Peter Sasdy

Directing

Peter Sasdy

Born May 27, 1935 · Budapest, Hungary (age 91)

Peter Sasdy (born May 27, 1935) is a British film and TV director. As well as numerous TV credits, notably the Nigel Kneale-scripted The Stone Tape (1972), he directed several horror films for Hammer, including Taste the Blood of Dracula (1969), Countess Dracula (1971) and Hands of the Ripper (1971). He directed Pia Zadora in the cult classic The Lonely Lady (1983), for which he earned a Razzie A…

Known For

Taste the Blood of DraculaTaste the Blood of Dracula · 1970
Taste the Blood of Dracula
★ 6.11970
MovieHorror
Three elderly distinguished gentlemen are searching for some excitement in their boring borgoueis lives and gets in contact with one of count Dracula's servants. In a nightly ceremony they restore the count back to life. The three men killed Dracula's servant and as a revenge, the count makes sure that the gentlemen are killed one by one by their own sons.
Countess DraculaCountess Dracula · 1971
Countess Dracula
★ 5.71971
MovieDramaHorror
Hungary, XVII century. After being widowed, the old countess Elizabeth Nádasdy, of the Báthory lineage, fortunately discovers a way to become young again; but the price to be paid by those around her will be high and bloody.
Nothing But the NightNothing But the Night · 1973
Nothing But the Night
★ 6.21973
MovieCrimeHorror
When various trustees of the Van Traylen Orphanage begin dying in close order, it's at first written off as a coincidence. But, when a school bus accident very nearly takes out three more of them along with a group of orphans, Col. Bingham and his pathologist friend, Mark, begin looking into the deaths. They come to think the answer lies with one of the girls on the bus, who has vivid memories of things she could not possibly have seen.
Hands of the RipperHands of the Ripper · 1971
Hands of the Ripper
★ 6.21971
MovieHorrorThriller
A series of murders occur that mirror those committed by the Whitechapel Ripper. Through his experiments with psychoanalysis Dr Pritchard discovers a deadly violence in one of his young female patients. As he delves into the recesses of her mind he uncovers that Anna is possessed by her dead father's spirit, willing her to commit acts of gruesome savagery over which she has no control. But the most chilling revelation of all is the identity of her father: Jack the Ripper himself.
The Lonely LadyThe Lonely Lady · 1983
The Lonely Lady
★ 4.61983
MovieDrama
A young screenwriter allows others to exploit her in the hopes of "making it" in Hollywood.
I Don't Want to Be BornI Don't Want to Be Born · 1976
I Don't Want to Be Born
★ 5.21976
MovieThrillerHorror
A woman gives birth to a baby, but this is no ordinary one. The child is seemingly possessed by the Devil.
The EyeThe Eye · 1966
The Eye
1966
MovieScience FictionTV Movie
Julian Clay is accused of murdering Andrew Maddox - a charge he cannot deny because 'The Eye', a device which records the past, saw him do it. However, the law affords one loophole.
Sherlock Holmes and the Leading LadySherlock Holmes and the Leading Lady · 1991
Sherlock Holmes and the Leading Lady
★ 5.41991
MovieCrimeDrama
Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson get involved with Balkan terrorists to save Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria from an assassination at the opera house and prevent World War I.

Filmography

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Orson Welles' Great MysteriesOrson Welles' Great Mysteries · 1973
Orson Welles' Great Mysteries
★ 6.81973
SeriesMysteryDrama
Orson Welles’ Great Mysteries is a British television anthology series produced by Anglia Television for the ITV network and broadcast between 1973 and 1974. The series presents standalone adaptations of classic mystery, crime, and supernatural stories drawn from literary sources including Dickens, Conan Doyle, Wilkie Collins, Balzac, Maugham, O. Henry, and others. Each episode is framed by original introductory and closing sequences performed by Orson Welles, who serves as the series’ host and sole recurring on-screen presence. These segments, written and directed by Welles (uncredited), function as stylized narrative framing devices rather than dramatic participation in the stories themselves. The dramatic content of each episode is performed by separate casts and directors, with no continuing characters or serialized narrative, establishing the series as a unified television anthology rather than a collection of standalone films.

Director

Ghost SquadGhost Squad · 1961
Ghost Squad
★ 6.01961
SeriesCrimeDrama
Ghost Squad, known as G.S.5 for its third series, was a crime drama series about an elite division of Scotland Yard that ran between 1961 and 1964. Each episode the Ghost Squad would investigate cases that fell outside the scope of normal police work. Despite the show and characters being fictional, an actual division did exist within the Metropolitan Police Service at the time. Inspiration for the series was taken from a book of the same name, written by John Gosling — a retired police officer and former member of the team. Although the real-life squad only operated in London, the fictionalised team travelled internationally; however — as was typical of the time — most foreign locations were actually a combination of stock footage and sets at Independent Artists Studio at Beaconsfield and Elstree Studios. Music was by Philip Green. The show was produced by ITC Entertainment, along with Rank Organisation TV and ATV. It was the first ITC show filmed to fit the one hour time-slot — setting the trend for the majority of ITC's future output. Another common ITC trait was to feature an American, in this case Michael Quinn, in a leading role so as to increase the chances of international sales. At 6' 3", Quinn often towered over his co-workers. This was especially noticeable in the first series title sequence showing him walking through a crowd walking in the opposite direction. He frequently smoked in the show as did many others. The second series had a different title sequence and Neil Hallett sometimes replaced Quinn. Hallett looked more like a spy while Quinn looked a bit like a playboy. Quinn was replaced by Australian actor, Ray Barrett in the third series. Ray Austin played Billy Clay in and was also Stunt Director on all series bringing the action to life. Austin went on to become a renowned TV director in Hollywood and the UK.

Director