Peeping Tom

Peeping Tom is a 1960 British psychological thriller/horror film directed by Michael Powell. The title derives from the slang expression ‘peeping Tom’ describing a voyeur. The film, which also contains the themes of serial murder and child abuse, revolves around a young man who murders women while using a portable movie camera to record their dying expressions of terror. The film was written by the World War II cryptographer and polymath Leo Marks.

Trivia:

Early choices for the role of Mark included Dirk Bogarde and Laurence Harvey.

The cameras in Mark Lewis’ room include director Michael Powell’s first film camera, a hand operated Eyemo, made by Bell and Howell, that he won in a competition.

Director Cameo: [Michael Powell] Peeping Tom’s father, seen in an old home movie he shows the girl.

In Mark Lewis’ “home movies,” Prof. A.N. Lewis is played by director Michael Powell, young Mark Lewis is played by Powell’s real-life son, Columba Powell, and Mark’s mother, seen lying lifelessly in bed, is played by Columba’s real-life mother, Frankie Reidy.

Premiere voted this movie as one of “The 25 Most Dangerous Movies”.

The scandal, which the movie aroused, destroyed the career of director Michael Powell.

The character of Don Jarvis the studio boss is a parody of notorious Rank mogul John Davis.

In his memoirs Michael Powell revealed his other candidates for the role of Vivian as being Joan Plowright (rejected as ‘too sympathetic’) and a young Julie Andrews (rejected as ‘too famous’). He eventually chose Moira Shearer despite initially describing her as ‘too glamorous’.

Filed under: GoreMaster 100 Films

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