Vincent Price

Essy Persson

Hilary Dwyer

Carl Rigg

Stephan Chase

Marshall Jones

Andrew McCulloch

Michael Elphick

Pamela Moiseiwitsch

Joyce Mandre

Robert Hutton

Guy Deghy

Elisabeth Bergner

Patrick Mower

Pamela Farbrother

Quinn O'Hara

Jane Deady

Hugh Griffith

Jan Rossini

Sally Geeson

Godfrey James

Gertan Klauber

Peter Benson

Richard Everett

Louis Selwyn

Micky Baker

Carol Desmond

Ann Barrass

Nancy Meckler

Hugh Portnow

Stephen Rea

Maurice Colbourne

Dinah Stabb

Tony Sibbald

Neil Johnston

Rowan Wylie

Tim Thomas

Ron Sahewk

Maya Roth

Philippa Howell

Guy Pierce

Gordon Hessler

Louis M. Heyward

Oswald Hafenrichter

Les Baxter

John Coquillon

Samuel Z. Arkoff

Christopher Wicking

Salvatore Billitteri

Kevin Sutton

Zelda Barron

Scott Slimon

Les Young

Bill Miller

Dora Lloyd

Peter Lodge

Ean Wood

Al Simms

Tim Kelly

Clifford Parkes

George Provis

Ariel Levy

Wilfred Josephs

Ivy Emmerton

Tom Smith

Betty Blattner

Horror

Cry of the Banshee

American International Pictures

United Kingdom

English

Though it has its faults, this is a fine and enjoyable film from Vincent Price's Boxed Set III. It has a great and suitable ending as well. You'll especially be fond of this if you appreciated Price's diabolical character, slightly earlier, in 'The Conquering Worm'--it's a very similar shade from Price's acting palette.

***Madness in post-Medieval England with Vincent Price and Hilary Dwyer/Heath***

In Britain during the 1500s a cruel magistrate (Vincent Price) tortures & kills those he deems guilty of witchcraft with the help of his corrupt sons and they take pompous delight in it. This earns the ire of Oona, a witch leader, who conjures a sídhe that masquerades as a man to slay the official’s wicked family one-by-one.  

“Cry of the Banshee” (1970) is an American International  production (similar to Hammer horror) with the vibe of “Conqueror Worm,” aka “Witchfinder General” (1968), and “The Curse of the Werewolf” (1961), but lacking the finesse of both. It also shares a couple of the stars of the former film, Price and the demure, but mind-blowingly alluring Hilary Dwyer (Heath).    

Since the banshee or bean sídhe (from the Old Irish ban síde) means "woman of the sídhe" has come to denote ANY mystical FEMALE of Irish Isle who proclaims an imminent death by wailing and keening, I’m assuming that the witch Oona is the titular banshee. After all, the person that ends up doing the actual killing is a possessed DUDE or a demon masquerading as a DUDE.

While it’s hindered by a peculiar vibe and puzzling script (that makes more sense as the story proceeds), “Cry of the Banshee” is a must for fans of Price and Hilary Dwyer/Heath (as well as Patrick Mower), not to mention those who appreciate dark Medieval flicks that tackle witchcraft & witch-hunting with the required staples, like dirty Middle Age villages, torture chambers, eerie forests, satanic rituals, haughty lords, suffering serfs, etc. The serious, creepy tone involving twisted characters is a plus.

The film runs 1 hour and 31 minutes and was shot in Middlesex, England.

GRADE: B-/C+

Cry of the Banshee ≣ 1970 ≣ Trailer

Cry of the Banshee 1970 TV trailer

Gorden Hessler Interview #1 - Cry of the Banshee (1970)

Cry Of The Banshee (1970) - Official Trailer

Cry of the Banshee

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