Skip to main content
John Gilling
Director 1912 - 1984

John Gilling

London, England, UK

John Gilling (29 May 1912 – 22 November 1984) was an English film director and screenwriter, born in London. He was chiefly known for his horror films, especially for Hammer Films, for whom he directed Shadow of the Cat (1961), The Plague of the Zombies (1966), The Reptile... Read full bio →

Directed Films

Every film this person directed

23 titles
La cruz del diablo

La cruz del diablo

John Gilling 1975 1h 37m 4.0

A British novelist travels to Spain to visit his sister. However, when he arrives he discovers that she has been murdered by a gang of devil-worshiping bandits called the Devil's Cross.

The Mummy's Shroud

The Mummy's Shroud

John Gilling 1967 1h 30m 6.0

In 1920 an archaeological expedition discovers the tomb of an ancient Egyptian child prince. Returning home with their discovery, the expedition members soon find themselves being killed off by a mummy, which can be revived by reading the words off the prince's burial shroud.

The Reptile

The Reptile

John Gilling 1966 1h 30m 6.7

Harry Spalding inherits a cottage in a small Cornish village after his brother Charles dies in mysterious circumstances. Harry discovers that several locals have been killed by mysterious snake bites, something that is also found to have been the cause of Charles’s death. The answer may lie in a reluctant neighbor's strange offspring...

The Plague of the Zombies

The Plague of the Zombies

John Gilling 1966 1h 31m 6.8

Sir James Forbes arrives in a remote Cornish village to identify a mysterious plague afflicting the population. He discovers that one of the squires is a disciple of Haitian witchcraft and using dark magic to resurrect the dead. As the plan to create undead servants unravels, the squire unleashes his zombie army on the unsuspecting village.

The Night Caller

The Night Caller

John Gilling 1965 1h 25m 6.7

Mutant humanoids from outer space kidnap young Earth females in order to interbreed and save their species from extinction.

The Brigand of Kandahar

The Brigand of Kandahar

John Gilling 1965 1h 22m 6.0

The British army fights off rampaging locals in 1850s India.

The Scarlet Blade

The Scarlet Blade

John Gilling 1963 1h 23m 6.0

In 1648, during the English Civil War, Captain Sylvester switches sides between the Parliamentary and Royalist camps as his interests dictate, while King Charles I is on the run from Oliver Cromwell's troops.

The Pirates of Blood River

The Pirates of Blood River

John Gilling 1962 1h 27m 6.0

A group of ruthless pirates attack a 17th Century Huguenot settlement on the Isle of Devon in search of treasure and will stop at nothing to obtain it.

The Shadow of the Cat

The Shadow of the Cat

John Gilling 1961 1h 19m 6.0

Tabitha, once the placid, gentle and devoted pet, adopts all the characteristics of a ferocious, wild animal following the murder of her mistress. The three guilty people are all trapped by the cat's power and each will come to untimely deaths of horrific proportions without anyone being able to solve the mystery that surrounds their brutal death.

The Flesh and the Fiends

The Flesh and the Fiends

John Gilling 1960 1h 34m 7.3

Edinburgh surgeon Dr. Robert Knox requires cadavers for his research into the functioning of the human body; local ne'er-do-wells Burke and Hare find ways to provide him with fresh specimens...

The Challenge

The Challenge

John Gilling 1960 1h 41m 6.0

Jailed for his role in a gang heist and ditched by its female leader (Jayne Mansfield), a widower (Anthony Quayle) decides to keep the loot.

The Man Inside

The Man Inside

John Gilling 1958 1h 30m

A detective tracking a stolen gem begins to suspect there's more to the case than just theft.

Interpol

Interpol

John Gilling 1957 1h 32m 6.0

International narcotics smuggler Frank McNally is trailed through various European countries by U.S. drug enforcement agent Charles Sturgis.

The Gamma People

The Gamma People

John Gilling 1956 1h 19m

An American reporter smells a story when he is stranded in an Iron Curtain country where the local dictator is using gamma rays to transform children into mutated henchmen.

Tiger by the Tail

Tiger by the Tail

John Gilling 1955 1h 20m

On the first night of his London assignment, newsagency reporter John Desmonmd becomes heavily involved with enigmatic Anna Ray. The affair ends when she is shot struggling for a gun she has pulled on him. This is only the start of his troubles, as Anna worked for a criminal organisation who know Desmond has now got her valuable contacts list.

The Gilded Cage

The Gilded Cage

John Gilling 1955 1h 17m

Steve and Harry become involved in an art theft. Harry is framed by the crooks, and arrested by the police. Steve has to prove his brother's innocence.

Recoil

Recoil

John Gilling 1953 1h 19m 5.0

Jean Talbot poses as a crook to infiltrate the gang of thieves who killed her jeweler father, Michael.

Escape by Night

Escape by Night

John Gilling 1953 1h 19m 5.0

An Italian racketeer on the run in London holes up in a disused theatre with a hard-drinking journalist out to get the full story.

Deadly Nightshade

Deadly Nightshade

John Gilling 1953 1h 1m 7.0

Escapee switches identities but finds the new one quite a handful.

The Voice of Merrill

The Voice of Merrill

John Gilling 1952 1h 23m 5.0

A convicted female blackmailer is found murdered in her flat and suspicion falls on three men, all of whom the police believe may have had reason to wish her dead

Mother Riley Meets the Vampire

Mother Riley Meets the Vampire

John Gilling 1952 1h 14m

Vampire seeks world domination via experiments. Mistakenly delivered radar-controlled robot transports him and Mother Riley, leading to confrontation as she tries stopping Vampire's scheme.

The Quiet Woman

The Quiet Woman

John Gilling 1951 1h 11m 5.0

The former wife of a criminal moves to a coastal town and takes over the running of a bar known as The Quiet Woman. She becomes outraged when she discovers the previous owner had allowed local smugglers to use it as a base.

No Trace

No Trace

John Gilling 1950 1h 16m 5.0

Writer Robert Southley finds his lifestyle threatened by blackmail from a former American criminal associate.

Discussion

Loading the discussion…