Strange Awakening, The (aka Female Fiends)
Date: 1958
Director: Montgomery Tully
Production Company: Merton Park Studios
Stars: Lex Barker, Carole Mathews, Lisa Gastoni, Nora Swinburne, Peter Dyneley, Joe Robinson, Malou Pantera, Richard Molinas, John Serret
Location(s): Nice
Region(s): France
Storyline:
Peter Chance, a motorist, is stopped and attacked by a hitchhiker somewhere in the south of France. He is left unconscious by the roadside with no identification. He regains his senses in a strange room but cannot recall anything of his past. The house owner, a Mrs. Friend, tells him he is her son and has had an accident, and also that his father has died and he is heir to two million dollars. When the hitchhiker turns up, Chance begins to suspect something is rotten in the south of France.
Additional Information:
Screen captures uploaded by Richard Lovejoy
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- Capture 1
- 'Now' required
Peter Chance (Lex Barker) see his wife Iris (Monica Gray) off, leaving him to write his book and her to start her new business venture. Nice airport I believe.
- Capture 2
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An additional capture to establish/confirm the airport.
- Capture 3
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Peter drives away from the airport.
- Capture 4
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Peter picks up an hitchhiker, who turns out to be Louis (Richard Molinas) and drives on over the Bridge of the Devil Viaduct in Éze, France on the M6007.
- Capture 5
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On a mountain road he pulls over and is coshed by Louis.
- Capture 6
- 'Now' required
A struggle ensues and Peter is knocked unconscious when his head hits a tree. His wallet is stolen and Louis makes his way back to the car.
- Capture 7
- 09 Dec 2019
When Peter wakes he finds himself in a strange house and remembers nothing. Eventually, having met his “wife and family”, we gain an outside location where we see Louis siting reading a newspaper and the report of the accident involving ‘Gordon Renton Friend Jnr’, heir to a fortune. But he has the passport of Peter Chance! Manuel Gurtner identifies the street café, as being located next to the port of Villefranche-sur-Mer. Today the restaurant "Le Calypso" at 2, Quai de l'Amiral Courbet.
Manuel provides a supporting Google Earth View until some lucky sole can enjoy a 'Ricard' looking across the bay.
- Capture 8
- 'Now' required
With sufficient physical improvement Peter is taken to the terrace of the house by Dr Rene Normand (Peter Dyneley) and “his mother” (Nora Swinburne). The rear terrace of Hatchford Park as identified by David see also later related captures of this location.
- Capture 9
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Later Peter is able to wheel himself around the garden where Louis is there to introduce himself. A corner of the gardens of Hatchford Park, Ockham Lane, nr Cobham, Surrey as identified by David.
- Capture 10
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Peter finds out that he is not ‘Gordy’ and discusses with the family Selena (Carole Mathews) his “wife”, Dr. Normand, his “mother” and “sister” Marny (Lisa Gastoni), the way forward and who might have poisoned Mr Friend Snr. The rear terrace area of Hatchford Park as identified by David who adds that palm trees were placed here to give the impression of being in the South of France.
- Capture 11
- 'Now' required
With the truth out Peter tells the police the whole story and as a result all the family are arrested. The forecourt of Hatchford Park, Ockham Lane, nr Cobham, Surrey as identified by David (See below Capture). The frontage, topiary and the statue can be clearly seen in 'Britain from Above' EPW062102 (1939).
- Capture 12
- 'Now' required
Besides Merton Park Studios the film was actually shot on location in France. However, David Soulsby tells us that this is a picture of Hatchford Park, Ockham Lane, Surrey and indeed where some of the above captures were filmed and also some of the internal sequences. With an interesting history it suffered fire damage in the 1990's whilst being converted into apartments. Although rebuilt, David says that it is nowhere near as grand as the original building, nevertheless it still appears to enjoy Grade ll status. The building also appears in 'Escapement'.