The Hypnotic Eye movie storyline. The city is stricken by a wave of self-mutilations performed by beautiful women who seem to be in a hypnotic trance. The authorities suspect a stage hypnotist with a popular act, but the stakes are raised when the hypnotist sets his sights on the girlfriend of the detective investigating the case. What is the hypnotist’s secret, and why does it seem to involve his beautiful assistant?
The Hypnotic Eye (1960) is a horror film, released by Allied Artists on February 27, 1960, starring Jacques Bergerac, Merry Anders, Marcia Henderson, Allison Hayes, Joe Patridge, Fred Demara, Lawrence Lipton, Guy Prescott, Jimmy Lydon, Carol Thurston and Eva Lynd.
Some scenes — showing Nord playing bongo drums and Lawrence Lipton as “King of the Beatniks” — were supposedly filmed at Nord’s beatnik cafe, The Gas House, in Venice, California. But it was done in a studio. Bergerac was the former husband of Ginger Rogers and Hayes had just starred in Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958).
The consultant for the hypnosis used in the film was Gil Boyne. Gil Boyne founded the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners and the Hypnotism Training Institute in Glendale, California. Gil also performed live shows between screenings of the film at the opening at the Golden Gate Theater in San Francisco and went on a press tour to promote the movie appearing on numerous TV news and talk shows performing live hypnosis demonstrations.
The “Hypnomagic” part of the film although somewhat implied was not a filming process like 3D. “Hypnomagic” was advertised on the posters as an “Amazing New Audience Thrill” and although new to film was a much more organic and time tested approach than 3D. “Hypnomagic” featured the Bergerac character performing segments in the film where he looks directly into the camera and as such at the movie theater audience and performs some hypnotic suggestibility tests with them.
One suggestibility test presented in the film involved the use of a balloon with an eye printed on it, when the film was in its original run in theaters each theater goer received an eye balloon to use during the demonstration.
The Hypnotic Eye (1960)
Directed by: George Blair
Starring: Jacques Bergerac, Merry Anders, Marcia Henderson, Allison Hayes, Joe Patridge, Fred Demara, Lawrence Lipton, Guy Prescott, Jimmy Lydon, Carol Thurston, Eva Lynd
Screenplay by: Gitta Woodfield, William Read Woodfield
Production Design by: Edward Morey Jr.
Cinematography by: Archie R. Dalzell
Film Editing by: Allied Artists
Set Decoration by: Frank Wade
Art Direction by: Dave Milton
Makeup Department: Emile LaVigne, Tony Lloyd
Music by: Marlin Skiles
MPAA Rating: None.
Distributed by: Allied Artists Pictures
Release Date: February 27, 1960
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