28 February 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
"Circus of Fear". rottentomatoes.com. 1 January 1966.
Weaver, Tom (27 October 2004). Science Fiction and Fantasy Film Flashbacks. ISBN 9780786420704.
"Filmportal: Circus of Fear". Retrieved 7 February 2017.
"Circus of Fear". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 34 (396): 173. 1 January 1967 – via ProQuest.
Alan Jones. "Circus of Fear". RadioTimes.
"Circus of Fear". britmovie.co.uk. Archived from the original on 20 September 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2015.

External links

Circus of Fear at IMDb
Circus of Fear at the TCM Movie Database

v t e Films directed by John Llewellyn Moxey
The City of the Dead (1960) Foxhole in Cairo (1960) Death Trap (1962) Ricochet (1963) Hold My Hand, Soldier (1963) Downfall (1964) Strangler's Web (1965) Circus of Fear (1966) The Solarnauts (1967) Dial M for Murder (1967) Laura (1968) A Hatful of Rain (1968) The House That Would Not Die (1970) Escape The Last Child (1971) A Taste of Evil (1971) The Death of Me Yet (1971) The Night Stalker (1972) The Bounty Man (1972) Home for the Holidays (1972) Genesis II (1973) The Strange and Deadly Occurrence (1974) Where Have All the People Gone? (1974) Foster and Laurie (1975) Conspiracy of Terror (1975) Nightmare in Badham County (1976) Smash-Up on Interstate 5 (1976) Panic in Echo Park (1977) Intimate Strangers (1977) The President's Mistress (1978) The Courage and the Passion (1978) Sanctuary of Fear (1979) The Power Within (1979) Ebony, Ivory and Jade (1979) The Solitary Man (1979) The Children of An Lac (1980) The Mating Season (1980) No Place to Hide (1981) The Violation of Sarah McDavid (1981) Killjoy (1981) Desire, the Vampire (1982) The Cradle Will Fall (1983) Through Naked Eyes (1983) When Dreams Come True (1985) Deadly Deception (1987) Sadie and Son (1987) Outback Bound (1988) Lady Mobster (1988)

Films directed by John Llewellyn Moxey

The City of the Dead (1960)
Foxhole in Cairo (1960)
Death Trap (1962)
Ricochet (1963)
Hold My Hand, Soldier (1963)
Downfall (1964)
Strangler's Web (1965)
Circus of Fear (1966)
The Solarnauts (1967)
Dial M for Murder (1967)
Laura (1968)
A Hatful of Rain (1968)
The House That Would Not Die (1970)
Escape
The Last Child (1971)
A Taste of Evil (1971)
The Death of Me Yet (1971)
The Night Stalker (1972)
The Bounty Man (1972)
Home for the Holidays (1972)
Genesis II (1973)
The Strange and Deadly Occurrence (1974)
Where Have All the People Gone? (1974)
Foster and Laurie (1975)
Conspiracy of Terror (1975)
Nightmare in Badham County (1976)
Smash-Up on Interstate 5 (1976)
Panic in Echo Park (1977)
Intimate Strangers (1977)
The President's Mistress (1978)
The Courage and the Passion (1978)
Sanctuary of Fear (1979)
The Power Within (1979)
Ebony, Ivory and Jade (1979)
The Solitary Man (1979)
The Children of An Lac (1980)
The Mating Season (1980)
No Place to Hide (1981)
The Violation of Sarah McDavid (1981)
Killjoy (1981)
Desire, the Vampire (1982)
The Cradle Will Fall (1983)
Through Naked Eyes (1983)
When Dreams Come True (1985)
Deadly Deception (1987)
Sadie and Son (1987)
Outback Bound (1988)
Lady Mobster (1988)

Edgar Wallace

Novels

The Four Just Men (1905)
Angel Esquire (1908)
The Council of Justice (1908)
Captain Tatham (1909)
The Duke in the Suburbs (1909)
The Nine Bears (1910)
Private Selby (1912)
The Fourth Plague (1913)
Grey Timothy (1913)
The River of Stars (1913)
The Man Who Bought London (1915)
The Melody of Death (1915)
A Debt Discharged (1916)
The Tomb of Ts'in (1916)
The Just Men of Cordova (1917)
The Secret House (1917)
The Clue of the Twisted Candle (1918)
Down Under Donovan (1918)
The Man Who Knew (1918)
Those Folk of Bulboro (1918)
The Green Rust (1919)
Kate Plus Ten (1919)
The Daffodil Mystery (1920)
Jack O'Judgment (1920)
The Book of All Power (1921)
The Law of the Four Just Men (1921)
The Angel of Terror (1922)
The Crimson Circle (1922)
The Flying Fifty-Five (1922)
Mr. Justice Maxell (1922)
The Valley of Ghosts (1922)
The Clue of the New Pin (1923)
The Green Archer (1923)
The Missing Million (1923)
The Dark Eyes of London (1924)
Double Dan (1924)
The Face in the Night (1924)
Room 13 (1924)
The Sinister Man (1924)
The Three Oak Mystery (1924)
Blue Hand (1925)
The Fellowship of the Frog (1925)
The Mind of Mr. J. G. Reeder (1925)
The Strange Countess (1925)
The Three Just Men (1925)
The Avenger (1926)
Barbara on Her Own (1926)
The Black Abbot (1926)
The Northing Tramp (1926)
The Terrible People (1926)
The Yellow Snake (1926)
The Big Foot (1927)
Terror Keep (1927)
The Traitor's Gate (1927)
The Squeaker (1927)
The Forger (1927)
Again the Three (1928)
The Gunner (1928)
Four Square Jane (1929)
The Green Ribbon (1929)
The India-Rubber Men (1929)
The Calendar (1930)
The Clue of the Silver Key (1930)
The Lady of Ascot (1930)
The Man at the Carlton (1931)
The Guv'nor and Other Short Stories (1932)

Plays

An African Millionaire (1904)
M'Lady (1921)
Double Dan (1927)
The Terror (1927)
The Man Who Changed His Name (1928)
The Calendar (1929)
Persons Unknown (1929)
On the Spot (1930)
The Mouthpiece (1930)
Smoky Cell (1930)
The Old Man (1931)

Screenplays

Adaptations

J. G. Reeder	Mr. Reeder in Room 13 (1938) The Mind of Mr. Reeder (1939) The Missing People (1940) The Mind of Mr. J.G. Reeder (1969, TV series)
The Four Just Men	The Four Just Men (1921) The Four Just Men (1939) The Four Just Men (1959, TV series)
Edgar Wallace Mysteries	Urge to Kill (1960) Clue of the Twisted Candle (1960) The Malpas Mystery (1960) Marriage of Convenience (1960) The Clue of the New Pin (1961) Man at the Carlton Tower (1961) The Fourth Square (1961) Man Detained (1961) Attempt to Kill (1961) Clue of the Silver Key (1961) Never Back Losers (1961) Partners in Crime (1961) The Sinister Man (1961) Time to Remember (1962) Playback (1962) Solo for Sparrow (1962) Locker Sixty-Nine (1962) Incident at Midnight (1963) Return to Sender (1963) Ricochet (1963) Accidental Death (1963) Five to One (1963) The Verdict (1964) We Shall See (1964) Act of Murder (1964) Change Partners (1965)
Rialto Films	Der Frosch mit der Maske (1959) The Crimson Circle (1960) The Avenger (1960) The Terrible People (1960) The Green Archer (1961) The Dead Eyes of London (1961) The Devil's Daffodil (1961) The Forger of London (1961) The Strange Countess (1961) The Puzzle of the Red Orchid (1962) The Door with Seven Locks (1962) The Inn on the River (1962) The Curse of the Yellow Snake (1963) The Squeaker (1963) The Black Abbot (1963) The Indian Scarf (1963) Room 13 (1964) The Curse of the Hidden Vault (1964) Der Hexer (1964) The Traitor's Gate (1964) Neues vom Hexer (1965) The Sinister Monk (1965) The Hunchback of Soho (1966) The Trygon Factor (1966) Creature with the Blue Hand (1967) The Monk with the Whip (1967) The Hound of Blackwood Castle (1968) Im Banne des Unheimlichen (1968) The Gorilla of Soho (1968) Double Face (1969) The Man with the Glass Eye (1969) The Body in the Thames (1971)
Other	The Man Who Bought London (1916) The Green Terror (1919) Pallard the Punter (1919) Angel Esquire (1919) Wanted at Headquarters (1920) The River of Stars (1921) The Crimson Circle (1922) Down Under Donovan (1922) Melody of Death (1922) The Diamond Man (1924) The Flying Fifty-Five (1924) The Green Archer (1925 serial) The Great Unknown (1927) The Terror (1928) Mark of the Frog (1928 serial) Chick (1928) The Forger (1928) The Terrible People (1928 serial) The Ringer (1928) The Man Who Changed His Name (1928) The Flying Squad (1929) The Crimson Circle (1929) The Clue of the New Pin (1929) Red Aces (1930) The Squeaker (1930) The Yellow Mask (1930) The Ringer (1931) To Oblige a Lady (1931) The Calendar (1931) The Old Man (1931) The Squeaker (1931) The Flying Squad (1932) The Frightened Lady (1932) The Ringer (1932) The Menace (1932) White Face (1932) Giallo (1933) The Jewel (1933) Before Dawn (1933) The Double (1934) Mystery Liner (1934) The Green Pack (1934) The Feathered Serpent (1934) The Lad (1935) Sanders of the River (1935) Born to Gamble (1935) Chick (1936) Educated Evans (1936) The Crimson Circle (1936) Prison Breaker (1936) Strangers on Honeymoon (1936) The Frog (1937) The Squeaker (1937) The Gaunt Stranger (1938) Dangerous to Know (1938) Kate Plus Ten (1938) Thank Evans (1938) The Terror (1938) The Return of the Frog (1938) Flying Fifty-Five (1939) The Dark Eyes of London (1939) The Case of the Frightened Lady (1940) The Door with Seven Locks (1940) The Flying Squad (1940) The Green Archer (1940 serial) The Missing Million (1942) The Calendar (1948) The Ringer (1952) The Avenger (1960) Death Drums Along the River (1963) Coast of Skeletons (1964) Circus of Fear (1966) Five Golden Dragons (1967) The Devil Came from Akasava (1970) The Bloodstained Butterfly (1971) What Have You Done to Solange? (1972) Seven Blood-Stained Orchids (1972)
Television	Educated Evans (1957–58) The Mixer (1992)

Family

Mary Jane Richards (mother)
Marriott Edgar (half-brother)
Bryan Edgar Wallace (son)

v t e Films of Harry Alan Towers
Death Drums Along the River (1963) Victim Five (1964) Coast of Skeletons (1965) Sandy the Seal (1965) Mozambique (1965) 24 Hours to Kill (1965) The Face of Fu Manchu (1965) Ten Little Indians (1965) Our Man in Marrakesh (1966) Circus of Fear (1966) The Brides of Fu Manchu (1966) The Million Eyes of Sumuru (1967) The Vengeance of Fu Manchu (1967) Jules Verne's Rocket to the Moon (1967) Five Golden Dragons (1967) The House of 1,000 Dolls (1967) Eve (1968) The Blood of Fu Manchu (1968) 99 Women (1969) The Girl from Rio (1969) Marquis de Sade: Justine (1969) The Castle of Fu Manchu (1969) Venus in Furs (1969) Eugenie… The Story of Her Journey into Perversion (1970) The Bloody Judge (1970) Count Dracula (1970) Dorian Gray (1970) Black Beauty (1971) Treasure Island (1972) The Call of the Wild (1972) White Fang (1973) And Then There Were None (1974) Blue Belle (1976) H. G. Wells' The Shape of Things to Come (1979) King Solomon's Treasure (1979) Klondike Fever (1980) Black Venus (1983) Fanny Hill (1983) Lady Libertine (1984) Christina (1984) Black Arrow (1985) Lightning, the White Stallion (1986) Skeleton Coast (1987) Gor (1987) Platoon Leader (1988) Howling IV: The Original Nightmare (1988) Outlaw of Gor (1988) Edge of Sanity (1989) American Ninja 3: Blood Hunt (1989) River of Death (1989) Ten Little Indians (1989) The Phantom of the Opera (1989) Buried Alive (1990) Oddball Hall (1990) Sherlock Holmes and the Leading Lady (1991) Incident at Victoria Falls (1992) The Lost World (1992) Return to the Lost World (1992) Dance Macabre (1992) Night Terrors (1993) The Mangler (1995) Bullet to Beijing (1995) Cry, the Beloved Country (1995) Midnight in Saint Petersburg (1996) Owd Bob (1998) Treasure Island (1999) Death, Deceit and Destiny Aboard the Orient Express (2000) Sumuru (2003) Pact with the Devil (2004)

Films of Harry Alan Towers

Death Drums Along the River (1963)
Victim Five (1964)
Coast of Skeletons (1965)
Sandy the Seal (1965)
Mozambique (1965)
24 Hours to Kill (1965)
The Face of Fu Manchu (1965)
Ten Little Indians (1965)
Our Man in Marrakesh (1966)
Circus of Fear (1966)
The Brides of Fu Manchu (1966)
The Million Eyes of Sumuru (1967)
The Vengeance of Fu Manchu (1967)
Jules Verne's Rocket to the Moon (1967)
Five Golden Dragons (1967)
The House of 1,000 Dolls (1967)
Eve (1968)
The Blood of Fu Manchu (1968)
99 Women (1969)
The Girl from Rio (1969)
Marquis de Sade: Justine (1969)
The Castle of Fu Manchu (1969)
Venus in Furs (1969)
Eugenie… The Story of Her Journey into Perversion (1970)
The Bloody Judge (1970)
Count Dracula (1970)
Dorian Gray (1970)
Black Beauty (1971)
Treasure Island (1972)
The Call of the Wild (1972)
White Fang (1973)
And Then There Were None (1974)
Blue Belle (1976)
H. G. Wells' The Shape of Things to Come (1979)
King Solomon's Treasure (1979)
Klondike Fever (1980)
Black Venus (1983)
Fanny Hill (1983)
Lady Libertine (1984)
Christina (1984)
Black Arrow (1985)
Lightning, the White Stallion (1986)
Skeleton Coast (1987)
Gor (1987)
Platoon Leader (1988)
Howling IV: The Original Nightmare (1988)
Outlaw of Gor (1988)
Edge of Sanity (1989)
American Ninja 3: Blood Hunt (1989)
River of Death (1989)
Ten Little Indians (1989)
The Phantom of the Opera (1989)
Buried Alive (1990)
Oddball Hall (1990)
Sherlock Holmes and the Leading Lady (1991)
Incident at Victoria Falls (1992)
The Lost World (1992)
Return to the Lost World (1992)
Dance Macabre (1992)
Night Terrors (1993)
The Mangler (1995)
Bullet to Beijing (1995)
Cry, the Beloved Country (1995)
Midnight in Saint Petersburg (1996)
Owd Bob (1998)
Treasure Island (1999)
Death, Deceit and Destiny Aboard the Orient Express (2000)
Sumuru (2003)
Pact with the Devil (2004)

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