Sorry, this movie sucks

Don't listen to the negative reviews

Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

Well, not any more.You can tell by the production values in "My Blood Runs Cold" that Troy Donahue's stock had taken a nosedive at Warners. It's in black and white, is directed by William Conrad, a serviceable but by no means A list director, and it makes use of the Doheny Mansion, a common setting for lots of movies. The film was made in 1965; by 1966, Warner Brothers had dumped him.Here, Donahue plays a mysterious man named Benjamin Gunther. In another life, he was in love with Barbara Merriday, the great-great grandmother of Julie Merriday (Joey Heatherton). He believes that Julie is a reincarnation of Barbara, and that they are meant to be together. He gives her a necklace with Barbara's picture in it, which looks just like Julie, and takes her to a cave where the lovers would meet. However, the two were separated by Barbara's father, and she would up marrying Merriday.Julie finds herself drawn to Ben in spite of herself; her father (Barry Sullivan) and boyfriend (Nicolas Coaster) disapprove.Are Julie and Ben intended to live Barbara and Ben's love story? And will they meet the same sad ending this time too? Troy Donahue by 1965 was 29 and, due to his drinking, was looking bloated and pasty. For a time he was a huge heartthrob, and this film was intended to appeal to young people, despite the fact that Donahue wasn't playing his usual nice guy.Donahue possessed, in the beginning anyway, striking looks and a good speaking voice. But he comes off as wooden; he wasn't an unlikeable actor, he just didn't have much range. Joey Heatherton was better, even in baby doll pajamas. Jeannette Nolan, as her aunt, is the best in the cast."My Blood Runs Cold" is an entertaining film, probably not for the reasons it was intended, but nevertheless, viewers who don't take it too seriously will enjoy it.

Young 21-year-old Julie (Joey Heatherton) is dating old but dependable Harry (Nicholas Coaster). Then she meets young hunky Ben (Troy Donahue) who seems instantly smitten with her. It seems he thinks she's the reincarnation of a woman he loved in another life! He knows a lot about her family that there's no way he could have known. Is it true? Obscure little thriller. The basic plot is interesting and it moves quickly enough. Donahue and Heatherton are certainly an attractive couple and shown in their bathing suits often. But this movie has problems. It's flatly directed and Barry Sullivan and Coaster are dreadful in their roles. Donahue and Heatherton are bad too but Donahue tries and is actually very good at times. Old pro Jeanette Nolan however is superb as Aunt Sarah. The ultimate resolution was disappointing but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't entertained. I give it a 6.

Troy Donahue must have been sick and tired of his parts of nice good-looking boys ;his attempt at a troubled character is certainly laudable,for who could believe he is able to do so very bad things?The problem is the prologue which promised more than we are given :the picture imitates a tapestry,giving the feeling of something of long ago ;and there are four lines of a poem by a poem by Byron ,which finally doesn't bring anything to a plot which steals from " portrait of Jennie" "Vertigo" and "Pandora" -hasn't Donahue got a ship?- to name but three ,but there is more.There's even a "love story" side for the girl's dad is a rich man whereas the blond boy has ,it seems ,no penny to his name .After three or four melodramas (the best of which is arguably "Parrish" ),it was a good idea to cast this good -looking actor in a disturbing role:at the beginning of the movie,and at least in the first half ,the audience does believe he is a romantic man who lives in the past and comes back (from the dead?) to claim his one and only love.But things go wrong in the second part in which the director seems not able to build an eerie magic atmosphere ;the final chase is the easy way out and the final pictures do not even try to disturb the viewer a little bit.

Troy Donahue was on suspension for a while refusing WB films etc and returned to the studio to film this William Conrad thriller. Troy Donahue excelled in the lush romantic dramas filmed by Delmer Daves at Warners however Troy Donahue lost his footing in this film. My Blood Runs Cold should have been filmed in Color and lost some of its edge by filmed in black and white. William Conrad who would have a TV career in Jake and The Fatman was also a Director and did Connie Stevens' Two On A Guillotine, Jeff Hunter's Brainstorm among other films. Not a great Film Director but Mr Conrad's films are enjoyable. Carol Lynley was first slotted for this film but was optioned by Otto Preminger under a contract Carol Lynley had with Preminger to do a Preminger film. Joey Heatherton took the role.Joey Heatherton made Where Love Has Gone with Susan Hayward, and Bette Davis at Paramount, Twilight of Honor at MGM with Richard Chamberlain and this WB movie. Not sure why Joey Heatherton made no other noteworthy films.This was Troy Donahue's last movie at Warner Bros and his last as a Star