(No, I haven't peeked yet, but ... ) This was like a junior version of a Hitchcock suspense flick.
Is it great? Is it any where close to "the master?" No, but it's got a solid beginning and end : )
Here's my breakdown:
STORY: A concert pianist that suffers from black outs ... and what happens during the "forgotten darkness?"
Well, you'll have to watch to find out, but ...
The story had massive potential, but just as it just kept perking up, it would turn around and run flat again.
It's as if either the writers: 1) Couldn't make up their minds about characters and sub-plots, were they minor or major players?
Or 2) This was an earlier work and reflects a lack of maturity, cohesion, or as the Brits call it "continuity." or 3) Put their energy into a few key story elements, and then just coasted or dropped the ball for the rest.
(Let's do a little digging to try and find out ...)
ACTING: The acting here is actually quite good by Cregar (his last film before his death), and I liked seeing Darnell play a more vivacious and seductive character than her usual hard-nosed gal.
No stand outs, though I'd put Cregar in the style of Vincent Price (an exceptional actor with very good range).
ENTERTAINMENT: Moderate value as it wasn't great, but held up in the end
TEMPO: Good pace, but it bounces around too much and ends up feeling like we're almost switching films intermittently.
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Actually OK, with what appears predominantly sets with some outdoor work. The endless fog was a bit much.
DIRECTING / WRITING: Director: As I suspected, Brahm was both influenced by and had great respect for Hitchcock, and it shows.
His camera work, use of lighting, the capturing of emotion and thought written on faces ... these are classic Hitchcock signatures.
Overall, I thought he possessed excellent talent and potential, but he eventually poured himself into TV!
Yuck.
Writers: Yeah, I'd pin the problems with this film on the writers mostly. They don't appear to have produced winners, and both eventually gave up and wrote for TV. Probably for the best ...
Is it a good film? Yes, but it's not a strong "yes"
Should you watch this once? Yes, especially if you like Hitchcock's style and Bernard Hermann's music.
Rating: 7.3.
Is it great? Is it any where close to "the master?" No, but it's got a solid beginning and end : )
Here's my breakdown:
STORY: A concert pianist that suffers from black outs ... and what happens during the "forgotten darkness?"
Well, you'll have to watch to find out, but ...
The story had massive potential, but just as it just kept perking up, it would turn around and run flat again.
It's as if either the writers: 1) Couldn't make up their minds about characters and sub-plots, were they minor or major players?
Or 2) This was an earlier work and reflects a lack of maturity, cohesion, or as the Brits call it "continuity." or 3) Put their energy into a few key story elements, and then just coasted or dropped the ball for the rest.
(Let's do a little digging to try and find out ...)
ACTING: The acting here is actually quite good by Cregar (his last film before his death), and I liked seeing Darnell play a more vivacious and seductive character than her usual hard-nosed gal.
No stand outs, though I'd put Cregar in the style of Vincent Price (an exceptional actor with very good range).
ENTERTAINMENT: Moderate value as it wasn't great, but held up in the end
TEMPO: Good pace, but it bounces around too much and ends up feeling like we're almost switching films intermittently.
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Actually OK, with what appears predominantly sets with some outdoor work. The endless fog was a bit much.
DIRECTING / WRITING: Director: As I suspected, Brahm was both influenced by and had great respect for Hitchcock, and it shows.
His camera work, use of lighting, the capturing of emotion and thought written on faces ... these are classic Hitchcock signatures.
Overall, I thought he possessed excellent talent and potential, but he eventually poured himself into TV!
Yuck.
Writers: Yeah, I'd pin the problems with this film on the writers mostly. They don't appear to have produced winners, and both eventually gave up and wrote for TV. Probably for the best ...
Is it a good film? Yes, but it's not a strong "yes"
Should you watch this once? Yes, especially if you like Hitchcock's style and Bernard Hermann's music.
Rating: 7.3.