Night Tide

"Temptress from the sea… loving… killing!"

1961 1h 24m EN

😐

6.4

MID

🍅

86%

FRESH

⭐

6.4

IMDB

★6.4TMDB · 110🍅86%Rotten Tomatoes★6.4IMDB · 4,260

RomanceMysteryHorrorThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A young sailor is enamored with a mysterious woman performing as a mermaid on the local pier. As their existences become entwined, he comes to suspect the woman might be a real mermaid who lures men to a watery death during the full moon.

“Temptress from the sea… loving… killing!”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Dennis Hopper
Johnny Drake
Linda Lawson
Mora
Gavin Muir
Capt. Samuel Murdock
Luana Anders
Ellen Sands
Marjorie Eaton
Madame Romanovitch
Tom Dillon
Merry-Go-Round Operator
H.E. West
Lt. Henderson
Marjorie Cameron
Water Witch

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Curtis Harrington
Writers: Curtis Harrington, Curtis Harrington
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

84 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

65 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Curtis Harrington, shot by Vilis Lapenieks. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by David Raksin. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Jodie Copelan shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Dennis Hopper and Linda Lawson and Gavin Muir carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Temptress from the sea… loving… killing!".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0055230 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Curtis Harrington directs. Vilis Lapenieks behind the camera. David Raksin scores. Jodie Copelan cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

184 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
265 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Directed by Curtis Harrington, shot by Vilis Lapenieks. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by David Raksin. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Jodie Copelan shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Dennis Hopper and Linda Lawson and Gavin Muir carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "Temptress from the sea… loving… killing!".
8IMDB entry: tt0055230 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Classified under 8 themes, including "fortune teller", "octopus", "mermaid", "massage".

The technical file

Cinematography: Vilis Lapenieks
Original score: David Raksin
Editing: Jodie Copelan
Production design: Paul Mathison
Makeup / hair: Bruno VeSota
Runtime: 84 min · 1h 24m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): NR
IMDB: Night Tide (1961)
Rotten Tomatoes: 86% 🍅 Fresh
IMDB rating: 6.4/10 · 4,260 votes
MPAA: Not Rated

Also by

Curtis Harrington

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Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

jackpeep2019-10-01
★ 10/10
A stunning, atmospheric, darkly beautiful film (noir). It's a Val Lewton-esque romance tinged with horror, set in a wonderfully spooky seaside town. It's a film about feeling alone, and then falling into anything, no matter how dangerous, that makes you feel like you're wanted. Curtis Harrington deserves to be a household name. "<i>Because I feel the seawater in my veins. Because I listen to the roar of the sea and it speaks to me like a mother's voice. The tide pulls at my heart, and the face of the moon fills my soul with a strange longing.</i>"

Production companies