| The Hellfire Club | |
| Director: | Robert S. Baker Monty Berman |
| Producer: | Robert S. Baker Monty Berman |
| Starring: | Keith Michell |
| Music: | Clifton Parker |
| Cinematography: | Robert S. Baker Monty Berman |
| Editing: | Frederick Wilson |
| Distributor: | Regal Films International (UK) Embassy Pictures (US) |
| Runtime: | 94 minutes |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Language: | English |
The Hellfire Club is a 1961 film inspired by the historical Hellfire Club, Sir Francis Dashwood's infamous 'gentlemen's' society of the 18th century. It starred Keith Michell and featured Peter Cushing in a cameo as enigmatic attorney Mr Merryweather.
According to the film, the club was famed for its depravity, debauchery, and devil worship. Although not a Hammer Films production, there are visual similarities. The script was co-written by Jimmy Sangster, and co-stars Hammer regulars Miles Malleson and Francis Matthews.
Glenn Erickson claims that the film did good box-office when released in America, on the back of publicity (such as a Playboy photo-spread) that suggested more nudity and adult content than actually appeared in any U.S. prints.[1]
In a 2012 review, Time Out calls the film "Surprisingly light on debauchery and occasionally perhaps too jocular for its own good" but praises Michell's performance.[2]