''Assault'' is a 1971 British

thriller film Thriller film, also known as suspense film or suspense thriller, is a broad film genre that evokes excitement and suspense in the audience. The suspense element found in most films' plots is particularly exploited by the filmmaker in this genre. ...

directed by

Sidney Hayers Sidney Hayers (24 August 1921 – 8 February 2000) was a British film and television director, writer and producer. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Hayers began his career as a film editor. Among the films he directed are ''Circus of Horrors'' (19 ...

and starring Suzy Kendall,

Frank Finlay Francis Finlay, (6 August 1926 – 30 January 2016) was an English stage, film and television actor, Oscar-nominated for a supporting role as Iago in Laurence Olivier's 1965 film adaptation of ''Othello''. In 1983, Finlay was directed by It ...

Freddie Jones Frederick Charles Jones''Births, Marriages & Deaths Index of England & Wales, 1916-2005.''; at ancestry.com (12 September 1927 – 9 July 2019) was an English actor who had an extensive career in television, theatre and cinema productions for a ...

, and

Lesley-Anne Down Lesley-Anne Down (born 17 March 1954) is a British actress, singer and former model. She achieved fame as Georgina Worsley in the ITV drama series ''Upstairs, Downstairs'' (1973–75). She received further recognition for her performances in ...

;

David Essex David Essex (born David Albert Cook; 23 July 1947) is an English singer, songwriter, and actor. Since the 1970s, he has attained 19 Top 40 singles in the UK (including two number ones) and 16 Top 40 albums. Internationally, Essex had the most ...

also has a small role. It is based on the 1962 novel ''The Ravine'' by Kendal Young, and tells about a police attempt to track down a dangerous rapist/killer on the loose. In the U.S., it was retitled ''In the Devil's Garden''.

Premise

After a schoolgirl is raped on her way home from school, police move in to investigate the case. After a further girl is attacked and killed, they call in the assistance of a doctor and a local schoolteacher to help solve the case.

Cast

* Suzy Kendall as Julie West *

as Det. Chief Supt. Velyan *

as Reporter *

James Laurenson James Laurenson (born 17 February 1940) is a New Zealand stage and screen actor. Early life Laurenson was born in Marton, North Island, New Zealand. He was a student at Canterbury University College in Christchurch (now University of Canter ...

as Greg Lomax *

as Tessa Hurst * Tony Beckley as Leslie Sanford *

Anthony Ainley Anthony Ainley (20 August 1932 – 3 May 2004) was an English actor. He was the fourth actor to portray the Master in '' Doctor Who''. Early life Ainley was born in Stanmore, Middlesex, the son of the actor Henry Ainley, on 20 August 1932, a ...

as Mr. Bartell *

Dilys Hamlett Dilys Hamlett (31 March 1928, South Tidworth, Hampshire – 7 July 2002, Cupar, Fife) was a British actress. Early life Dilys Hamlett was born on 31 March 1928 in South Tidworth, Hampshire (now in Wiltshire), and developed an early interest in ...

as Mrs. Sanford *

James Cosmo James Ronald Gordon Copeland , known professionally as James Cosmo (b. 1947), is a Scottish film and television actor known for his appearances in films including ''Highlander'', '' Braveheart'', ''Trainspotting'', ''Jagame Thandhiram'', ''Tro ...

as Det. Sgt. Beale *

Patrick Jordan Albert Patrick Jordan (10 October 1923 – 10 January 2020) was a British stage, film and television actor. Biography He was born and raised in Harrow, Middlesex, the son of Margaret, a cook, and Albert Jordan, a regimental sergeant major. An ...

as Sgt. Milton *

Allan Cuthbertson Allan Darling Cuthbertson (7 April 1920 – 8 February 1988) was an Australian-born British actor. He was best known for playing stern-faced military officers in British films of the 1950s and 1960s. Early life Cuthbertson was born in Perth, W ...

as Coroner *

Anabel Littledale Anabel is a feminine given name. It is the Spanish version of Annabel. Notable people with this given name include: * Anabel Alonso (born 1964), Spanish comedy actress * Anabel Conde (born 1975), Spanish singer * Anabel Gambero (born 1972), fo ...

as Susan Miller * Tom Chatto as Police Doctor * Kit Taylor as Doctor * Jan Butlin as Day Receptionist * William Hoyland as Chemist in Hospital * John Swindells as Desk Sergeant * Jill Carey as Night Receptionist *

as Man in Chemist Shop * Valerie Shute as Girl in Chemist Shop * John Stone as Fire Chief * Siobhan Quinlan as Jenny Greenaway *

Marianne Stone Marianne Stone (23 August 1922 – 21 December 2009) was an English character actress. She performed in films from the early 1940s to the late 1980s, typically playing working class parts such as barmaids, secretaries and landladies. Stone appe ...

as Matron *

Janet Lynn Janet Lynn Nowicki (born April 6, 1953) is an American figure skater. She is the 1972 Olympic bronze medalist, a two-time world championships medalist, and a seven-time U.S. national champion. Amateur career Lynn began to skate almost as soon ...

as Girl in Library

References

External links

* 1971 films 1970s thriller films British thriller films 1970s English-language films Films about rape Films directed by Sidney Hayers Films shot at Pinewood Studios Folk horror films 1970s British films {{1970s-thriller-film-stub