Experiment in Terror
Directed by Blake Edwards
Written by Gordon and Mildred Gordon from their novel
1962/USA
Geoffery-Kate Productions
First viewing/Amazon Instant
[box] “See now the power of truth; the same experiment which at first glance seemed to show one thing, when more carefully examined, assures us of the contrary.” ― Galileo Galilei, Discorsi E Dimostrazioni Matematiche: Intorno a Due Nuoue Scienze, Attenenti Alla Mecanica & I Movimenti Locali [/box]
This very good thriller might have been great.
Kelly Sherwood (Lee Remick) is a bank teller. She lives alone with her teenage sister Toby (Stefanie Powers). As the movie begins, she is grabbed from behind in her own garage. A sinister asthmatic tells her that if she does not steal $100,000 from her bank for him, he will kill her and/or her sister. She does not see the asthmatic’s face. He seems to know everything there is to know about her and her schedule.
But Kelly is not about to steal the money and finally manages to contact the FBI, which puts agent John Ripley (Glenn Ford) on the case. The rest of the movie moves briskly along to D-Day when we learn whether good or evil will prevail.
This is quite an enjoyable thriller. I find I like about anything Lee Remick is in. I had higher hopes for the picture though. It would have been more suspenseful if the FBI had been a little sloppier or the culprit a little bit smarter. No one did these stories like Hitchcock or ever will. Still recommended if the plot appeals.
