70'S FOCUS : I DON'T WANT TO BE BORN! 1975 ..

THE RANK ORGANISATION
Presents
A UNICAPITAL PRODUCTION

I DON'T WANT TO BE BORN!

Starring

JOAN COLLINS as Lucy Carlesi

RALPH BATES as Gino Carlesi

EILEEN ATKINS as Sister Albana

DONALD PLEASENCE as DR Finch

CAROLINE MUNRO as Mandy Gregory

HILARY MASON as MRS Hyde

JOHN STEINER as Tommy Morris

JANET KEY as Jill Fletcher

GEORGE CLAYDON as Hercules

JUDY BUXTON as Sheila

FLOELLA BENJAMIN as 1st Nurse

 Executive Producer - Nato De Angelis Art Director - Roy Stannard

      Assistant Director - David Bracknell  Music by Ron Granier

                  Director of Photography - Kenneth Talbot

                              Screenplay by Stanley Price

                    From an Original Story by Nato De Angeles

          Edited by Keith Palmer         Produced by Norma Corney

                                 Directed by Peter Sasdy

                                           ~~~~~~~~~

The arrival of their new baby son, should have been a joyous occasion for Lucy and Gino Carlesi. But their joy turns to fear, as their new baby shows disturbing signs of unease and violence! It soon becomes apparent that demonic forces are at work and no one is safe from the tiny terror! When the nanny dies in mysterious circumstances, then Gino disappears, along with the family doctor, Lucy must face the terror alone! Only then, does she realise that she has had The Devil Within Her! As she draws her last breath, her baby screams mummy! I Don't Want To Be Born!!

 AKA : "The Devil Within Her"    "The Monster" ..

 (c) 1975  RANK 90 MINS COLOR REG 2 DVD From NETWORK ..

This popular shocker, first began life as a screenplay entitled "The Baby", but it was completely rewritten as "I Don't Want To Be Born!". Although filmed in London at Pinewood and on location in Chelsea, plus a house in Kensington, the fim was financed by Italian and Canadian backers. However well into production, the money ran out and Rank had to put up the remainder of the funds to complete the film.

Director Peter Sasdy recalls.....

"The Italian producers wanted a star name and we got Joan, who had made a return to the screen after a distinguished career in British films. I was delighted that she did, she was and still is, such a professional person. Always first on the set, none of what I call Prima Donna behaviour, which people would like me to say that she was!"

Although Joan probably does not rate the film anymore, I did however get her to sign the UK dvd cover, she did agree it had a very good cast! At the time of the film's release, she commented to the American International press office..

" I certainly wouldn't want to be labeled a 'Queen of Horror', but I thoroughly enjoyed making the film.The terrifying thing about it, is the developing implications that the child is somehow connected with several murders! But I would rather be in a fantasy orientated horror film, than a movie depicting brutal violence and sex! Parts for women these days, fall into definite categories. The harassed heroine or The sexy bird look!"

The film did good business at the UK box office and in the USA, where it was re-titled "The Devil Within Her" and released by American International. But as expected the reviews were mixed.

ROGER EBER ...

" When it comes to trashy horror exploitation, the British are about the best and more often than not, Donald Pleasence is one of the reasons! He plays gravediggers, mad scientists and humble retired soldiers with penchants for voodoo. He always seems faintly bemused by the terror he causes! The odd thing about this film is, it has no ambition to be good, but neither does it have the knack of being interestingly bad. Joan Collins does her best to look smashing in every scene, (she even wears a bloody scratch, with a certain chic!), but Pleasence never gets to cut loose with his vengeance is mine, shtick and the baby doesen't even grow hair on its face!"

But strangely enough a good review came from...

VARIETY....

"This is an exceedingly stylish thriller, about a satanically possessed infant. Joan Collins stars and looks, and acts splendidly as the begrieved mother. Director Peter Sasdy, whose pacing is near flawless, works as much below the surface as above it, with great effect."

The film has been a staple of the video scene for many years, having been re-released under many awful titles such as "It's Growing Inside Her" and "Sharon's Baby". Considering the baby is born during the titles and there are no characters called Sharon in the film, these titles are meaningless! The film was re-released by Rank in the early 80's with the title "The Monster", but under any title the film has an excellent cast of British stars and in the context of the horror genre, it is certainly worth a look! The film was released on dvd in the UK a few years ago, with an American release this year from Scorpion Releasing, who have Joan's 1971 Sci-fi drama "Quest For Love" out now on dvd!

(c) 2011  Mark McMorrow..