Bedlam (film)

Infobox Film
name = Bedlam


image_size = 215px
caption = theatrical poster
director = Mark Robson
producer = Val Lewton
writer = William Hogarth
("A Rake's Progress")
Val Lewton
Mark Robson
narrator =
starring = Boris Karloff
Anna Lee
Billy House
music = Roy Webb
cinematography = Nicholas Musuraca
editing = Lyle Boyer
distributor = RKO Radio Pictures
released = 10 May fy|1946
runtime = 79 minutes
country = FilmUS
language = English
budget =
gross =
imdb_id = 0038343

"Bedlam" (fy|1946) is a film starring Boris Karloff and Anna Lee, and was the last in a series of stylish B films produced by Val Lewton for RKO Radio Pictures. The film was inspired by William Hogarth's "A Rake's Progress", and Hogarth was given a writing credit.cite web
last = Lineberger
first = Rob
title = Review: Isle Of The Dead / Bedlam
work = DVD Verdict
date = 2005-10-24
url = http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/isledeadbedlam.php
accessdate = 2008-01-31]

Plot

Set in 1761 London, England, the film focuses on events at St. Mary's of Bethlehem Asylum, a fictionalized version of Bethlem Royal Hospital, also known as "Bedlam". After an acquaintance of aristocrat Lord Mortimer dies in an attempt to escape from the asylum, apothecary general Master George Sims (played by Karloff, a fictionalized version of an infamous head physician at Bethlem, John Monro) appeases Mortimer by having his "loonies" put on a show for him. Mortified by the treatment of the patients, Mortimer's protege Nell Bowen (Lee) seeks the help of Whig politician John Wilks to reform the asylum. Mortimer and Sims conspire to committ Nell to the asylum, where her initial fears of the fellow inmates do not sway her sympathetic commitment to improving their conditions. Frustrated by Nell's progress with the inmates, Sims threatens her with his strongest "cure" but his attempt is thwarted by the very inmates that Nell helped. Ultimately, Sims is deposed and Nell is rescued by her Quaker friend who had counseled her through the whole process.

Cast

* Boris Karloff as Master George Sims
* Anna Lee as Nell Bowen
* Billy House as Lord Mortimer
* Richard Fraser as Hannay
* Glen Vernon as The Gilded Boy
* Ian Wolfe as Sidney Long
* Jason Robards Sr. as Oliver Todd
* Leyland Hodgson as John Wilkes
* Joan Newton as Dorothea the Dove
* Elizabeth Russell as Mistress Sims

Cast notes
*Elizabeth Russell, the sister-in-law of Rosalind Russell, was a regular in films produced by Val Lewton, appearing in "Cat People" (fy|1942), its sequel "The Curse of the Cat People" (fy|1944), "The Seventh Victim" (fy|1943) and "Youth Runs Wild" fy|1944. [IMDB [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0751131/ Elizabeth Russell (I)] ]

Releases

The film has been released on DVD by Warner Bros. as part of a double release with "Isle Of The Dead" and as part of the "Val Lewton Horror Collection". [cite news
last = Scapperotti
first = Dan
title = Out of the SHADOWS
work = Fangoria
publisher = Starlog Group
date = 2008-01-08
url = http://www.fangoria.com/fearful_feature.php?id=5704
accessdate = 2008-01-31] It features a commentary by film historian Tom Weaver.

ee also

* Boris Karloff filmography

Notes

External links

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