Michael_Elliott Hysteria (1965) ** (out of 4) Nice direction and fine performances can't save this Hammer thriller, which owes a few things to fellow Britishman Alfred Hitchcock. Chris Smith (Robert Webber) wakes up after a near fatal car crash and realizes that he can't remember a thing about himself. After getting out of the hospital he tries to learn about his past and starts with a magazine photo he had of a woman. It turns out this woman was brutally murdered but soon Chris sees the woman and something just isn't right. HYSTERIA owes a lot to VERTIGO and if you're seen that Hitchcock movie then this here is just going to feel like a very cheap rip-off. Around the fifteen-minute mark I realized that there were only two ways this story could work out. There was going to be a true way or there was going to be a cheat. I won't reveal which one actually happens but I found this film to be well made but its story was just so lazy and boring that I often found myself losing focus. Director Freddie Fisher does a very good job keeping the film moving at a nice pace and this here is something that's pretty hard to do when the story is boring. He also brings a nice touch of style to the scenes but there's only so much he can do. Webber, best known for his role in 12 ANGRY MEN, offers up a good and believable performance as does supporting players Anthony Newlands, Lelia Goldoni and Jennifer Jayne. The biggest criticism would have to go to the jazz music score, which is so wrong for this picture that I'm amazed that no one cut it. If you've ever seen a silent picture from a cheap public domain company you know they'll just throw any jazz score on it even if it doesn't fit the picture. Well, it seems like Hammer did that here.

whpratt1 Always enjoy the acting of Robert Webber, (Chris Smith),"Twelve Angry Men" who gets himself in a car accident and is unable to remember anything about himself or where he came from. Chris is an American in England and finds himself in a hospital being treated by a British Doctor, named Dr. Keller, (Anthony Newlands). Dr. Keller does everything he can for Chris and informs Chris he has a penthouse to go to and can live there until he gets well with all expenses paid by the person who caused the accident. Chris enjoys his new surroundings, but he has no one to visit him except his nurse who is a good looker and she has fallen in love with Chris, which he is not aware of. The story has many twists and turns and Chris begins to think he is crazy or has lost his mind. Gina McConnell, (Jennifer Jayne) plays the sexy nurse and there is another gal who keeps Chris quite busy. Enjoy.

Boba_Fett1138 This is an unusual little surprise from the Hammer Studio's and horror director Freddie Francis. It's a thriller in the style of Hitchcock.The movie and story are well constructed and there are quite some plot twists and mysterious elements in the movie. It truly leaves you guessing till the end so fans of the genre will be absolutely delighted.However the movie notably tries to create a film-noir kind of atmosphere and story and characters. It fails in it mainly because the backdrop of this movie, London, simply is no New York, Chicago or San Fransisco. Also director's Freddie Francis inexperience with this genre doesn't help much. It's too bad because the movie and certainly story were already good enough on it's own, it didn't needed extra style and atmosphere.The actors do their jobs well and they are believable enough in their roles. The cinematography by John Wilcox is also truly great at times. Director Freddie Francis himself of course also was a much famed director of photography and later did some well known movies such as; "The Elephant Man", "Glory" and "Cape Fear (1991)". So his skill almost certainly had something to do with the at times great cinematography in this movie.The Jazzy musical score of the movie however was awful. There are only two things I hate in this world; hospital clowns and Jazz. So, yes obviously I'm biased of course.A very surprising, watchable thriller.7/10http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

carlin4737 I really liked this film, lots of suspense with an interesting story line full of twists and turns as the plot unfolds.I quickly recorded this on late night TV in the UK without knowing anything about it just because i seen it listed as a hammer film and seen it stared Robert Webber who i knew from "12 Angry Men". I thought that would make a interesting combination but when you think of the kind of films that Hammer are more well known for this dose`nt quite fit in now that i`ve seen it. But i`m glad i did record it.What i like about it is Robert Webber seems to be going mad but is he? is he going mad or are we being made to think he is going mad? more to the point is someone trying to make him think he is mad ..... try and find a copy and find out, fans of psychological mysteries will love this one.