Night of the Eagle

4/25/19621h 30m

Theatrical Release (US)

~ Do The Undead Demons Of Hell Still Arise To Terrorise The World? ~

Overview:

A woman who may be a witch defends her husband from forces attempting to harm him.

Director:

Sidney Hayers

Status:

Released

Language:

English

Buget:

$0.00

Revenue:

$0.00

Key words:

fire
husband wife relationship
based on novel or book
professor
tarot cards
supernatural
spider
eagle
giant bird
fireplace
bird attack
witchcraft
occult
rape accusation
obscene telephone call
college professor

Cast

Peter Wyngarde

~ as ~

Norman Taylor

Janet Blair

~ as ~

Tansy Taylor

Margaret Johnston

~ as ~

Flora Carr

Anthony Nicholls

~ as ~

Harvey Sawtelle

Colin Gordon

~ as ~

Lindsay Carr

Kathleen Byron

~ as ~

Evelyn Sawtelle

Reginald Beckwith

~ as ~

Harold Gunnison

Jessica Dunning

~ as ~

Hilda Gunnison

Norman Bird

~ as ~

Doctor

Judith Stott

~ as ~

Margaret Abbott

View full cast & crew

Reviews (1)

John Chard
Written 11 year(s) ago
8.5
The Devil: The Principle of Evil.

Night of the Eagle (AKA: Burn, Witch, Burn!) is directed by Sidney Hayers and adapted to screenplay by Charles Beaumont, Richard Matheson and George Baxt from the novel "Conjure Wife" written by Fritz Leiber. It stars Peter Wyngarde, Janet Blair, Margaret Johnston, Anthony Nicholls and Colin Gordon. Music is by William Alwyn and cinematography by Reginald Wyer.

Psychologist Norman Taylor (Wyngarde) is rocked when he discovers that his wife Tansy has been dabbling in witchcraft. She is adamant that it keeps them from harm and is the reason why his career is flourishing. Not convinced at all, Norman sets about destroying all of Tansy's paraphernalia and soon finds his life taking a drastic downturn…

What is neurosis? A nerve-change, the physical basis of consciousness as distinguished from psychosis.

This, the second of three adaptations of the Leiber novel to get the big screen treatment, is easily the best, a smouldering suspenser ripe with paranoia and atmospheric unease. Subtle in pacing, it's a marked lesson in gaining the most out of suggestion and understated story telling. Clearly not armed with a gargantuan budget, Hayers and his team rely on the strength of writing and acting to let this Eagle soar, and soar it does.

Rites and Practice in Black Magic.

The back drop is a place of academic studies, where the faculty indulge in get togethers, of drinks, snacks and card games, but this is all a false veneer. Lurking underneath is a veritable hot-bed of spitefulness, jealousies and bitter rivalries that come to the fore once the black magic forces of evil gather to destroy the Taylors.

I do (not) believe.

It builds with ambiguity lurking overhead, ensuring the belief system of Norman Taylor and the audience is constantly tested, and then the coiled spring is unleashed. The effects work may not be up to much, but it matters not, the impact is considerably suspenseful, even frightening. No gore or histrionics here, just damn great supernatural film making. 8.5/10