In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

It's a mild crowd pleaser for people who are exhausted by blockbusters.

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

In his private clinic Dr Tremayne (Donald Pleasance) tells his old friend Nicholas (Jack Hawkins) about four cases of mental aberration he has sold before reporting his findings to the authorities.A six year old boy, Paul (Russell Lewis), invents an imaginary friend, a tiger, in order to deal with the stress of living with his rowing parents, Fay (Georgia Brown) and Sam (Donald Houston). When they confront him about it it turns out that his imaginary friend is only too real and mauls them to death.An antiques dealer, Timothy (Peter McEnery), under the influence of an old painting with supernatural powers, is transported back to Victorian times where he meets his girlfriend's double.Brian (Michael Jayston) discovers a weird, human shaped tree called Mel, which he takes home and his wife, Bella (Joan Collins), gets jealous when he spends more time with it than her. She attempts to destroy Mel, but it attacks and kills her. After burying his wife in the woods,Brian gets into bed with Mel.An American literary agent, Auriol Pagent (Kim Novak), and her young daughter Ginny (Mary Tamm) unwittingly fall victim to ancient rituals and human sacrifice on a South Seas island.When Tremayne has finished revealing his research to Nicholas, his old friend dismisses him insane and has the wardens drag him off to the asylum. But, Nicholas, believing there to be no danger enters the room of the young Paul and is attacked by - yes, you've guessed it! - that tiger.No, not one of the Amicus portmanteau horror films that were successful throughout the sixties and early seventies despite a star cast and director Freddie Francis at the helm. It is a World Film Services production, the studio responsible for The Creeping Flesh who gave Francis the go ahead to make this - a personal project for the filmmaker - as they were impressed with his work on that film. Originally titled simply Witness Madness, it was scripted by the actress Jennifer Jayne who had appeared in Francis' Hammer psycho-thriller Hysteria and his Amicus compendium chiller Dr Terror's House Of Horrors. She would also go on to script the director's disastrous rock-horror musical Son Of Dracula, which starred Harry Nillson and Ringo Star as Merlin the Magician. Witness Madness was not originally meant to be a horror film but, on its completion, the studio insisted it should be and the director was forced to go and "horrify" it much to his dismay. Tales was added to the title in a bid to capitalize on the recent success of Francis' Tales From The Crypt. In the early 70's, Francis had a run of bad movies - The Creeping Flesh and Tales From The Crypt being the only exceptions - and they continued after this one with Craze and the aforementioned Son Of Dracula. These experiences would see Francis give up directing and return to working as a Cinematographer winning his second Oscar for Glory in 1989 and his last film would be The Straight Story in 1999.Three out of the four stories here are utterly dismal; unworthy of the stellar cast involved and directed by Francis with much more style than they deserved. In particular, the spectacle of Joan Collins getting worked up and jealous over her on screen husband Michael Jayston's infatuation with a tree is just plain ridiculous for words and you will not be able to help yourself but laugh all the way through it. The forth story, however, starring Kim Novak (she replaced Rita Hayworth just a short time after shooting began) is excellent, unsettling and directed in Francis' best Gothic style. His visual flair here is simply dazzling thanks in no measure to Norman Warwick's sparkling cinematography - in fact, the entire film is well lit - and a number of the set ups were evidently specifically designed to favor its Hollywood star who most of us remember for her superb performance in Hitchcock's masterpiece Vertigo.

Dr. Nicholas (Jack Hawkins) arrives at the insane asylum run by the eminent Prof. Tremayne (Donald Pleasence) to hear his absolutely bizarre theories as to how four of his patients ended up there.The first is young Paul (Russell Lewis), who lived with quarrelling parents Sam and Fay (Donald Houston, Georgia Brown), and who had concocted an imaginary friend dubbed Mr. Tiger. Or is he imaginary?Next is Timothy (Peter McEnery), whose newly acquired penny farthing - it's a sort of bicycle - is able to transport him back in time, all while a leering portrait of his uncle Albert (Frank Forsyth) watches over him.Then we meet Brian (Michael Jayston), who frustrates his wife Bella (Joan Collins) by bringing home - and falling in love with (I kid you not) - a tree. A creepy looking tree that seems to be named Mel.Finally, in the tale that takes up most of the movies' running time, the story of Auriol (Kim Novak) is told. She's having to deal with a rebellious daughter, Ginny (Mary Tamm) while entertaining a writer named Kimo (Michael Petrovitch).Only the fourth tale, "Luau", has any real kick to it. And it's an appreciably twisted tale indeed. But overall, the segments of "Tales That Witness Madness" are bland and lack style. A shame, given that director / cinematographer Freddie Francis *could* do solid work in this format. Things get a little too silly a little too often, especially in the sequence with Brian and Bella, and the endings are rather predictable. Certainly this excellent cast of familiar faces does some good work; Pleasence is a pleasure to watch as always. And the movies' final moments come complete with yet another twist before the end credits start rolling.However, if you're looking for a good horror anthology from this period, check out "Asylum" or "Tales from the Crypt" instead.Five out of 10.

The portmanteau/anthology format is very hit and miss with many examples of the genre having at least one weak tale hidden amongst the good ones, or vice versa. Tales That Witness Madness, however, is fairly unique in that every segment—including the bizarre wraparound story—is a dud, meaning that usually dependable horror director Freddie Francis and his seasoned cast of character actors can do very little to prevent the film from being a crushing bore.Jennifer Jayne's nonsensical script sees Dr. Nicholas (Jack Hawkins) arriving at a futuristic hospital for the insane, where psychiatrist Dr. R.C. Tremayne (Donald Pleasance) is convinced that he has discovered what caused four of his patients to go mad. In order to convince his doubtful colleague, he recounts the details of each case: loony number one is Paul (Russell Lewis), a young boy whose imaginary friend Mr. Tiger proves to be very real indeed, devouring the lad's constantly bickering parents; patient number two, Timothy Patrick (Peter McEnery), loses his marbles after taking a trip into the past on a supernatural penny-farthing that is controlled by the ever-changing portrait of his Uncle Albert; fruitcake three, Brian (Micheal Jayston), kills his gorgeous wife (Joan Collins) in order to get it on with the malevolent tree trunk he brings into his home; and the last nutter is literary agent Auriol Pageant (Kim Novak) whose latest client, Hawaiian writer Kimo (Micheal Petrovitch), is planning a special feast with Auriol's tasty teenage daughter as the main course.After telling his unbelievable (and dreadfully dull) tales to a still sceptical Dr. Nicholas, the seemingly unhinged Tremayne is escorted to one of his own padded cells; shortly thereafter, Dr. Nicholas is paid a visit by Mr. Tiger!!! Dull, uninspired and cursed with some very lame 'twist' endings, this collection of dreadful tales offers horror fans very little to get excited about—with the exception of one scene that may be of particular interest to Evil Dead fans: Joan Collins' character is attacked by trees and creepers in the middle of a forest, the branches ripping off her clothes and groping her (body double's?) breasts. Sound familiar?3.5 out of 10, rounded up to 4 for presence of the lovely Joan Collins.

A Rolls-Royce pulls up outside some large metal gates. A sign on a wall next to the gates says 'H.M. Prison Commission, Department of Psychiatric Medicine. Prof. R.C. Tremayne, MD Phd BSc', basically it's an asylum and Tremayne is in charge. Once past the gates and inside the building Dr. Nicholas (Jack Hawkins) congratulates his friend Dr. Tremayne (Donald Pleasence) on his breakthrough. They walk around the asylum and visit four patients who each have a story revolve around them. First up it's a young boy named Paul (Russell Lewis) in a segment called 'Mr. Tiger'.Paul's parents Faye (Georgia Brown) and Sam Patterson (Donald Houston) are always arguing. Paul's tutor Phillipe (David Wood) tells Faye about Paul's imaginary friend named 'Mr. Tiger' who is unsurprisingly a tiger. Obviously everyone thinks Paul is making it up. That is until Faye finds claw marks on a door............Nicholas and Tremayne then visit Timothy Patrick (Peter McEnery), which leads us into the second story called 'Penny Farthing'.Timothy's Aunt has recently died and left him a lot of antiques for his shop which he runs with his wife Ann (Suzy Kendall). Included with the items are a photograph of Timothy's stiff-upper lipped Uncle Albert (Frank Forsyth) and a penny farthing. While working late one night Timothy becomes possessed by Albert who makes him get on the penny farthing and start to peddle. This takes Timothy to another time and place, but for what possible reason.........?Next up it's Brian (Micheal Jayston) and a short story called 'Mel'.While out running one day Brian finds a strangely and interestingly shaped log. He drags it home as he thinks he can 'do something with it'. Much to the displeasure of his girlfriend Bella (Joan Collins). Brian becomes obsessed with it. But there seems to be something odd about the log, it's almost as if it were alive. Eventually Bella decides either the log goes or she does, with unexpected results.......Finally it's Auriol Pageant (Kim Novak) and her segment is called 'Luau'.Auriol is expecting an important client, an author named Kimo (Micheal Petrovitch) and his assistant Keoki (Leon Lissek) to fly into the country. Auriol decides she has to show him a good time and impress. First of all she takes Kimo and Keoki out to dinner, along with Auriol's daughter Virginia (Mary Tamm). Kimo then starts to take an unhealthy interest in Virginia's personal life. Meanwhile Auriol is planning on having an Hawaiian party as a surprise for Kimo, and the centrepiece being a large pork roast. However, it soon becomes clear that Kimo and Keoki have their own ideas as to what type of meat should be served..........Back at the asylum there is one final horrifying twist before the end credits roll. Directed by Freddie Francis I thought this was an average anthology and the individual stories themselves are a mixed bag to say the least. One of the problems is the script by Jennifer Jayne as Jay Fairbank. With an anthology film like this the segments need to be short and have a memorable twist at the end, in this case only the story called 'Mel' does. Mr. Tiger is very predictable, as soon as the word tiger is mentioned you know exactly what's going to happen in the end and it's not a surprise when it does. Penny farthing is just plain surreal and bizarre, there is no real explanation as to why Uncle Albert is possessing Timothy, it's merely hinted at. This story also has a very weak ending, I was sitting there waiting for a twist or a startling plot revelation but neither came and it just sort of ended limply. Mel with Joan Collins is easily the best story and tries to have a nice twist at the end, and as a whole the story itself works well as a short and is entertaining to watch Joan battle it out with a tree stump for the affections of Brian. The final story is also really predictable as it starts with Kimo promising to preform a voodoo ritual with a human sacrifice, he turns up at Auriol's house and takes an interest in her daughter Virginia. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out what's going to happen does it? It's generally well made as you would expect of British horror from the 70's. There is no blood or gore in it and only a couple of brief scenes of nudity, one of which involves Joan Collins, but the camera never shows her face while her characters breasts are out. They probably used a body double. Acting is OK from everyone involved. Overall I didn't think too much of it, it's OK but not as good as many other horror anthologies like the House that Drpped Blood (1970), Asylum (1972), the Vault of Horror (1973) or even Creepshow (1982). Probably worth a watch if you can catch it on T.V. but not much else.