Jack Garfein, a Holocaust survivor, emigrated to New York, where he went to make a name for himself in his stage work, and his association with Elia Kazan, who was a mentor of sorts. Yet, his film career was short consisting of only two movies he directed, "The Strange One" in 1957 and "Something Wild", in 1961. The latter one showed up on a classic cable channel recently.
"Something Wild" is basically a European sort of film, in flavor, as well as in content. The walk through a city was one of the basic elements, as it is in here. Mary Ann Robinson, a luscious young student makes the mistake of lingering in a park on her way home from school. She is assaulted by an unknown man who proceeds to rape her. Mary Ann's reaction is what triggers the events she will experience in trying to deal with the tragedy she lived during that terrifying night she lived.
Her house was dominated by a stern mother and a father that seemed not to have anything to say at home. It is not hard to understand how this young woman decide to flee her comfortable surroundings in order to lose herself in the anonymity of the big city. She ends up in a seedy rooming house and a job in a dime store. Her state of mind is clearly the motivation for being at the Manhattan bridge one day thinking about committing suicide. She is rescued by Mike, a mechanic, who happens to be nearby.
Mike offers her to stay in his basement apartment, something that she accepts, but in turn, she makes the wrong decision as she becomes Mike's prisoner. Trying to escape proves impossible; Mike who has a drinking problem sees the opportunity to have his way one night with the young woman, only to be rejected. The situation deteriorates, becoming a sort of Stockholm Syndrome where the two people develop a liking to each other, with Mike wanting to keep her with him forever.
Carroll Baker had made a name for herself in the American cinema for her provocative role of "Baby Doll", an erotically charge vehicle directed by Elia Kazan. Ms. Baker was at the height of her beauty at the time. Her Mary Ann is appealing and the chemistry between her and co-star Ralph Meeker is evident. Jean Stapleton has a minor role as the sleazy neighbor in the rooming house. Doris Roberts also can be seen as well as an uncredited Diane Ladd. The black and white photography captures the New York of the early 1960s by Eugene Schufftan, the German born cinematographer associated with Fritz Lang. The jazzy score is the creation of Aaron Copland.
"Something Wild" is basically a European sort of film, in flavor, as well as in content. The walk through a city was one of the basic elements, as it is in here. Mary Ann Robinson, a luscious young student makes the mistake of lingering in a park on her way home from school. She is assaulted by an unknown man who proceeds to rape her. Mary Ann's reaction is what triggers the events she will experience in trying to deal with the tragedy she lived during that terrifying night she lived.
Her house was dominated by a stern mother and a father that seemed not to have anything to say at home. It is not hard to understand how this young woman decide to flee her comfortable surroundings in order to lose herself in the anonymity of the big city. She ends up in a seedy rooming house and a job in a dime store. Her state of mind is clearly the motivation for being at the Manhattan bridge one day thinking about committing suicide. She is rescued by Mike, a mechanic, who happens to be nearby.
Mike offers her to stay in his basement apartment, something that she accepts, but in turn, she makes the wrong decision as she becomes Mike's prisoner. Trying to escape proves impossible; Mike who has a drinking problem sees the opportunity to have his way one night with the young woman, only to be rejected. The situation deteriorates, becoming a sort of Stockholm Syndrome where the two people develop a liking to each other, with Mike wanting to keep her with him forever.
Carroll Baker had made a name for herself in the American cinema for her provocative role of "Baby Doll", an erotically charge vehicle directed by Elia Kazan. Ms. Baker was at the height of her beauty at the time. Her Mary Ann is appealing and the chemistry between her and co-star Ralph Meeker is evident. Jean Stapleton has a minor role as the sleazy neighbor in the rooming house. Doris Roberts also can be seen as well as an uncredited Diane Ladd. The black and white photography captures the New York of the early 1960s by Eugene Schufftan, the German born cinematographer associated with Fritz Lang. The jazzy score is the creation of Aaron Copland.