THE MAN WHO HAUNTED HIMSELF (1970)
Imprint Collection #318
Label: Imprint Films
Region Code: Region-Free
Rating: PG
Duration: 93 Minutes 52 Minutes
Audio: English PCM 2.0 with Optional English Subtitles
Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.75:1)
Director: Basil Dearden
Cast: Roger Moore, Hildegarde Neil, Thorley Walters, Olga Georges-Picot, Freddie Jones
Directed by Basil Dearden (Dead of Night, The Assassination Bureau) and based on the 1957 novel The Strange Case of Mr Pelham by Anthony Armstrong, the Brit-thriller The Man Who Haunted Himself (1970) stars a pre-007 Roger Moore (The Spy Who Loved Me) as the buttoned-down Harold Pelham, a high-ranking business executive at the Freeman, Pelham & Dawson electronic technology company, who while driving home from work one night is overcome with a need for speed, darting in and out of traffic and driving quite recklessly, resulting in a wreck that lands him in the hospital with serious injuries. While on the operating table his heart stops, but then starts back again, but oddly the heart monitor shows two distinct heartbeats, before quickly returning to one singular heartbeat.
Pelham recovers and returns to his life, but is disturbed when colleague Frank Bellamy (Hammer horror stalwart Thorley Walters, Vampire Circus) shows up unexpectedly and starts making references to a wild night of drinking and playing snooker, alluding to an affair Pelham had with artist named Julie Anderson (Olga Georges-Picot, The Day of the Jackal), of which he has no memory of. At first he figures it's an elaborate prank, but after numerous recounting from others about his abnormal (for him) behavior he becomes convinced that either someone is impersonating him for nefarious reasons or that he is perhaps being haunted by a doppelganger. Whatever the case it seems that this other seems to be taking over not only his life at home, causing issues with his intimacy-starved wife Eve Pelham (Hildegarde Neil, The Legacy), but also at work, where this imposter has seemingly been engaged in corporate industrial espionage, sabotaging the business dealings of Freeman, Pelham & Dawson.
Bewildered by the bizarre happenings and looking for answers he seeks the help of a psychiatrist Dr. Harris (Freddie Jones, The Satanic Rites of Dracula) in an attempt to find out if he's cracked his nut or of something else altogether is happening here. Jones as the headshrinker is pretty over the top, I sort of feel like it must have been an inspiration for the character of Dr. Jacoby from Twin Peaks.
Moore is terrific in the dual-role, a role which years later he would fondly remember as one of the fews roles that actually allowed him to actually act, and he is pretty terrific in it. It's very well directed, generating some authentically eerie moments of suspense and atmosphere as Pelham contends with the mystery for the doppelganger, with some interesting experimental editing techniques, especially during the car chase during the finale. One of my favorite scenes in particular is that of Pelham well at his wit's end by this point, attempting to track down his double at a gentlemen's club where he apparently just keeps missing his identical imposter by mere moments as he searches for him room to room. While the film failed to find an audience this one has gone on to develop quite a cult following, and watching it now I can confirm it is absolutely a solid twilight Zone-esque haunter that pretty deftly balances the whole 'is-it-insanity or supernatural?' aspect quite well and, Moore is terrific, highly recommended.
Audio/Video: The Man Who Haunted Himself (1970) arrives on region-free Blu-ray from Imprint Films in 1080p HD framed in 1.75:1 widescreen, licensed from Studio Canal. This is a handsome presentation with well-managed grain, detail and textures are quite pleasing, and the use of garish colors late in the film by cinematographer Tony Spratling (Edge of Sanity) look wonderful. There's a bit of softness is spots but overall it's quite a pleasing HD presentation, black levels, depth and clarity are all solid. Audio comes by way of English PCM 2.0 with optional English subtitles, the track is clean and well-balanced, dialogue is precise, and the eerie Michael J. Lewis (Theatre of Blood) score sounds terrific.
We get a terrific array of new and archival extras for this release, starting with an archival Audio Commentary by actor Roger Moore and uncredited writer / producer Bryan Forbes, moderated by journalist Jonathan Sothcott (2002). New bonus material includes a Audio Commentary by authors Jonathan Rigby and Kevin Lyons (2024); the 16-min The Man Who Became A Friend – biographer / talent agent Gareth Owen on Sir Roger Moore (2024); the 32-min The Men Who Were Haunted – interview featurette with actor Freddie Jones and production crew (2024); the archival 50-min “Roger Moore, A Matter of Class” – documentary; the 25-min “Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Case of Mr. Pelham” – a 1955 episode of the series based on the original novel The Strange Case of Mr. Pelham (in SD); an Isolated Score Audio Track (PCM 2.0); the 3-min Theatrical Trailer; and an extensive 20-min Photo Gallery.
The single-disc release arrives in an oversized clear keepcase with a 2-sided Non-Reversible Sleeve of Artwork housed inside a First-Pressing Only Slipcover with it's own unique artwork, both options are based on original movie posters. Inside there's a 16-Page Reproduction of the Original Pressbook with cast and crew credit, biographies for the actors, press clipping for the film, and the advert campaign for the film. This is just a very cool edition, it makes you wish every release included a press book reproduction! This Limited Edition Slipcover/Booklet edition is strictly limited to 1500 copies, so act fast if you want to own it.
Special Features:
- 1080p High-definition presentation on Blu-ray
- Audio Commentary by actor Roger Moore and uncredited writer / producer Bryan Forbes, moderated by journalist Jonathan Sothcott (2002)
- NEW! Audio Commentary by authors Jonathan Rigby and Kevin Lyons (2024)
- NEW! The Man Who Became A Friend – biographer / talent agent Gareth Owen on Sir Roger Moore (2024) (15:50)
- NEW! The Men Who Were Haunted – interview featurette with actor Freddie Jones and production crew (2024) (31:39)
- “Roger Moore, A Matter of Class” – documentary (50:10).
- “Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Case of Mr. Pelham” – a 1955 episode of the series based on the original novel The Strange Case of Mr. Pelham (Standard Definition) (25:28).
- Isolated Score Audio Track (PCM 2.0)
- Theatrical Trailer (3:09)
- Photo Gallery (20:21)
- Insert reproduction of the original pressbook
Buy it!
Screenshots from the Imprint Films Blu-ray:
Extras:
