Bert I. GordonTormented (1960)

You can find more information regarding this film on its IMDb page.

This item is part of the collection: Sci-Fi / Horror

Director: Bert I. Gordon
Producer: Bert I. Gordon
Production Company: Allied Artists Pictures Corporation
Audio/Visual: sound, b&w

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: carla_ - - February 3, 2008
Subject: Plot Summary (IMDB variety)

from IMDB:

On an island community off of
California, Tom Stewart is preparing
to marry the woman he loves. His plans
are threatened by his old girlfriend,
Vi, who shows up secretly. During a
confrontation at the top of the island's
lighthouse, the railing breaks and Vi
falls. Tom has a chance to save her but
doesn't. Tom's relief at Vi's accident
soon fades when her vengeful spirit begins
showing up wherever he goes.

-Written by C. Robert Stevens {crstevens@mail.utexas.edu}

Reviewer: jimelena - - October 24, 2006
Subject: Save me

"Save me", is the line you hear over and again in this movie, ironically enough.
There are lots of lines that describe the movie in the movie; "This can't be good" for example.
Still it's so campy you have to see it.

Reviewer: SPOOKYTOM - - April 30, 2006
Subject: Tormented (1960)

This is without doubt the best quality print of this movie I have seen. Much better that the DVD release and a pretty decent story.

Reviewer: JoeCinema - - September 3, 2005
Subject: Another Review

Jazz pianist Tom Stewart (Richard Carlson) tries to break it off with his lover, a desperate, brassy barroom singer named Vi (Julie Reding). She is incensed at being ditched in favor of Tom's wealthy young fiancée, and threatens to tell all about their affair in hopes of derailing the wedding. Their emotional quarrel takes place in the tower of an abandoned lighthouse, and when the railing breaks and Vi is hanging on for dear life, Tom consciously withdraws his helping hand, and she plummets to the sea. Though he reasons to himself that he did not actually take her life, Tom is aware of his part in her death, and he tries to ignore the guilt. But Vi's ghost will not rest, and is intent on making herself heard; not only that, but a blackmailing beatnik knows too much for Tom to let him live. Tormented is a fine B-grade chiller that overcomes some hokey effects and budgetary blemishes to tell a fun, fast-paced tale of morality and mayhem. Richard Carlson is a little old for his intended bride (he appears to be sucking in his gut through most of the picture), and his wooden expression never changes, whether he's practicing the piano or stuffing his dead girlfriend's disembodied head into a bag. His character is such a crumb that there's great satisfaction in watching his life fall apart, and the audience is sure to root for the ghostly Vi and cheer on her supernatural pranks. Mystery Science Theater 3000 fans will know Tormented already (see episode #414), though there's certainly other films far more deserving of their sarcasm, and director Bert I. Gordon is himself responsible for a bushelful. Tormented can be found unmolested as a special feature of the Monsters Crash the Pajama Party: Spook Show Spectacular DVD.

Reviewer: max_von_mayerling - - April 14, 2005
Subject: American Tragedy 50s Style --Cyde Griffith as Andre Previn?

I'm surprised that no one has had anything to say about this gem. I'll say something now in order to give it some of the attention it deserves.

This film has a great campy 50's feel. The protagonist is a cool jazz-pianist living on an island with a light-house. His troubles begin when he dumps his jazz-singing girlfriend for a woman with a spooky little girl. The singer is really a lot sexier than the woman with the little girl, so maybe the jazz-pianist's troubles begin a bit earlier.... Bad taste in women?

There are some great (funny) melodramatic moments, as when the singer threatens to expose the pianist by publishing his letters. After giving this salvo time to register, she asks to "see the light," or something to that effect. He shows it to her all right.

Very fifties-Freudian. She leans against the railing, while ranting & railing. It breaks, she falls, with a great scream -- but dangles for a moment while he deliberates whether or not to save her. Will he, or won't he? What about those letters? We all know what happens.

The rest of the film describes his "torment," by guilt or an actual ghost. Most of the tension is over our not knowing which. At first it looks like he's merely hallucinating. Then others start to see the same things. Are the phenomena real, or are they hallucinating too? Or is everything one big hallucination in the jazz-pianist's tormented mind?

A lot of "torment" all around. Also a lot of typically repressed sex. The jazz pianist spends the first half of the movie in bathing trunks, though the beach doesn't look especially good for swimming (too rocky). I only wish I had his hair (white gloves and swimming trunks don't match, however). The singer has a pretty good figure too. They're both offset by the little girl, the fiance's daughter, a spooky chit if ever there was one.

The movie also features a nice jazzy score by Alber Glasser. Also, some interesting bit parts, like the messenger who attempts to blackmail the pianist. He seems more "hep" -- jazzier -- than the pianist himself, a lot cooler. Maybe that's why he's on to him....

Interesting trash. Actually a lot more interesting than most "high quality" stuff. How come?