Tales That Witness Madness (1973)

• Year: 1973
• Released: 31 Oct 1973
• Country: United Kingdom
• Adwords: 1 nomination
• IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070770/
• Rotten Tomatoes: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/tales_that_witness_madness
• Metacritics:
• Available in: 720p, 1080p,
• Language: English
• MPA Rating: R
• Genre: Horror
• Runtime: 90 min
• Writer: Jennifer Jayne
• Director: Freddie Francis
• Cast: Jack Hawkins, Donald Pleasence, Georgia Brown
• Keywords: tiger, tree, asylum, anthology, horror anthology,

	5.6/10
	29% – Critics
	29% – Audience

Tales That Witness Madness Storyline

In a late-night meeting at his modern asylum, Dr. Tremayne (Donald Pleasence) receives visiting colleague Nicholas (Jack Hawkins) and recounts the histories of four unusual patients whose cases he has solved. In “Mr. Tiger”, Paul (Russell Lewis), the sensitive young son of wealthy but constantly bickering parents, befriends an imaginary tiger. In “Penny Farthing”, antiques dealer Timothy (Peter McEnery) inherits a penny-farthing bicycle which seems to have time-travel capabilities, as overseen by the apparently haunted portrait of Uncle Albert (Frank Forsyth). In “Mel”, Brian (Michael Jayston) prominently displays a human-shaped dead tree in his home as a piece of found art, angering his jealous wife Bella (Dame Joan Collins). In “Luau”, flamboyant literary agent Auriol (Kim Novak) hosts new client Kimo (Michael Petrovitch). Despite Auriol’s overtures, he seems more interested in Auriol’s beautiful daughter Ginny (Mary Tamm). As Ginny leaves for a mysterious holiday, Kimo’s assistant helps Auriol prepare an elaborate luau for Kimo.

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Tales That Witness Madness Movie Reviews

A hugely enjoyable tongue-in-cheek British horror anthology hoot

Psychiatrist Dr. R.C. Tremayne (the always fine Donald Pleasence) and colleague Dr. Nicholas (Jack Hawkins in his final film role) investigate the case histories of four inmates being kept in an experimental asylum. 1st and most whimsical tale, “Mr. Tiger” – Little boy Paul Patterson (cute Russell Lewis) can’t convince his constantly bickering parents (played to snarky perfection by Georgia Brown and Donald Houston) that his “imaginary” tiger friend is actually real. 2nd and most offbeat yarn, “Penny Farthing” – Timothy Patrick (likable Peter McEnery) purchases an antique bicycle which enables him to go back in time to the Victorian era where he meets fair maiden Beatrice (the extremely charming and comely Suzy Kendall). 3rd and most perverse segment, “Mel” – Jeolous, possessive housewife Bella Thompson (the ever classy and lovely Joan Collins) becomes really upset when her husband Brian (solid Michael Jayston) becomes infatuated with a sensuous, but lethal sentient tree (!). 4th and most twisted vignette, “Luau” – Stuck-up rich lady Auriol Pageant (a wonderfully radiant Kim Novak) holds a big bash in which the surprise ingredient in the meat turns out to be none other than her sweet virginal daughter Virginia (the stunningly gorgeous Mary Tamm). Director Freddie Francis, working from a witty and inspired script by British fright film scream queen Jennifer Jayne, handles the macabre material with his customary crisp and polished assurance, punctuating the grisly anecdotes with a nice, dry line in quirky black humor and offering up a fair amount of gore. Norman Warwick’s slick, sparkling cinematography gives the picture an attractive glossy look. Bernard Ebbinghouse’s alternately groovy and spooky score likewise scores a bull’s eye. Deliciously droll fun.

A mixed horror anthology, average at best.

A Rolls-Royce pulls up outside some large metal gates. A sign on a wall next to the gates says ‘H.M. Prison Commission, Department of Psychiatric Medicine. Prof. R.C. Tremayne, MD Phd BSc’, basically it’s an asylum and Tremayne is in charge. Once past the gates and inside the building Dr. Nicholas (Jack Hawkins) congratulates his friend Dr. Tremayne (Donald Pleasence) on his breakthrough. They walk around the asylum and visit four patients who each have a story revolve around them. First up it’s a young boy named Paul (Russell Lewis) in a segment called ‘Mr. Tiger’.

Paul’s parents Faye (Georgia Brown) and Sam Patterson (Donald Houston) are always arguing. Paul’s tutor Phillipe (David Wood) tells Faye about Paul’s imaginary friend named ‘Mr. Tiger’ who is unsurprisingly a tiger. Obviously everyone thinks Paul is making it up. That is until Faye finds claw marks on a door…………

Nicholas and Tremayne then visit Timothy Patrick (Peter McEnery), which leads us into the second story called ‘Penny Farthing’.

Timothy’s Aunt has recently died and left him a lot of antiques for his shop which he runs with his wife Ann (Suzy Kendall). Included with the items are a photograph of Timothy’s stiff-upper lipped Uncle Albert (Frank Forsyth) and a penny farthing. While working late one night Timothy becomes possessed by Albert who makes him get on the penny farthing and start to peddle. This takes Timothy to another time and place, but for what possible reason………?

Next up it’s Brian (Micheal Jayston) and a short story called ‘Mel’.

While out running one day Brian finds a strangely and interestingly shaped log. He drags it home as he thinks he can ‘do something with it’. Much to the displeasure of his girlfriend Bella (Joan Collins). Brian becomes obsessed with it. But there seems to be something odd about the log, it’s almost as if it were alive. Eventually Bella decides either the log goes or she does, with unexpected results…….

Finally it’s Auriol Pageant (Kim Novak) and her segment is called ‘Luau’.

Auriol is expecting an important client, an author named Kimo (Micheal Petrovitch) and his assistant Keoki (Leon Lissek) to fly into the country. Auriol decides she has to show him a good time and impress. First of all she takes Kimo and Keoki out to dinner, along with Auriol’s daughter Virginia (Mary Tamm). Kimo then starts to take an unhealthy interest in Virginia’s personal life. Meanwhile Auriol is planning on having an Hawaiian party as a surprise for Kimo, and the centrepiece being a large pork roast. However, it soon becomes clear that Kimo and Keoki have their own ideas as to what type of meat should be served……….

Back at the asylum there is one final horrifying twist before the end credits roll. Directed by Freddie Francis I thought this was an average anthology and the individual stories themselves are a mixed bag to say the least. One of the problems is the script by Jennifer Jayne as Jay Fairbank. With an anthology film like this the segments need to be short and have a memorable twist at the end, in this case only the story called ‘Mel’ does. Mr. Tiger is very predictable, as soon as the word tiger is mentioned you know exactly what’s going to happen in the end and it’s not a surprise when it does. Penny farthing is just plain surreal and bizarre, there is no real explanation as to why Uncle Albert is possessing Timothy, it’s merely hinted at. This story also has a very weak ending, I was sitting there waiting for a twist or a startling plot revelation but neither came and it just sort of ended limply. Mel with Joan Collins is easily the best story and tries to have a nice twist at the end, and as a whole the story itself works well as a short and is entertaining to watch Joan battle it out with a tree stump for the affections of Brian. The final story is also really predictable as it starts with Kimo promising to preform a voodoo ritual with a human sacrifice, he turns up at Auriol’s house and takes an interest in her daughter Virginia. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out what’s going to happen does it? It’s generally well made as you would expect of British horror from the 70’s. There is no blood or gore in it and only a couple of brief scenes of nudity, one of which involves Joan Collins, but the camera never shows her face while her characters breasts are out. They probably used a body double. Acting is OK from everyone involved. Overall I didn’t think too much of it, it’s OK but not as good as many other horror anthologies like the House that Drpped Blood (1970), Asylum (1972), the Vault of Horror (1973) or even Creepshow (1982). Probably worth a watch if you can catch it on T.V. but not much else.

Kinda an Amicus film

This movie may look like an Amicus movie, but make no mistake. It isn’t. But I can’t blame anyone that thinks that it is, thanks to its cast and director, Freddie Francis. Its wraparound story is all mental hospital, where Dr. Tremayne (Donald Pleasence) tells Dr. Nicholas (Jack Hawkins, Theater of Blood) about four very special cases and how he solved them.

In the first story, Mr. Tiger, a young boy imagines a new best friend, a talking tiger. His parents argue constantly, so he uses that friend to try and escape.

The second tale – that witnesses madness – is Penny Farthing. Here, an antique store owner Timothy inherits an odd portrait and a penny farther bicycle from his aunt and uncle. Soon, he travels through time and romancing an earlier love interest of his uncle who looks exactly like his girlfriend in our time. That’s because they’re both played by Suzy Kendall (The Bird with the Crystal Plumage).

Mel, the third part of this film, concerns found object art that a man falls in love with, ignoring his wife Bella (Joan Collins!). Obviously, this man is a complete moron.

Finally, Luau is about a literary agent (Kim Novak, Vertigo) whose daughter is menaced by an author and his associate who plan on serving her daughter for dinner as an “earth pig.” Novak replaced Rita Heyworth, who was originally going to be in this part of the film.

Finally, the story is wrapped up when Dr. Nicholas tries to lock up Dr. Tremayne for being as insane as his patients. He’s soon eaten by the invisible tiger from earlier. Yep. That really happens.

Sadly, Jack Hawkins died soon after this movie wrapped due to complications from a surgery that was to give him an experimental voicebox. His dialogue is dubbed here by Charles Grey, the narrator of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

There are a few fun moments here, but if you haven’t enjoyed a British portmanteau horror before, this probably isn’t the one to start with.