Experiment in Terror (1962) dir. Blake Edwards; starring Glen Ford, Lee Remick, Stephanie Powers, Ross Martin
Noir Alley presentation, introduced by Eddie Muller. Bad guy with asthma coerces a teller to rob the bank where she works. If she doesn't or if she calls the cops, his vengeance will fall on her sister as well as on her. She does contact the FBI, and from there it becomes a game of cat-and-mouse.
Based on a novel by the Gordons (Gordon and Mildred), who'd learned from a previous novel sale that the real money was in screenwriting, and so they wrote the screenplay. Edwards was better known for comedy, like the Pink Panther movies, but in the '50s had produced noir TV shows like Richard Diamond, Private Eye and Peter Gunn. This one came between Breakfast at Tiffany's and Days of Wine and Roses (also with Remick).
This either comes quite late in the noir-era or is an early neo-noir, and certainly has the feel of the former in part because it was shot in black and white (and has one scene that would have fit in an Italian giallo). Further, it has the kind of tight direction/editing and adherence to the story line of the best noirs, a solid, dependable lead actor who was familiar with the genre, and a lead actress who was at the peak of her career, getting an Oscar nomination for her next movie. It's a slick, quick movie and well worth a watch if you get the chance.
The Invisible Man (1933) dir. James Whale; starring Claude Rains, Gloria Stuart, Clarence the ang -- er -- Henry Travers
Somehow, I doubt I need to say much about this one to this crowd. If you haven't seen it, you really should. It's one of the best of Universal's monster movies.
Noir Alley presentation, introduced by Eddie Muller. Bad guy with asthma coerces a teller to rob the bank where she works. If she doesn't or if she calls the cops, his vengeance will fall on her sister as well as on her. She does contact the FBI, and from there it becomes a game of cat-and-mouse.
Based on a novel by the Gordons (Gordon and Mildred), who'd learned from a previous novel sale that the real money was in screenwriting, and so they wrote the screenplay. Edwards was better known for comedy, like the Pink Panther movies, but in the '50s had produced noir TV shows like Richard Diamond, Private Eye and Peter Gunn. This one came between Breakfast at Tiffany's and Days of Wine and Roses (also with Remick).
This either comes quite late in the noir-era or is an early neo-noir, and certainly has the feel of the former in part because it was shot in black and white (and has one scene that would have fit in an Italian giallo). Further, it has the kind of tight direction/editing and adherence to the story line of the best noirs, a solid, dependable lead actor who was familiar with the genre, and a lead actress who was at the peak of her career, getting an Oscar nomination for her next movie. It's a slick, quick movie and well worth a watch if you get the chance.
The Invisible Man (1933) dir. James Whale; starring Claude Rains, Gloria Stuart, Clarence the ang -- er -- Henry Travers
Somehow, I doubt I need to say much about this one to this crowd. If you haven't seen it, you really should. It's one of the best of Universal's monster movies.
