Dead of Night

Charles Brooks

Christine Brooks

Andy Brooks

Dr. Philip Allman

Cathy Brooks

Bob

Postman

George, Army Captain

Truck Driver

Rosalie, diner waitress

Ed, diner cook

Drunk in diner

Policeman in Diner

Young Boy

Young Boy

Young Boy

Young Boy

Bartender

Bystander

Sheriff

Deputy

1st TV Announcer

2nd TV Announcer

Helicopter Pilot (uncredited)

Officer Ted (uncredited)

This film and its themes can in many ways be seen as an early reflection of the popular awareness of the effect of combat trauma on soldiers that the Vietnam War helped bring to light. Much of Andy's disposition and symptoms, e.g. sudden violent behaviour due to the re-living of traumatic experiences, would later be associated with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, defined by the American Psychiatric Association in the Third Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (1980).

Richard Backus was cast as Andy because he was able to create a silent stare of intense hatred for the casting agent. Backus' creepy facial expression came into play frequently for the film.

For the opening Vietnam scene there was additional footage shot of a traumatized Andy walking through the jungle among the bloody carnage. The footage was cut in favor of a quicker intro to the story. There was also supposed to be a similar scene later where Andy walks through the streets at night and comes across a blind veteran sitting on a porch. This scene was also cut for time.