MARLON Brando could do no wrong in the eyes of the critics this week in 1972.

Keen to capitalise on the massive success of The Godfather, distributors released The Nightcomers, a tawdry horror that Brando had filmed before the Mafia epic when he was just a down-on-his luck Hollywood actor.

Our critic wrote: “Brando proves again what an outstanding actor he is... some of the subtleties of the original may have been lost but the atmosphere is nevertheless gripping.”

The truth was rather different. Nightcomers is now universally recognised as a classic... stinker.

Also showing at the Odeon this week in 1972 was a Hammer double bill: Dr Jeykll & Sister Hyde paired with Blood from the Mummy’s Tomb.

More horror was on at the ABC but The Devil Rides Out was rather tame stuff by 1972 standards.

Bradford actress Mary Tamm was looking forward to making her big screen debut in Tales That Witness Madness. Unfortunately, the T&A insisted on calling this portmanteau horror Tales That Witness Murder throughout.

Mary was probably happy to forget it anyway.