The Sentinel [Blu-ray]

Director: Michael Winner Michael Winner

Overview

In the wake of such Satanic-themed thrillers as Rosemary's Baby, The Exorcist and The Omen comes The Sentinel. When New York fashion model (Cristina Raines) splits with her fiance (Chris Sarandon) and moves into an old brownstone, she soon discovers she has more than she bargained for in the lease. As luck would have it, a mysterious blind priest (John Carradine) who lives upstairs happens to be guarding the doorway to Hell, and she has been chosen as his replacement. Incidentally, when the door is finally opened, out spills an assortment of deformed humans whom director Michael Winner hand-picked from hospital wards and circus sideshows.

Product Details

Release Date:	09/22/2015
UPC:	0826663159448
Original Release:	1977
Rating:	R
Source:	STUDIO DISTRIBUTION SERVS LLC
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Language:	English
Time:	1:32:00
Sales rank:	13,272

Special Features

Audio commentary with writer/producer Jeffrey Konvitz; Audio commentary with writer/producer/director Michael Winner; Audio commentary with actress Cristina Raines; Interview with assistant director Ralph S. Singleton; Theatrical trailer; Still galleries

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Chris Sarandon	Michael Lerman
Cristina Raines	Alison Parker
Martin Balsam	Professor Ruzinsky
John Carradine	Father Halliran
José Ferrer	Robed Figure
Ava Gardner	Miss Logan
Arthur Kennedy	Monsignor Franchino
Burgess Meredith	Charles Chazen
Sylvia Miles	Gerde
Deborah Raffin	Jennifer
Eli Wallach	Detective Gatz
Christopher Walken	Detective Rizzo
Jerry Orbach	Film Director
Beverly D'Angelo	Sandra
Hank Garrett	Brenner
Robert Gerringer	Hart
Nana Tucker	Girl at End
Nana Visitor	Girl at End
Tom Berenger	Man at end
William Hickey	Perry
Gary Allen	Malcolm Stinnett
Teresa Hughes	Rebecca Stinnett,Rebecca Stinnett
Kate Harrington	Mrs. Clark
Jane Hoffman	Lilian Clotkin
Elaine Shore	Emma Clotkin
Sam Gray	Dr. Aureton
Reid Shelton	Priest
Fred Stuthman	Alison's father
Lucie Lancaster	Alison's mother
Anthony Holland	Party Host
Jeff Goldblum	Jack
Mady Heflin	Professor's Student
Diane Stilwell	Brenner's Secretary
Ron McLarty	Real Estate Agent
Gil Melle	Composer

Technical Credits

Jeffrey Konvitz

Michael Winner

Jeffrey Konvitz	Screenwriter,Producer
Michael Winner	Screenwriter,Director,Producer

Editorial Reviews

Nothing scares the hell out of people like religion, and the Catholic Church, with its centuries of history and arcane rituals, has figured in dozens of horror pictures that seek to exploit the combination of fear and respect that people (non-adherents in particular) hold for its priests. The Sentinel certainly follows in the footsteps of films like The Exorcist which apply a Catholic theological approach to questions of heaven and hell, but the film opens with some stylistic cops from Rosemary's Baby, a more doctrine-neutral occult tale. New York model Christina Raines' new apartment building is populated by a group of eccentric neighbors (including Burgess Meredith as the nosy Ruth Gordon character) who expend an inordinate amount of effort to draw her into their circle. When it's discovered that they may or may not be figments of her imagination, The Sentinel's story finds some nice twists of its own, and ultimately succeeds as a creepy little trifle for those who can accept the Catholic Church as a sinister institution that forces innocent nonbelievers into servitude at the gates of Hell. Star watchers will also enjoy seeing future lead players such as Jeff Goldblum, Jerry Orbach, and Christopher Walken in minor supporting roles.

All Movie Guide - Fred Beldin