Circus of Horrors (1960)

Poster (1960)

Circus of Horrors (1960)

In 1940s England, Dr. Rossiter (Anton Diffring) is a plastic surgeon wanted by the police after an operation goes hideously wrong. However, believing himself to have brilliant abilities as a surgeon, he and his assistants (Kenneth Griffith and Jane Hylton) evade capture and escape to the Continent. There Rossiter changes his name to Schüler, and befriends a circus owner (Donald Pleasence) on whose deformed daughter Nicole (played by Carla Challoner as a child, Yvonne Monlaur as an adult) he operates.

Schüler manipulates his way into running the circus, taking it over when the owner dies in a "freak accident". A decade later, he is running an internationally successful circus, which he uses as a front for his surgical exploits. He befriends deformed women and transforms them for his "Temple of Beauty". However, when they threaten to leave, they meet with mysterious accidents which raise the suspicions of local police (Conrad Phillips among them), who are soon on his trail.

Cast

Anton Diffring as Dr. Schuler / Rossiter

Erika Remberg as Elissa Caro

Yvonne Monlaur as Nicole Vanet

Donald Pleasence as Vanet

Jane Hylton as Angela

Kenneth Griffith as Martin

Conrad Phillips as Inspector Arthur Ames

Jack Gwillim as Superintendent Andrews

Vanda Hudson as Magda von Meck

Yvonne Romain as Melina

Colette Wilde as Evelyn Morley Finsbury

William Mervyn as Doctor Morley

John Merivale as Edward Finsbury

Peter Swanwick as German Police Inspector Knopf

Walter Gotell as Von Gruber

Production

After the success of Horrors of the Black Museum, Anglo-Amalgamated and AIP tried to duplicate its success with this film.

The film was shot at Beaconsfield Studios, with location filming on Clapham Common in London and in Old Amersham, Buckinghamshire. Billy Smart's Circus provided the big top and some of its performers appeared as extras.

The score was provided between Franz Reizenstein and Muir Mathieson. Douglas Slocombe was the cinematographer.

The song "Look For A Star", written by Tony Hatch under his pseudonym Mark Anthony, originated in this movie. In the US, there were four versions issued at the same time that charted:

• Garry Mills (the original) (Imperial 5674) reached #26
• Garry Miles (a pseudonym used by Buzz Cason and chosen due to its similarity to Garry Mills' name) reached #16
• Deane Hawley (Dore 554) reached #29
• Billy Vaughn (the sole instrumental version) (Dot 16106) reached #19
• In the UK the original Garry Mills version was released on the Top Rank label and reached #7 in the charts in July 1960 (the Garry Miles version was also released but failed to chart at all).

Evelyn Morley Finsbury finds her plastic surgery has gone badly

Dr Schuler crashes as he flee's from the police

The wounded Schuler arrives at Martin & Angela's

Schuler tells Martin and Angela they must all escape to the continent

In France the fugitives meet disfigured Nicole

Schuler wants to restore Nicole's face

Schuler meets Nicole's father, a failing circus manager

Vanet promises Schuler "anything and everything" if he can restore Nicole's face

Vanet, Martin, Schuler & Angela see if the surgery has been a success

"Look Boscoe, I am beautiful!"

The ecstatic Vanet celebrates Nicole's new face, but drops his bottle which the confused
Boscoe steps on.

Vanet is finished off by Boscoe as Schuler fails to help!

Angela wants to know when Schuler will marry her

Schuler helps disfigured prostitute Elissa Caro

Schuler toasts his new Circus of Beauty'

Schuler is now the circus owner and has changed his name to Rossiter

Martin is told by Rossiter to finish Magda's act

Magda tells Rossiter that she is leaving the circus

Magda prepares for the knife thrower, unaware that Rossiter has got Martin to cut
the power.

Angela see's the accident unaware its a murder.

Magda gets it in the neck!

Rossiter agree's to help Melina

Elissa blackmails Rossiter for top billing

Scotland Yard are tipped off about a sighting of Schuler (Rossiter) in Berlin.

Inspector Ames questions the naive Nicole

Melina waits to see if her looks have been restored

Ames gets friendly with Elissa

Melina is given top billing

Melina throws herself at Rossiter in gratitude

Ames tries his luck with Nicole

Martin plants a snake in Elissa's dressing room!

Elissa shows up for her performance, much to Martin and Rossiter's horror!

Elissa finishes her act

.....but Martin has cut the rope!

Elissa manages to implicate Rossiter before she expires

Rossiter & Melina get acquainted properly

Rossiter get's mauled by the gorilla

Evelyn arrives at the circus and realises that Rossiter is Schuler!

Melina goes into the lions cage!

A nervous Melina retreats from the lions cage

Rossiter is horrified as Melina trips and is mauled by the lions

Angela & Martin are caught trying to leave!

Martin flee's and Angela is stabbed in the fight with Rossiter

As Martin evades Rossiter he opens the gorilla cage 

Rossiter see's the angry gorilla heading straight for him!

.....and legs it fast!

The cops catch hold of Martin

The gorilla attacks Rossiter

Ames gets the heartbroken Martin to confess

Rossiter breaks free from the gorilla

Nicole watches in horror as Ames and Rossiter fight

The police arrive and Rossiter makes a run for it!

Evelyn drives her car directly at the fleeing Rossiter

Rossiter is mortally wounded by the impact

Ames takes Nicole away from the scene