TITLE:<\/strong> Tales That Witness Madness
YEAR RELEASED:<\/strong> 1973
DIRECTOR:<\/strong> Freddie Francis
CAST:<\/strong> Kim Novak, Joan Collins, Jack Hawkins, Donald Houston, Michael Jayston, Suzy Kendall, Peter McEnery, Michael Petrovich, Donald Pleasance<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Review of Tales that Witness Madness 1973<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A relatively late-in-the-day attempt to cash in on the success of the Amicus portmanteaus<\/a>, this entered the market as that particular cycle was coming to an end. It’s curious in a way that Amicus didn’t have more imitators, since the business model for their multi-story films seemed a no-brainer, as related by producer Max J. Rosenberg. The company could get top bracket actors and pay them top dollar, as they would only require their services for a few days. With that many star names on the poster, you couldn’t fail to get the punter’s attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking to emulate this model for success, a company called World Film Services entered the fray with Tales That Witness Madness, calling on reliable hand Freddie Francis to direct from a script by Jay Fairbank (aka actress Jennifer Jayne), whose only other script to see the light of day was the ill fated spoof Son Of Dracula (1974)<\/a>, also helmed by Francis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the film’s linking segments, a psychiatrist (Donald Pleasance<\/a>) explains to a disbelieving colleague (Jack Hawkins) how he has solved four complex cases, in what may be an aping of the central premise of Asylum (1972)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first patient is a young boy (Russell Lewis), who, in what appears to be a reaction to the constant bickering of his parents, conjures up an imaginary friend named Mr. Tiger, and who turns out to be just that. He may also be not quite as imaginary as everyone seems to think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second tale centres around a mysterious penny farthing bicycle, left to antique shop owner Peter McEnery by his aunt, along with a strange portrait of Uncle Arthur (Frank Forsyth). Upon riding the bicycle, McEnery is transported back in time, and appears to take the place of Arthur in a past courtship with Suzy Kendall. As the visits to days gone by become more frequent, the life of McEnery’s girlfriend (also played by Suzy Kendall) is put into danger. This segment perhaps has the best potential, but is let down by feeling too rushed and inadequately developed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Story number three presents one of the more unlikely m\u00e9nage \u00e0 trois to be committed to celluloid, as Michael Jayston is tempted from the arms of his missus (Joan Collins), by of all things a seemingly dead tree. (You can insert your own joke about wooden acting here. I can wait.) Needless to say, Ms. Collins isn’t too happy about this marital arrangement, but the tree (named Mel!) isn’t too happy about Joanie’s presence either…<\/p>

\n