The Forgotten (1973 film)

In 1973, the American horror film *The Forgotten* marked S. F. Brownrigg’s first feature as director. Brownrigg also wrote the script, and the cast included Bill McGhee, Rosie Holotik, and Annabelle Weenick (billed as Anne MacAdams). The story follows Charlotte Beale, a young nurse who accepts a position at a secluded sanitarium where a string of unexplained killings is underway. Made independently, the movie became a sleeper success, earning $1 million in theatrical rentals within a few years of its release.

At Stephens Sanitarium, a remote mental institution, the head doctor, Dr. Stephens, lets patients act out their delusions as a cure. After a patient threatens her, an elderly nurse decides to leave. During wood-chopping therapy, a patient called Judge—a former magistrate—sinks an axe into Stephens’s back, apparently killing him. As the nurse finishes packing, patient Harriett, who believes a plastic doll is her baby, attacks and kills her by crushing her head in a suitcase.

The only remaining doctor, Geraldine Masters, says she will continue Stephens’s work. Charlotte Beale arrives, saying Stephens hired her a week earlier. Masters lets her stay. Charlotte meets the patients: Sam, a lobotomized man who loves popsicles and a toy boat; Allyson, a schizophrenic nymphomaniac; Jennifer, who is emotionally dependent; Mrs. Callingham, an elderly woman who recites poetry and mistakes garden flowers for her children; Danny, a prankster; a shellshocked Sergeant haunted by accidentally killing his men in Vietnam; and the Judge.

A telephone repairman comes to fix the faulty phone system. During the night, Callingham’s tongue is cut out, but Masters claims she did it to herself. Masters burns the Sergeant’s hand for disobeying her and later kills Jennifer for stealing medicine. Sam finds the telephone man dead in a closet and tells Allyson, who is upset because she thought he would marry her. Allyson reveals that Masters is actually a patient whom Stephens allowed to pose as a doctor. Masters likely killed the repairman to stop him from reporting the institution. Callingham indicates to Charlotte that Masters cut out her tongue to keep her quiet. The Judge then says all the patients know Masters is a patient, but they also think Charlotte is one.

Allyson confronts Masters about the murder, saying Charlotte now knows the truth.