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The Medusa Touch

Coatesgold

ITC Entertainment

France

United Kingdom

English

Richard Burton

Lino Ventura

Lee Remick

Harry Andrews

Alan Badel

Marie-Christine Barrault

Jeremy Brett

Michael Hordern

Gordon Jackson

Michael Byrne

Derek Jacobi

Malcolm Tierney

Philip Stone

Robert Lang

Avril Elgar

James Hazeldine

John Normington

Robert Flemyng

Norman Bird

Jennifer Jayne

Frances Tomelty

George Innes

Ian Marter

Brook Williams

Wendy Gifford

Shaw Taylor

Gordon Honeycombe

Mark Jones

Maurice O'Connell

Victor Winding

Anthony Blackett

Denyse Alexander

John Flanagan

Stanley Lebor

Cornelius Bowe

Adam Bridges

Joseph Clark

Earl Rhodes

Christopher Burgess

Matthew Long

Colin Rix

Malcolm Brownjohn

Jeremy Coote

Marc Furstenberg

Clifford Harker

Guy Standeven

Arnon Milchan

John Briley

Jack Gold

Peter Van Greenaway

Arthur Ibbetson

Anne V. Coates

Michael J. Lewis

Ian Crafford

Mike Jones

Brian Johnson

_**Beware the ‘deathlook’ of Richard Burton**_  

A writer in London is convinced he has the power to cause destruction at will (Richard Burton) and it’s driving him mad. Lee Remick plays his psychiatrist while Lino Ventura is on hand as a Scotland Yard detective.

"The Medusa Touch" (1978) is a slow burn psychological thriller/horror that takes the psychokinesis element of “Carrie” but throws in the mass disaster angle of the later “The Mothman Prophecies” (2002). Other films covering this kind of mind power include "Powder" (1995), "Phenomenon" (1996) and “Youth Without Youth” (2007) with the difference here being that the protagonist’s party trick is mayhem rather than benevolence. 

Like the original Star Trek pilot, “Where No Man Has Gone Before” (1966), the theme is power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. For instance, if Morlar (Burton) wanted to illustrate his power to the therapist, why not simply lift up her dress or something else harmless, such as picking up a chair? Like Bruce Banner, his gift (or curse) only manifests when provoked to anger.

Remick was the youngest adult cast member at 42 during shooting. I’m not an ageist, but the rest of the cast is glaringly mature. Burton was only 52, but looks way older (he must’ve lived a hard life). Nevertheless, he’s legendary and you can’t beat his presence, voice or delivery.  

The film runs 1 hour, 49 minutes, and was shot in London and the greater London area, including the White Cliffs of Dover and Reculver Towers, which are about an hour’s drive east of the city on the coast. 

GRADE: B-/B

CinemaSerf

Though top billed in this, Richard Burton features but sparingly as a man with a tortured past. His recollections to his psychiatrist "Dr. Zonfeld" (Lee Remick) are relayed to police inspector "Brunel" (Lino Ventura) after he ("Morlar") is found savagely beaten at his London flat. As the investigation expands, it is clear that the normal rules do not apply here. "Morlar" shouldn't even be alive, yet his brain activity coupled with a spate of accidents and with the ever more revealing - but sensational - revelations about his disaster-prone past lead "Brunel" and the Assistant Commissioner (Harry Andrews) to a conclusion that, well, they just cannot believe. Ventura is good in this, as is the understated, but effective Remick. There are plenty of twists that keep the obvious from becoming too obvious, too soon, and when called upon, Burton contributes well in a sort of manic, epitome of evil, manner. It is a bit dialogue heavy at times, but the last twenty minutes are great drama well put together. A good bit of telekinetic terror!

The Medusa Touch (1978) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p]

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Richard Burton

Lino Ventura

Lee Remick

Harry Andrews

Alan Badel

Marie-Christine Barrault

Jeremy Brett

Michael Hordern

Gordon Jackson

Michael Byrne

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