Doomwatch (Original title)
Dates: 1972 (Copyright), 24 October 1971 (Production), 02 July 1972 (Release)Country: United KingdomDirected by: Peter Sasdy
Synopsis: Horror/mystery. The government anti-pollution group Doomwatch send Doctor Del Shaw to visit the island of Balfe, off the Cornish coast, to investigate the effects of oil pollution on coastal wildlife. There Shaw is treated with suspicion and even hostility by the locals. Shaw finds a body in a shallow grave in the woods, and investigates a dilapidated barn where he is attacked by a man with distorted features. While checking the local sealife, Shaw learns of a Ministry of Defence prohibited area off the island. Discovering that the Ministry have been using the Navy to dump cannisters in the sea there, Shaw investigates further and discovers that a company called Doran Chemicals have been dumping other cannisters in the area illegally. Radio-active leaks from the Ministry's cannisters have reacted with the chemical contents of Doran's cannisters to release hormone content into the sea which has infected the fish in the area. The islanders have, as a result, been contracting the distorting disease acromegaly from eating the fish. Shaw struggles to persuade the islanders to receive treatment, as they fear that the island community will die out while they are away being treated, and finally Shaw calls in the Doomwatch team to help evacuate the area.
Genre: Science Fiction
Subjects: Hormones, Congenital abnormalities, Islands, Scientists, Pollution, Fish (animals), Royal Navy, Ministry of Defence
Releases
Date: 1972Country: United KingdomRelease type: unknownFormat: 35mm Film - Colour - SoundRuntime: 92 mins Length: 8272 FeetDialogue (original): English
Date: October 2014Country: United KingdomRelease type: InternetFormat: not specified - Colour - SoundRuntime: 92 mins Dialogue (original): EnglishDistributor: BFIPlayer
Title: [Cinema TV Today - n9972 18 Mar 1972: no known title]Language: English
In: Monthly Film Bulletin v39 n459 April 1972 Page: 70
Title: [Monthly Film Bulletin - v39 n459 April 1972: no known title]Language: English
In: Today's Cinema n9953 2 Nov 1971 Page: 8
Title: [Today's Cinema - n9953 2 Nov 1971: no known title]Article type: CreditsLanguage: English
Description: Credits.
Author: BAYMAN, Louis Pages: xiii, 249 pages
Film, Video or Digital materials held in BFI National Archive(12)
Accessible materials to view(2)
Description: MP4 - LTO5MPEG-4 AVC - BFI identifier: N-352953
Status: Viewing - Digital file can be accessed on request
Description: MP4 - LTO5MPEG-4 AVC - BFI identifier: N-352953-2
Status: Viewing - Digital file can be accessed on request
Digital materials(8)
Description: DPX - LTO5BFI identifier: N-352913
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved digital file
Description: WAV - LTO5BFI identifier: N-352969
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved digital file
Description: DPX - LTO5BFI identifier: N-352913-2
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved digital file
Description: WAV - LTO5BFI identifier: N-352969-2
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved digital file
Description: MOV - LTO5ProRes 422 (HQ) - BFI identifier: N-352933
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved digital file
Description: MP4 - LTO5MPEG-4 AVC - BFI identifier: N-352953
Status: Viewing - Digital file can be accessed on request
Description: MOV - LTO5ProRes 422 (HQ) - BFI identifier: N-352933-2
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved digital file
Description: MP4 - LTO5MPEG-4 AVC - BFI identifier: N-352953-2
Status: Viewing - Digital file can be accessed on request
Film materials(4)
Description: 35mm Colour PositiveBase: SafetySound: CombinedStock date: 1972BFI identifier: C-515534
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm Colour PositiveBase: SafetySound: CombinedStock date: 1974BFI identifier: N-3610789
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm Colour PositiveBase: SafetySound: CombinedStock date: 1972BFI identifier: N-3611357
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm Dupe NegativeBase: SafetySound: SoundBFI identifier: C-965880
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Dates: 1972 (Copyright), 24 October 1971 (Production), 02 July 1972 (Release)Country: United KingdomDirected by: Peter Sasdy
Synopsis: Horror/mystery. The government anti-pollution group Doomwatch send Doctor Del Shaw to visit the island of Balfe, off the Cornish coast, to investigate the effects of oil pollution on coastal wildlife. There Shaw is treated with suspicion and even hostility by the locals. Shaw finds a body in a shallow grave in the woods, and investigates a dilapidated barn where he is attacked by a man with distorted features. While checking the local sealife, Shaw learns of a Ministry of Defence prohibited area off the island. Discovering that the Ministry have been using the Navy to dump cannisters in the sea there, Shaw investigates further and discovers that a company called Doran Chemicals have been dumping other cannisters in the area illegally. Radio-active leaks from the Ministry's cannisters have reacted with the chemical contents of Doran's cannisters to release hormone content into the sea which has infected the fish in the area. The islanders have, as a result, been contracting the distorting disease acromegaly from eating the fish. Shaw struggles to persuade the islanders to receive treatment, as they fear that the island community will die out while they are away being treated, and finally Shaw calls in the Doomwatch team to help evacuate the area.
Genre: Science Fiction
Subjects: Hormones, Congenital abnormalities, Islands, Scientists, Pollution, Fish (animals), Royal Navy, Ministry of Defence
Releases
Date: 1972Country: United KingdomRelease type: unknownFormat: 35mm Film - Colour - SoundRuntime: 92 mins Length: 8272 FeetDialogue (original): English
Date: October 2014Country: United KingdomRelease type: InternetFormat: not specified - Colour - SoundRuntime: 92 mins Dialogue (original): EnglishDistributor: BFIPlayer
Credits
(27)
©: Tigon British Film Productions Ltd., Made by: Tigon British Film Productions Ltd., Produced by: Tony Tenser, Production Manager: Jack Causey, Location Manager: Jim Brennan, Assistant Director: Derek Whitehurst, Continuity: Doreen Soan, Final Screenplay by: Clive Exton, "Doomwatch" [Original Series] by: Kit Pedler, Gerry Davis, Director of Photography: Kenneth Talbot, Camera Operator: Ron Maasz, Focus Puller: Ron Anscombe, Editor: Keith Palmer, Art Director: Colin Grimes, Construction Manager: Ken Softley, Wardrobe Master: John Hilling, Make-up Supervisor: Tom Smith, Hairdressing Supervisor: Ann McFadyen, [Film] Processed by: Rank Film Laboratories, Music Composed and Conducted by: John Scott, Sound Recordist: Ron Barron, Sound Editor: Michael Hopkins, Dubbing Mixer: Ken Barker, Scientific Adviser: Dr. Kit Pedler, Made at: Pinewood Studios
Cast
(31)
Ian Bannen (Doctor Del Shaw), Judy Geeson (Victoria Brown), John Paul (Doctor Spencer Quist), Simon Oates (Doctor John Ridge), Jean Trend (Doctor Fay Chantry), Joby Blanshard (Bradley), Percy Herbert (Constable Hartwell), Shelagh Fraser (Mrs Straker), Geoffrey Keen (Sir Henry Leyton), Joseph O'Conor (vicar), Norman Bird (Brewer, Doran Chemicals boss), Constance Chapman (Miss Johnson, landlady), Michael Brennan (Tom Straker), James Cosmo (Bob Gillette, boat owner from mainland), George Sanders (Sir Geoffrey, the admiral), Cyril Cross (George), Geoff L'cise (Don), George Woodbridge (ferry skipper), Jerome Willis (Lieutenant Commander Tavener), Jeremy Child (David Broome, Leyton's aide), Brian Anthony (Brian Murray), Rita Davies (Mrs Murray), Walter Turner (Mr Murray), Paddy Ryan (grandfather Murray), Reg Lever (Sam), James Mellor (1st man (in cap and white rollneck at town meeting)), Eammon Boyce (2nd man (with moustache and hat at town meeting)), Paul Humpoletz (3rd man (with moustache and cap at town meeting)), Pam St. Clement (young woman (at town meeting)), Katherine Parr (middle-aged woman (in shawl at town meeting)), George Blanshard
Articles held in BFI Reuben Library
(3)
In: Cinema TV Today n9972 18 Mar 1972 Page: 25Title: [Cinema TV Today - n9972 18 Mar 1972: no known title]Language: English
In: Monthly Film Bulletin v39 n459 April 1972 Page: 70
Title: [Monthly Film Bulletin - v39 n459 April 1972: no known title]Language: English
In: Today's Cinema n9953 2 Nov 1971 Page: 8
Title: [Today's Cinema - n9953 2 Nov 1971: no known title]Article type: CreditsLanguage: English
Description: Credits.
Books held in BFI Reuben Library
(1)
Title: Folk horror on film: return of the British repressedAuthor: BAYMAN, Louis Pages: xiii, 249 pages
Film, Video or Digital materials held in BFI National Archive(12)
Accessible materials to view(2)
Description: MP4 - LTO5MPEG-4 AVC - BFI identifier: N-352953
Status: Viewing - Digital file can be accessed on request
Description: MP4 - LTO5MPEG-4 AVC - BFI identifier: N-352953-2
Status: Viewing - Digital file can be accessed on request
Digital materials(8)
Description: DPX - LTO5BFI identifier: N-352913
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved digital file
Description: WAV - LTO5BFI identifier: N-352969
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved digital file
Description: DPX - LTO5BFI identifier: N-352913-2
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved digital file
Description: WAV - LTO5BFI identifier: N-352969-2
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved digital file
Description: MOV - LTO5ProRes 422 (HQ) - BFI identifier: N-352933
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved digital file
Description: MP4 - LTO5MPEG-4 AVC - BFI identifier: N-352953
Status: Viewing - Digital file can be accessed on request
Description: MOV - LTO5ProRes 422 (HQ) - BFI identifier: N-352933-2
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved digital file
Description: MP4 - LTO5MPEG-4 AVC - BFI identifier: N-352953-2
Status: Viewing - Digital file can be accessed on request
Film materials(4)
Description: 35mm Colour PositiveBase: SafetySound: CombinedStock date: 1972BFI identifier: C-515534
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm Colour PositiveBase: SafetySound: CombinedStock date: 1974BFI identifier: N-3610789
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm Colour PositiveBase: SafetySound: CombinedStock date: 1972BFI identifier: N-3611357
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm Dupe NegativeBase: SafetySound: SoundBFI identifier: C-965880
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film