1 / 8
RUNTIME
Did you know
80 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
Paranoiac
"Shocking! Horrifying! Macabre!"
1963 1h 20m EN
👍
6.6
SOLID
⭐
6.7
IMDB
★6.6TMDB · 86★6.7IMDB · 3,708
ThrillerHorror
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
Eleven years ago, the wealthy Ashby family was shattered when Mr and Mrs Ashby died in an airplane crash and their grieving son Tony committed suicide. All who remains is cruel Simon, an alcoholic in desperate need of funds; his mentally fragile sister Eleanor; and his protective aunt Harriet. Simon is just weeks away from receiving his inheritance, but there's a hitch in his plans when the long-believed dead Tony suddenly arrives.
“Shocking! Horrifying! Macabre!”
Cast
Janette Scott
Eleanor Ashby
Oliver Reed
Simon Ashby
Sheila Burrell
Aunt Harriet
Maurice Denham
John Kossett
Alexander Davion
Tony Ashby
Liliane Brousse
Françoise
Harold Lang
RAF Type
Arnold Diamond
Publican
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Freddie Francis
- Writers
- Jimmy Sangster
- Languages
- English
- Countries
- United Kingdom
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 🍿
2 / 8
ERA
Did you know
63 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 8
RUNTIME
Did you know
Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Freddie Francis, shot by Arthur Grant. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by Elisabeth Lutyens. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 8
CAST
Did you know
Janette Scott and Oliver Reed and Sheila Burrell carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 8
FACT
Did you know
Marketing tagline: "Shocking! Horrifying! Macabre!".
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
8 / 8
WILD
Did you know
IMDB entry: tt0057401 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
MoodPlayr · trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Freddie Francis directs. Arthur Grant behind the camera. Elisabeth Lutyens scores. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United Kingdom. Dialogue in English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 180 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
- 263 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
- 3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
- 4Directed by Freddie Francis, shot by Arthur Grant. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 5Original score by Elisabeth Lutyens. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 6Janette Scott and Oliver Reed and Sheila Burrell carry the top of the cast.
- 7Marketing tagline: "Shocking! Horrifying! Macabre!".
- 8IMDB entry: tt0057401 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
- 9Only 86 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Arthur Grant
- Original score
- Elisabeth Lutyens
- Production design
- Bernard Robinson
- Makeup / hair
- Roy Ashton
- Runtime
- 80 min · 1h 20m
- Status
- Released
- Original language
- EN
- IMDB
- Paranoiac (1963)
- IMDB rating
- 6.7/10 · 3,708 votes
- MPAA
- Approved
Awards
1 nomination total
Also by
Freddie Francis
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Production companies
Who made it
Hammer Film Productions
GB
- TH
The Rank Organisation
GB
Key crew
- ProducerAnthony Hinds
- Makeup ArtistRoy Ashton
- NovelJosephine Tey
- Production DesignBernard Robinson
- Art DirectionDon Mingaye
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- suicide attempt
- aunt
- psychological thriller
- impostor
Release history · US
When it landed
- Theatrical1963-05-15
Also known as
International titles
- ParanoicoMX
- El alucinante mundo de los AshbyES
- De ZwakzinnigeNL
