Movie Review: Francis Ford Coppola's Dementia 13

Ranked #25,203 in Entertainment, #308,096 overall

Francis Ford Coppola's Directorial Debut

In 1963, legendary B movie producer Roger Corman offered Francis Ford Coppola the chance to write and direct a film for him. Corman was looking for something that would be a cheap copy of Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 masterpiece, Psycho, and Coppola delivered.

I first saw this movie on Hulu.com a few days ago. Up until then, I'd never even heard of it, but as soon as I saw it, I fell in love with it. So, this then, is my tribute to Coppola's first significant film.

The Shower Scene from Hitchcock's Psycho

One of the best movies ever

I couldn't resist!
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Did You Know?

Before Dementia 13 and his much better known masterpieces The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, Francis Ford Coppola directed at least two nudie films - Tonight for Sure and Bellboy and the Playgirls!

The Original Movie Trailer!

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Plot Summary

Dr. Caleb and Richard Haloran working together to find answersJohn Halloran takes a late night boat trip out on the lake with his wife, Louise. While on the boat, they discuss John's mother's will (although his mother is not dead yet). His mother has set it up so that everything goes to a charity in the name of Kathleen, who turns out to be John's sister who drowned in the estate pond when she was just a child. John lets his wife know that if he dies before his mother, Louise won't get a thing. Within minutes, John has a heart attack and dies. Louise disposes of his body over the side of the boat and devises a way to ingratiate herself into her mother-in-law's life and will.

John is supposed to have gone to the family's Irish castle to participate in a creepy memorial service for the dead Kathleen, but Louise goes in his place, explaining to the family that he has been called away on urgent business. Louise herself is not invited to take part in the ceremony, but when John's mother faints dead away at the grave site (as she does every year), Louise swoops in and helps her, only to discover that her mother-in-law is caught up in delusions and memories.

This is where the real fun starts. Louise plans to "gaslight" her mother-in-law by trying to convince her that Kathleen is communicating to her from the great beyond. Louise sneaks into the dead girl's room in the middle of the night and steals some of her toys. Then she jumps into the pond where the girl died to put the toys at the bottom of the pond, where they will float up in plain sight of her mother-in-law. Louise finds a frightening surprise at the bottom of the pond, though, and she gets an even more frightening surprise when she surfaces to find an axe murderer waiting to take her life.

The axe murderer then runs rampant around the estate, killing a poacher and attacking (but not killing) old Lady Haloran. Lady Haloran's attending physician becomes determined to solve the mystery, and he does - with the help of John's brothers, Richard and Billy.

Watch the Entire Movie on YouTube

With Spanish Subtitles!

The picture quality isn't actually that great, but I absolutely love the fact that this video has Spanish subtitles with it. You can enjoy a classic B movie thriller and brush up on your Spanish, all at the same time!
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Did You Know?

The creepy, almost maddening song at the beginning of this film is called "He's Caught" by rockabilly group Buddy and the Fads. It was originally released by Accent Records in 1959, but has since disappeared into their vault. Maybe, one day, it will be re-released.

Don't Want to Watch the Movie Online?

Get it Today on Amazon!

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Dementia 13

Complete Cast of Characters

Richard Haloran - William Campbell
Louise Halora - Luana Anders
Dr. Justin Caleb - Patrick Magee
Billy Haloran - Bart Patton
Kane (Richard's fiancee) - Mary Mitchell
Lady Haloran - Eithne Dunne
John Haloran - Peter Read
Simon, the poacher - Karl Schanzer
Arthur - Ron Perry
Lillian (the maid) - Derry O'Donavan
Kathleen Haloran - Barbara Dowling

More Movies Featuring Dementia 13 Actors

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What's Your Favorite Roger Corman Movie?

Here's a list of a few.

Vote them up or down according to which one(s) you prefer. Or add one (or more) that aren't listed here!

Roger Corman's Cult Classics Sword And Sorcery Collection (Deathstalker, Deathstalker II, The Warrior And The Sorceress & Barbarian Queen)

Roger Corman's Cult Classics Sword And Sorcery Collection (Deathstalker, Deathstalker II, The Warrior And The Sorceress & Barbarian Queen)

Deathstalker (Richard Hill) is the mighty warrior more...0 points

Vampires, Mummies And Monsters Collection [Roger Corman Cult Classics] (Lady Frankenstein, Time Walker, The Velvet Vampire & Grotesque

Vampires, Mummies And Monsters Collection [Roger Corman Cult Classics] (Lady Frankenstein, Time Walker, The Velvet Vampire & Grotesque

In The Velvet Vampire, a couple accepts an invitation more...0 points

The Women in Cages Collection (Roger Corman's Cult Classics Triple Feature) (The Big Bird Cage / Big Doll House / Women in Cages) [Blu-ray]

The Women in Cages Collection (Roger Corman's Cult Classics Triple Feature) (The Big Bird Cage / Big Doll House / Women in Cages) [Blu-ray]

Pam Grier (Jackie Brown) joins a group of sexy, young more...0 points

Roger Corman's Cult Classics Triple Feature (Attack of the Crab Monsters / War of the Satellites / Not of This Earth)

Roger Corman's Cult Classics Triple Feature (Attack of the Crab Monsters / War of the Satellites / Not of This Earth)

Three Films Produced And Directed By Honorary Academy more...0 points

What's Your Favorite Francis Ford Coppola Film?

Please vote or add your own favorite(s). Thanks!

Tetro

Tetro

Fresh-faced and naive, 17-year-old Bennie (Alden E more...0 points

Bram Stoker's Dracula [Blu-ray]

Bram Stoker's Dracula [Blu-ray]

Francis Ford Coppola's 1992 Bram Stoker's Dracula is more...0 points

The Conversation

The Conversation

Francis Ford Coppola's provoking mystery-thriller more...0 points

Apocalypse Now (Apocalypse Now / Apocalypse Now Redux / Hearts of Darkness) (Three-Disc Full Disclosure Edition) [Blu-ray]

Apocalypse Now (Apocalypse Now / Apocalypse Now Redux / Hearts of Darkness) (Three-Disc Full Disclosure Edition) [Blu-ray]

Francis Ford Coppola's timeless classic comes to Blu-ray more...0 points

Wikipedia Bios for Francis Ford Coppola and Roger Corman

Francis Ford Coppola - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Francis Ford Coppola born April 7, 1939, is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. He is widely acclaimed as one of Hollywood's most innovative and influential film directors.
Roger Corman - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Roger William Corman
April 5, 1926 (1926-04-05)
Detroit, Michigan, United States
Occupation: film director, producer, screenwriter & actor

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