Hypnotic Eye, The (1960)

A series of incidents in which beautiful young women disfigure themselves while under post-hypnotic influence baffles the police. Detective Sergeant Dave Kennedy (Joe Patridge) investigates and takes his girl, Marcia (Marcia Henderson) and her friend Dodie (Merry Anders) to see The Great Desmond, a famous hypnotist, and his ravishing assistant, Justine (Allison Hayes).

Dodie voluntarily joins the act and later gives her face an acid bath.

Dave and police psychiatrist Philip Hecht (Guy Prescott) then set a trap for Desmond, and subsequent events prove that Justine controls Desmond.

Desmond promptly hypnotises Marcia, and he and Justine drag her to the catwalk of the theatre, but Dave saves her from certain death by shooting Desmond.

Before leaping to her doom, Justine tears off a mask and reveals her terribly scarred features – the cause of her insane hatred for all beautiful women.

The Hypnotic Eye was shot in just 12 days. It’s surprisingly watchable, and Jacques Bergerac gives a flamboyant and fascinating performance as the hypnotist.

The Great Desmond
Jacques Bergerac
Dodie Wilson
Merry Anders
Marcia Blaine
Marcia Henderson
Justine
Allison Hayes
Det. Sgt. Dave Kennedy
Joe Patridge
The Great Impostor
Fred Demara
Beatnik Poet Laureate
Lawrence Lipton
King of the Beatniks
Eric ‘Big Daddy’ Nord
Dr Philip Hecht
Guy Prescott
Emergency Doctor
Jimmy Lydon
Doris Scott
Carol Thurston

Director
George Blair