Dementia/Daughter Of Horror 1955 ★★★½ CC: Film-Noir/Mystery/Thriller [00:55:18]

About

Dementia is a 1955 American black-and-white experimental horror film produced, written, and directed by John Parker, and starring Adrienne Barrett and Bruno Ve Sota. As the narrator invites us to explore the horrors of an insane mind, a young woman wakes from a nightmare in a cheap hotel room. We follow her through the skid-row night and encounters with an abusive husband; a wino; a pimp and the rich man he panders for; a flashback to her traumatic childhood; violence; pursuit through dark streets; dementia. Filmed in film-noir style throughout; only the narrator speaks.

Dementia was conceived as a short film by writer-director Parker and was based on a dream relayed to him by his secretary, Barrett. He cast Barrett in the film, along with Ve Sota, and ultimately decided to expand it into a longer feature. The film received a troubled release, being banned in 1953 by the New York State Film Board before finally being released in December 1955. It was later acquired by Jack H. Harris, who edited it and incorporated voice over narration by Ed McMahon before re-releasing it in 1957 under the alternate title Daughter of Horror.

Dementia was briefly released in 1953 before it was banned by the New York State Film Board, who deemed it "inhuman, indecent, and the quintessence of gruesomeness". Two years later, it was re-released in New York City on December 22, 1955, with four edits demanded by the censors. As a promotional stunt for the 1955 release, theater employees were required to submit medical examinations of patrons by "heart specialists" to assure that theatergoers would not be frightened to the point of harming their health.

Cast:

Adrienne Barrett as the Gamin

Bruno Ve Sota as Rich Man

Ben Roseman as Law Enforcer / Father

Richard Barron as Evil One

Edward Hinkle as Butler

Lucille Howland as Mother

Jebbie Ve Sota as Flower Girl

Faith Parker as Nightclub Dancer

Archive

Internet Archive, in Film noir

Licence or status

The Internet Archive states none for this item.

Credit

John Parker

Language

English

Subtitles

English

Who can watch

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