What!
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
John M. Old
Daliah Lavi
Christopher Lee
Tony Kendall
Isli Oberon
Harriet White
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
In the 19th century, sadistic Kurt Menliff returns to his father's castle, ending an exile imposed after his abandoned mistress Tania committed suicide. Count Menliff has recalled his wayward son at the request of Kurt's newly married brother Christian. Upon his arrival Tania's mother, the servant Giorgia, predicts quick retribution. Encountering Christian's bride, Nevenka, on the beach, Kurt whips her into unconsciousness. Shortly thereafter Kurt is found slain, the instrument of his death being the knife used by Tania. Following Kurt's interment in the family crypt, Count Menliff's mutilated body is discovered. The weapon used in his murder is again Tania's knife. Found whipped a second time, Nevenka asserts that Kurt is still alive, citing as evidence the bloody footprints leading to the crypt. Enraged, Christian enters the crypt intending to burn his brother's body. As he does so, the sound of Kurt's laughter is heard. The corpse, however, is decomposed beyond recognition. It is later revealed that Kurt's incubus has visited Nevenka nightly. Attempting to destroy the shade, Nevenka accidentally commits suicide. Following her death, she is unmasked as the assassin of Kurt and Count Menliff.
Director
John M. Old
Cast
Daliah Lavi
Christopher Lee
Tony Kendall
Isli Oberon
Harriet White
Dean Ardow
Alan Collins
Jacques Herlin
Crew
Julian Berry
Julian Berry
Peg Fax
Dick Grey
David Hamilton
Martin Hardy
Robert Hugo
Peter Jackson
Bob King
Jim Murphy
John Oscar
Richard G. Yates
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
'Christopher Lee' 's voice was dubbed by another actor for this film even though the film was shot in English.
Notes
Opened in Rome in August 1963 as La frusta e il corpo; in Paris in January 1966 as Le corps et le fouet; running time: 85 min; in Great Britain in 1965 as Night Is the Phantom; running time: 77 min. Pseudonyms include: John Oscar (Elio Scardamaglia), John M. Old (Mario Bava), Julian Berry (Ernesto Gastaldi), Robert Hugo (Ugo Guerra), Martin Hardy (Luciano Martino), David Hamilton (Ubaldo Terzano), Dick Grey (Ottavio Scotti), Bob King (Roberto Cinquini), Jim Murphy (Carlo Rustichelli), Tony Kendall (L. Stella), and Alan Collins (Luciano Pigozzi).
