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Two on a Guillotine (23-Jan-1965)

Director: William Conrad

Writers: John Kneubuhl; Henry Slesar

Keywords: Mystery

NameOccupationBirthDeathKnown for
Parley Baer
Actor
5-Aug-1914 22-Nov-2002 Chester on Gunsmoke radio
Connie Gilchrist
Actor
17-Jul-1895 3-Mar-1985 Character actress
Virginia Gregg
Actor
6-Mar-1916 15-Sep-1986 Radio actress
John Hoyt
Actor
5-Oct-1905 15-Sep-1991 Attack of the Puppet People
Dean Jones
Actor
25-Jan-1931 1-Sep-2015 That Darn Cat!
Cesar Romero
Actor
15-Feb-1907 1-Jan-1994 The Joker on Batman
Connie Stevens
Singer
8-Aug-1938   Hawaiian Eye

CAST

Connie Stevens   ...   Cassie/Melinda Duquesne
Dean Jones   ...   Val Henderson
Cesar Romero   ...   John Duquesne
Parley Baer   ...   Buzz Sheridan
Virginia Gregg   ...   Dolly Bast
Connie Gilchrist   ...   Ramona Ryerdon
John Hoyt   ...   Carl Vickers
Russell Thorson   ...   Mr. Carmichael (editor)

REVIEWS

Review by Brian Chic (posted on 9-Jun-2007)

In the early to mid-sixties, William Conrad directed two fright films for Warner Brothers: TWO ON A GUILLOTINE and MY BLOOD RUNS COLD. By all means, stick to the former. I won't lie, GUILLOTINE isn't and never really has been a good movie. Still, it holds a special place in the hearts of the kiddos who, if they missed its theatrical run, caught it later on CBS Friday Night At The Movies. The Great Duquesne, an old-fashioned sartorially perfect stage magician (Caesar Romero), has died. His estranged daughter, Cassie (Connie Stevens), in order to legally inherit the estate, must spend a spooky week there. Not to be TOO "alone", she is befriended by reporter Val Henderson (Dean Jones). Among the eyebrow-raisers one might anticipate in a late magician's mansion are, among other things, half a skeleton which sails down suspended on a wire, a curious white, live bunny rabbit given to appearing and vanishing at will, and that reliable old chestnut - "the locked room at the top of the stairs". Mr. Conrad, an obvious fan of Hitchcock, takes a few tips from PSYCHO: It's filmed in black & white, he casts Virginia (Norman Bates' mom's voice) Gregg in a part, and puts himself in as a "cameo" in the carnival scene. The story gets only as involved as its length will permit, but we are treated to a surprisingly capable supporting cast of veterans including: Connie Gilchrist, Parley Baer, Jon Lormer, Richard Kiel, ... hey - even Billy Curtis with his trademark cigar. As chills go, the mansion and a few gimmicks aren't half-bad and the music was largely memorable and helpful. Unfortunately, when the film didn't do the boxoffice Mr. Conrad expected, he blamed the composer - None other than Max Steiner (THE BEAST WITH FIVE FINGERS, the original 1933 KING KONG). Expectedly, Steiner considered this the last straw and it's said this was the (by his choice) last assignment he ever composed. While I'm not overly fond of the term, TWO ON A GUILLOTINE has become something of a cult classic. For those interested in camp horror fare, Steiner aficianados, sixties-style fashion, or just plain seeing Dean Jones and Connie Stevens in something other than a Disney film of the time, you can't miss. I rate this three stars.


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