I remember the first time I saw this film was on Nightmare Theatre on KIRO tv ch 7 in Seattle in summer 1972. I was always really impressed with the production values of most of the Hammer productions. This film is considered to be an extremely rare film with few prints still in existence. I am happy to have this classic as this weeks – Movie of the Week. So if you have some time to kill and feel like watching a movie this is a classic and forgotten Hammer Gem. ~ enjoy
Nightmare is a 1964 horror/suspense film from Hammer Films. The film was directed by Freddie Francis and written by Hammer Films regular Jimmy Sangster. The British Film Institute has the only 35mm print in the UK.
Janet, a girl at finishing school who 6 years ago saw her mother stab her father to death, is plagued by nightmares. (Her mother, following the tragedy, was committed to an asylum.) Miss Lewis, a teacher, takes Janet home; and in the absence of Henry Baxter, Janet’s guardian, they are met by John (the chauffeur), Mrs. Gibbs (the housekeeper), and Grace Maddox (an attractive nurse-companion hired by Henry). Miss Lewis leaves Janet in Grace’s care. The nightmares continue: a white-shrouded woman roams the corridors, inviting Janet to burst into her parents’ room where she finds the same woman on the bed with a knife in her chest. When Henry returns he finds Janet under sedation; her doctors recommend psychiatric care; but he refuses, and Janet tries to commit suicide. Henry’s wife comes to tea, and because she seems to be the woman in Janet’s nightmares, Janet stabs the woman to death and is promptly committed to an institution. The woman in white is revealed to be Grace, disguised with a wig and mask and in cahoots with Henry. They marry, but Grace begins believing that Henry is trying to drive her mad. Under the impression that Janet has escaped from the asylum, Grace stabs Henry to death, expecting Janet to be blamed. Janet, however, never left the asylum, and Grace is brought to justice.
