The Devil's Daffodil (1961) aka Daffodil Killer (1967 US title)

[c.n.-tonfilm]

I'm looking for the original English language version of THE DEVIl'S DAFFODIL. The Film was released in the UK in August 1961. Production Company was Omnia Pictures Ltd., London; Producers were Steven Pallos and Donald Taylor. Distributor was British Lion Film Corp Ltd., London. Directed by Akos Rathonyi; Starring William Lucas, Penelope Horner, Albert Lieven, Colin Jeavons, Ingrid van Begen, Jan Hendriks and Marius Goring beneath Christopher Lee. In the US it was released as DAFFODIL KILLER in 1967 by Goldstone Film Enterpises.

The film was a co-production between British and German companies and simultaneously shot in two different versions as well in English and German language with some of the actors recast for each country. Lucas, Horner and Jeavons were replaced in the German version DAS GEHEIMNIS DER GELBEN NARZISSEN (The Secret of the Yellow Daffodils) by Joachim Fuchsberger, Sabina Sesselmann and Klaus Kinski. Christopher Lee, Marius Goring, Albert Lieven and Peter Illing starred in both versions speaking their own lines in the German one; they were not dubbed. The German version was filmed in b/w with the title credits appearing in Technicolor only. It's likely that the British version was filmed in full colour but I'm not definitely sure. Rumors say that popular Judy-Holliday-type actress-singer Ingrid van Bergen did her German song "Bei mir ist alles nur Natur" (It's all nature with me) as "But I haven't got a thing to hide" also in English.

In Germany the film was part of the Edgar Wallace crime movie series and is widely available on DVD - individually as well as in a box set - but without English subtitles unfortunately:
Amazon.de: Das Geheimnis der gelben Narzissen: Joachim Fuchsberger,Sabine Sesselmann,Klaus Kinski,Edgar Wallace,Keith Papworth,Akos von Ratony: DVD
Amazon.de: Edgar Wallace Edition 02 (4 DVDs): Edgar (Buch) Wallace: DVD

The British Cinema Source Book states that the BFI has no copy. I guess the film was never released on video. DDVideo released the Donald Taylor - Steven Pallos production FOXHOLE in CAIRO (1960) on DVD a few years ago. I wrote to DD if they would possibly also do the DAFFODIL but they soon answered there will be no release by DD. Was the film ever screened on British or American Television ? I desperately need a copy of it. Can anybody help ?

[MarcMorris]

I have the English trailer - the film has never been issued on tape or DVD with its English dub.

[Grey Wyler]

The Devil's Daffodil was screened way, way back in the very early 1970's in the Scottish Television region (and presumably others too) as a late entry in the Don't Watch Alone season. Not many home videos back in those days.
Would love to see the film.

[julian_craster]

I recall that for the UK release, this film was heavily edited to fit the bottom half of a double bill, and was criticised at the time as there were gaps in continuity and the plot did not make much sense. This often happened with German co-productions....

The best version to see would be the full length German film, plus English sub-titles or dubbing.....

[MarcMorris]

Here you are - THE DEVIL'S DAFFODIL rare English trailer!

The Devil's Daffodil (trailer)

That's a rather familiar voice-over... ;-)

I have a huge selection of old movie trailers (mainly horror, sci-fi, fantasy, JD etc) - if there's anything else anybody is looking for, let me know.

ps: BBFC classified the film in 1961 with a 'A' certificate and a run time of 97m 38s

BBFC: The Devil's Daffodil

[c.n.-tonfilm]

Hi Marc,

thanks best for posting it ! The scenes seem to be shot as a 1:1 aequivalent to the same scenes in the German version. Even the stars which were cast twice have a huge resemblance in both versions.

Originally Posted by julian_craster I recall that for the UK release, this film was heavily edited to fit the bottom half of a double bill, and was criticised at the time as there were gaps in continuity and the plot did not make much sense. This often happened with German co-productions.... The best version to see would be the full length German film, plus English sub-titles or dubbing.....

I guess you confuse the movie with CIRCUS OF FEAR which also was a British-German co-production and which indeed was truncated for the British and even more for the American release. Although there are various versions around missing a lot of footage, the Region 1 Anchor Bay DVD has the complete English version
Amazon.com: Circus of Fear: Christopher Lee,Leo Genn,Anthony Newlands,Heinz Drache,Eddi Arent,Klaus Kinski,Margaret Lee (II),Suzy Kendall,Cecil Parker,Victor Maddern,Maurice Kaufmann,Lawrence James,Tom Bowman,Skip Martin (II),Nosher Powell,Gordon Pet


For DAFFODIL, it seems correct to me that the British version was 97 minutes long (which would be 3 minutes longer than the German version); but the American DAFFODIL KILLER print was cut down to 86 minutes.


The other British-German Edgar Wallace movie missing in English language is TRAITOR'S GATE (1964) by Freddie Francis. This one was shot in in English language and later dubbed into German for the German market. Unfortunately, the German DVD does not carry the original English audio track.
Amazon.de: Das Verrätertor: Albert Lieven,Margot Trooger,Klaus Kinski,Edgar Wallace,Martin Böttcher,Peter Thomas,Freddie Francis: DVD

[julian_craster]

This was the film that made no sense at all in the edited UK version....

a UK/W Ger film made in Ireland !


The Devil's Agent (1962)
... aka Im Namen des Teufels (West Germany)

The Devil's Agent (1962)


Is this available on DVD in Germany ?

[dremble wedge]

Originally Posted by julian_craster This was the film that made no sense at all in the edited UK version.... a UK/W Ger film made in Ireland ! The Devil's Agent (1962) ... aka Im Namen des Teufels (West Germany) The Devil's Agent (1962) Is this available on DVD in Germany ?

It's got a great cast, I'd love to see it turn up one day...

There were a few films made in Ireland in the 60s: Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace, The Face of Fu Manchu, Sword of Sherwood Forest, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and even bits of The Italian Job!

[Shaun]

The Ardmore Studios? One of my favourites from that era, Johnny Nobody.

Shaun

[c.n.-tonfilm]

Originally Posted by julian_craster This was the film that made no sense at all in the edited UK version.... a UK/W Ger film made in Ireland ! The Devil's Agent (1962) ... aka Im Namen des Teufels (West Germany) The Devil's Agent (1962) Is this available on DVD in Germany ?

The German title was IM NAMEN DES TEUFELS (In the Name of the Devil) and it was was a co-production of Eichberg Film, Munich and Bavaria Film, Munich with Emmett Dalton Productions, London. It was never shown on German TV or available on video. Due to the FSK (the German BBFC) ledgers the film had a running time of 95'11 in Germany whereas the BBFC lists 96'52 for Britain. Originally, Peter Cushing had a part in the movie but unfortunately he was cut out completely from the release print. The Cushing footage seems to be lost today. The film is available in the US via Something Weird Video in the 96 minutes version from a 16mm source. This seems to be the only version around so far:

Somethingweird.com | Age Consent Form

[batman]

Originally Posted by Shaun The Ardmore Studios? One of my favourites from that era, Johnny Nobody. Shaun

Nigel Patrick, Aldo Ray and William Bendix ... great film.

[dremble wedge]

Originally Posted by c.n.-tonfilm The film is available in the US via Something Weird Video in the 96 minutes version from a 16mm source. This seems to be the only version around so far:

Hmm, that could be worth investigating...

[julian_craster]

<< The German title was IM NAMEN DES TEUFELS (In the Name of the Devil) and it was was a co-production of Eichberg Film, Munich and Bavaria Film, Munich with Emmett Dalton Productions, London. It was never shown on German TV or available on video. Due to the FSK (the German BBFC) ledgers the film had a running time of 95'11 in Germany whereas the BBFC lists 96'52 for Britain. Originally, Peter Cushing had a part in the movie but unfortunately he was cut out completely from the release print. The Cushing footage seems to be lost today. The film is available in the US via Something Weird Video in the 96 minutes version from a 16mm source. This seems to be the only version around so far>>


According to the IMDB, it was cut down to 75 minutes for UK release (as a supporting feature) !
The review in FILMS AND FILMING said it made no sense at all .....