The Curse of the Fly is a 1965 British science fiction, horror film directed by Don Sharp. It is the third installment in the iconic "The Fly" film series. While the film didn't receive as much recognition or success as its predecessors, it still managed to attract some well-known celebrities to the cast. One of the notable celebrities in The Curse of the Fly is Brian Donlevy, who plays the character of Henri Delambre. Donlevy was a well-established actor with a successful career in both film and television. His presence in the film added a level of credibility and familiarity to the project.
The sequel film Return Of The Fly 1959 was the first film I watched on a local television show called Horror House. The footage of the fly crashing through the glass lab case sparked a conversation with my friends the next day on the bus. I later found out through the pages of Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine that the series had a third film that rounded out the story.
Oddly Curse of the Fly 1965 was rarely seen as it was the only entry in the Fly film trilogy that did not receive a video release till 2007, when it was in a boxed set with the original series. Martin s brother Albert Graham mans the London receiving station but wishes to terminate the teleportation project and escape the obsession that has driven his grandfather, his father and his brother.
His presence in the film added a level of credibility and familiarity to the project. Another celebrity in the film is Carole Gray, who portrayed the character of Patricia Stanley. Gray was a British actress known for her work in various genres, including horror films.
Curse of the Fly
Martin Delambre (Baker) is driving to Montreal one night when he sees a young girl by the name of Patricia Stanley (Gray) running in her underwear. They fall in love and are soon married. However, they both hold secrets: she has recently escaped from a mental asylum; he and his father Henri (Donlevy) are engaged in radical experiments in teleportation, which have already had horrific consequences. Martin also suffers recessive fly genes which cause him to age rapidly and he needs a serum to keep him young.
In a rambling mansion in rural Quebec, Martin and Henri have successfully teleported people between there and London. However, previous failures resulted in horribly disfigured and insane victims who are locked in the stables. Martin's first wife is one of them, as are Samuels and Dale, two men who had worked as the Delambres' assistants. Martin's brother Albert (Graham) mans the London receiving station but wishes to terminate the teleportation project and escape the obsession that has driven his grandfather, his father and his brother.
The police and the headmistress of the asylum trace Patricia to the Delambre estate, where they learn that she has married Martin, but it is soon discovered that he had a previous wife whom he did not divorce. Inspector Charas, who had investigated Andre Delambre and is now an old man in the hospital, tells Inspector Ronet about the Delambre family and their experiments.
As the police begin to close in, a mixture of callousness and madness afflicts the Delambres, and they decide to abandon their work and eliminate the evidence of their failures. They subdue and teleport Samuels and Dale, but upon reintegration in London the two men are fused into a single writhing mass. Albert is horrified at the sight and kills the thing with an axe, destroying the teleportation equipment in the process. Tai and Wan ( Yvette Rees ), a Chinese couple who had been helping the Delambres, have had enough and leave the Quebec estate.
Henri convinces Martin that they must send the unconscious Patricia to London and then follow in order to escape from the police. Martin resists, afraid that she might be harmed, so Henri volunteers to go first. Martin sends Henri to London, unaware that Albert has destroyed the reintegration equipment. Henri does not rematerialize and is lost. Realizing what has happened, Albert leaves the lab, sobbing, and is not seen again.
Inspector Ronet arrives at the estate, passing Tai and Wan as they drive away. Patricia awakens in the teleportation chamber but escapes before the transmission sequence is complete. Martin pursues her but starts aging again. Without his serum he quickly dies, sprawled across the front seat of his car. Soon after, Ronet finds him reduced to a skeleton, and he escorts the badly shaken Patricia back into the house.
Her involvement in The Curse of the Fly helped attract horror film fans and added to the film's appeal. George Baker, who played the character of Martin Delambre, is another notable celebrity in the film. Baker was a British actor who had previous experience in both film and theater. His performance in The Curse of the Fly showcased his acting skills and added depth to the character he portrayed. Lastly, Yvette Rees, who played the character of Philippe Delambre, was a lesser-known actress at the time. However, her portrayal in the film demonstrated her talent and potential as an actress. Overall, while The Curse of the Fly may not have been as successful as its predecessors, it still managed to attract some notable celebrities to the cast. Their presence added credibility, familiarity, and depth to the project, further enhancing the overall viewing experience for audiences..
Reviews for "The Fly's Mark: The Eerie Connection Between Celebrities and the Curse"
1. John Smith - 2 stars
I found "The Celebrities in the Curse of the Fly" to be quite disappointing. The plot was convoluted and hard to follow, and the characters lacked depth and development. It seemed like the filmmakers relied too heavily on the star power of the celebrities involved, neglecting to focus on creating a compelling story. Additionally, the special effects were subpar, making the film feel dated and even a bit cheesy. Overall, I would not recommend this film to others.
2. Emily Johnson - 1 star
"The Celebrities in the Curse of the Fly" was a complete waste of my time. The acting was wooden and unconvincing, and it felt like the celebrities were only interested in cashing their paycheck rather than delivering a quality performance. The dialogue was uninspired and filled with cliches, making it difficult to become invested in the story. The film lacked any originality and failed to bring anything new or exciting to the table. Save yourself the trouble and skip this one.
3. David Thompson - 2 stars
I had high hopes for "The Celebrities in the Curse of the Fly," but unfortunately, it fell flat. The pacing was slow, and the plot felt disjointed and confusing. The celebrity cameos sprinkled throughout the film felt forced and unnecessary, adding nothing of value to the overall story. The special effects were outdated and laughable, making it hard to take the film seriously. Overall, I was left underwhelmed and disappointed with this movie.