THE COMEBACK [1978]

 "MY POOR BOY, WHAT IS IT?!?  DI'JEH HAVE A NIGHTMARE?!?"

  Oh that Sheila Keith, I love her to bits!  Nick Cooper (Jack Jones)  is a singer who hasn't been in the studio for 6 years and is now attempting a comeback. 

He has divorced his wife Gail (Holly Palance) who, according to Nick's agent Webster (David Doyle) almost destroyed his career by making him quit.  As the film opens, we see Gail enter the apartment she shared with Nick; she calls "Harry!"  Who's Harry?  We'll find out.  After puttering around a few minutes, Gail leaves.  OK, everything's fine . . . . oh wait, she comes back in.  Oh, she forgot her purse.  As she descends the stairs, Gail is attacked by a 'hag' wielding a sickle.  Off goes Gail's hand, slice goes the sickle into her neck and other assorted gouges occur as Gail tumbles bloody to the bottom of the stairs.  The hag (who wore black lace Madonna gloves and has earth shoes under her black dress) takes a powder.  Nobody knows Gail is lying in a bloody pile at the bottom of the stairs throughout most of the movie; which is a ghoulishly nice touch by director Pete Walker. 

Meanwhile, Nick is convinced to go and stay in a rambling English pile that Webster has rented for him in order to continue working on his comeback album.  Nick tools up in his cool 1970's car (no, I don't know what kind of car it is because I'm not really a 'car guy' but I'd love to know) and sees Mr. B the gardener/caretaker (Bill Owen) giving him the stink eye.  Nick rings the bell and who opens the front door but Mrs. B. (Sheila Keith) with a heartwarming Scottish accent and ushers the singer in. Also among the cast are Webster Jone's assistant Linda (Pamela Stephenson), Nick's right-hand-man Harry (Peter Turner) and a psychiatrist (Richard Johnson).

As you can tell, this movie is simply packed with familiar faces and that goes a long way in my book to making me look kindly on Pete Walker's spookfest.  Of course, Pete Walker perennial Sheila Keith (FRIGHTMARE, HOUSE OF WHIPCORD) is a national treasure and raises the level of any film in which she appears!  Not really known for being an actor, smooth easy listening singer Jack Jones (the love boat will be making another run) is actually quite natural and unaffected in front of the camera and gives a credible performance here.  Who knew?  Holly Palance as the unlucky Gail is indeed Jack Palance's daughter and you probably will remember why she looks so familiar when I type the next line:  "Look at me, Damian!  It's all for you!". 

David Doyle, who plays the role of Webster with a sinisterness quite unexpected is, of course, best known as Bosley from CHARLIE'S ANGELS.  And I can't look at Bill Owen's Mr. B character (try as he might to appear sinister as well) without thinking of Compo from LAST OF THE SUMMER WINE.  This is no fault of Owen's performance, mind; it's my hang-up.  Richard Johnson, of course, will forever be Dr. Markway from Robert Wise's THE HAUNTING and the wonderful Pamela Stephenson (also revealing herself to be an accomplished actress here) is well-known for being part of the cast of NOT THE NINE O'CLOCK NEWS as well as being Mrs. Billy Connolly.  Even Peter Turner, who was previously unknown to me, has a place in filmworld notoriety as the author of "Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool"; his book about the 'intimate friendship' he had with Hollywood legend and Oscar winner Gloria Grahame.  The constant postponing of the discovery of Gail's bloody body (whose face slowly becomes covered with maggots) is deliciously naughty on the part of the director.  And speaking of deliciously naughty:  almost every line reading by Sheila Keith is delivered with a wicked little twinkle in her eye.  At the risk of repeating myselt . . . . Boy, I just love her to bits!!!  Penny Irving (ARE YOU BEING SERVED?) and June Chadwick (V) are also among the cast. 

Another interesting little tidbit is the prominent placing of actual books in the frame:  Jack Jones is shown reading Alistair Maclean's CIRCUS in bed, Bill Owen is shown reading the hardcover of Charles Alfred Speed Williams' OUTLINES OF CHINES SYMBOLISM AND ART MOTIVE and David Doyle has a paperback copy of Harold Robbins' THE LONELY LADY on his bedside table while he . . . . ah ah ah that would be telling.  And My God, another cinematic house I'd give my eye teeth to live in!  Some think of THE COMEBACK as maybe less of a Pete Walker picture since it is not as sleazy or batshit as his more famous efforts; this owing to Walker's working with a different writer (Murray Smith) than with his previously OTT, more ferocious scripter David McGillivray.  It is true this film is perhaps more mainstream horror/slasher than the typical Pete Walker joint.  Nevertheless,  I really enjoyed this one and I think it really holds up as an entertaining, interesting low-key Pete Walker horror.