How Awful About Allan
A psychological thriller about a blind man's paranoid fears.
How Awful About Allan is a 1970 American made-for-television horror psychological thriller film directed by Curtis Harrington, the first of two collaborations with writer Henry Farrell. It stars Anthony Perkins in his television film debut and Julie Harris, and was produced by prolific television producer Aaron Spelling. The film premiered as the ABC Movie of the Week on September 22, 1970.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Thriller
- Based On
- How Awful About Allan · Henry Farrell
- Writer
- Henry Farrell
- Director
- Curtis Harrington
- Starring
- Anthony Perkins / Julie Harris / Joan Hackett
- Music
- Laurence Rosenthal
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Executive Producer
- Aaron Spelling
- Producer
- George Edwards
- Editor
- Richard Farrell
- Cinematography
- Fleet Southcott
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The film follows Allan Colleigh, who suffers from psychosomatic blindness after a fire that killed his father and scarred his sister Katherine. Returning home from a mental hospital, Allan becomes suspicious of a whispering boarder and fears a plot against him. He records his fears on a reel-to-reel tape recorder and experiences nightmares reliving his father's punishment.
Reader's Guide
The film was shot in 12 days, with Anthony Perkins wearing special contact lenses that rendered him nearly blind during filming. The Los Angeles Times called it 'not scary,' and The New York Times critic opined it 'had neither a thrill nor a chill.' Despite mixed reception, it remains a notable early television horror film and a collaboration between Harrington and Farrell.
Did You Know?
- Anthony Perkins made his television film debut in this movie.
- Perkins wore special contact lenses that made him nearly blind while filming.
- The original novel was published in 1964 and called 'one of the most impressive novels of the year' by The Washington Post.
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