THE
MAN WHO HAUNTED HIMSELF(1970)Director: Basil Dearden
Anchor Bay Entertainment
THE
MAN WHO HAUNTED HIMSELF(1970)After his six-year stint as Simon "The Saint" Templar on TV, and right before his 14-year reign as 007, Roger Moore did this little-seen psychological thriller, often classified as a horror film. Director Basil Dearden (who, among other things, gave us the earliest British horror anthology, DEAD OF NIGHT), died shortly after the film was made in a violent car accident (an ironic footnote when you ponder the film's opening and climax).
While driving home from the office,
business executive Harold Pelham (Moore) apparently becomes possessed by his
alter ego (who has a fancier automobile) as he experiences a turbulent road
accident. He's rushed to the emergency room, and after being clinically dead
for a few seconds, the doctors witness a double heartbeat on their monitors
shortly before he returns to life. 
After taking a holiday, Pelham tries to get his life back to normal, but it's anything but. Pelham is accused and held responsible for various situations that he has no recollections of. It's affecting his work, his family, and there's even the question of an extramarital affair with a beautiful French photographer (Olga Georges-Picot). Tormented and bewildered, Pelham is convinced that a doppelganger exists, parading around as him, and he's determined to confront this demon of reality or of his mind.
Based
on an episode of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," THE MAN WHO HAUNTED
HIMSELF is somewhat tediously plotted, but it still manages to remain an interesting
and well-made swan song from Dearden. For Roger Moore (who was Ian Fleming's
ideal James Bond), it's a very atypical role, but he does an excellent job and
it's one if his finest hours in terms of acting. Hammer fans will recognize
a lot of familiar character actors in smaller roles: Thorley Walters (FRANKENSTEIN
CREATED WOMAN), John Carson (TASTE THE BLOOD OF DRACULA), Charles Lloyd-Pack
(HORROR OF DRACULA), and Gerald Sim (DR. JEKYLL AND SISTER HYDE). Freddie Jones
(FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED) has a great bit as an eccentric psychiatrist
who attempts to treat Moore.
Anchor Bay is presenting THE MAN WHO HAUNTED HIMSELF, using the original British vault materials for the transfer. Letterboxed in the original theatrical ratio of 1.85:1 with Anamorphic enhancement, the quality is quite stunning, giving the film a fresh appearance and hardly looking it's 30+ years in age. The mono audio is extremely clear and free of any distortion, and there's also a separate French language track.
An
audio commentary with Moore and uncredited writer/producer Bryan Forbes (THE
STEPFORD WIVES) is delightfully moderated by author/journalist Jonathan Sothcott.
(The Cult Films of Christopher Lee). This is Moore's first-ever audio
commentary, so it's worth the price of the disc alone. Surprisingly, Moore remembers
much about making the film after so many years, even pausing to scrutinize a
momentous line that he wishes he could do over. Sothcott obviously knows a great
deal about both gentlemen's careers, so he keeps things flowing nicely by asking
questions about various other projects as well. Moore and Forbes have been friends
for many years, and this is easily evidenced by the high-spirited vibe present
here.
Other extras include a Roger Moore bio, the original British theatrical trailer, and a 4-page insert booklet. (George R. Reis)