Enjoyed this film starring George Segal, (Hugh Martin), who plans a trip to visit his girl friend, Lili,(Renee Southendjik) who lives in Germany during the cold war and decides to bring his daughter Carla Martin,(Christa Bruckner). Carla attended a Catholic College and was given a book from a Nun concerning Berlin, Germany during 1936 and WW II and Carla becomes very interested in this book and it has a great effect on Carla's visit to Germany. This is something like a story of "Diary of Anne Frank" and Carla begins to have visions of what it was like during these war years. Carla does not get along very well with Lili and causes all kinds of problems in her hotel room and starts moving furniture all around the room and even starts to steal large amounts of food, silverware, cups plates and acts like a completely crazy person. This is a very interesting film and worth your time in viewing.
9 Reviews
Every Which Way
Hitchcoc10 November 2006
Incredibly bleak and almost unwatchable. One of the rules of a good film is to create a world that is accessible. I get the main character's slipping in and out of the current reality. The problem is that things are so bleak in the contemporary that the past seems not so terrible. There is all this angst and anger. I thought to myself, this girl should be sent packing. She is the consummate brat. He father is pleasant to her, but because of the death of her mother, she resents him horribly. That said, he is about as dense as one can be. At one time, he is scolding her for smoking a cigarette; the next he is forgiving of the most outlandish behavior. I know he has no knowledge of the flipping in and out but that's an unfair part of this film as well. It's confusing because the central figure acquires new personalities as she shifts in and out of the past; but why? Isn't she really the same person and if she isn't, how does she keep a grip on reality in each place (an memory for that matter). I don't think I could watch it a second time.
"And how is the fraulein today?"
classicsoncall23 November 2012
Warning: Spoilers
The video sleeve offers a number of alternatives for character Carla Martin's (Amanda Pays) strange behavior - mental breakdown, past life memories or some sort of time travel induced paranoia. Personally, I'm going with the mental illness angle. She exhibited the signs of a split personality and the story brought it home near the finale at the point when her father (George Segal) and fiancée Lili (Renee Soutendijk) walked her out of the apartment and the alter-ego Christa Bruckner was led off by her Nazi butcher father (Warren Clarke). Up till then, the story was developing along a psychological thriller angle mixed with elements of horror and could have played out in any number of different directions. The young Pays appears here in her very first acting role, so in that respect she's generally effective if somewhat one-dimensional. I didn't care for the character of her father who was overboard in his attempt at being an understanding parent. I mean, even getting stabbed in the chest didn't seem to bother him all that much on the ride in the ambulance. For many viewers this will be just plain confusing and not worth the effort, so expecting a neat wrap up to the story just isn't going to make it happen.
It'll leave you...um...cold
LynxMatthews19 January 2006
This was a made-for-cable affair, but is/was available on VHS. The main and overriding sense one gets in watching this film is, "Great Scott! Will somebody wake these people up?" Which is another way of saying it is boring and dreary. But more than that, it seems like the whole production is in some sort of funk. Start with George Segal. I'm a fan. He may be remembered to people now as the guy from "Just Shoot Me." But up until the early 80s, the guy was a capital-letters Movie Star, whose main asset was a sense of fun and vigor he brought into the various quirky roles he played. His star was fading when this was made and it is clear why. In THE COLD ROOM, he seems preoccupied, dazed, out of it. Just sad to see a once- vibrant person bring nothing to the table.
But he's not the only one. Pays (Mrs. Corbin Bernson), has little spark to her character. The whole plot involves people in present-day Germany, one of whom discovers a link to a past romance with a character from Germany's Nazi past. It might have helped if Pays (or anyone else) brought a little energy to the set. But since the whole thing is pretty lifeless, directed by the book, scripted with no surprises, etc...the "who cares" factor is high. The movie is inoffensive but seems almost intentionally boring. Like the people who made it wanted it to be quickly forgotten.
But he's not the only one. Pays (Mrs. Corbin Bernson), has little spark to her character. The whole plot involves people in present-day Germany, one of whom discovers a link to a past romance with a character from Germany's Nazi past. It might have helped if Pays (or anyone else) brought a little energy to the set. But since the whole thing is pretty lifeless, directed by the book, scripted with no surprises, etc...the "who cares" factor is high. The movie is inoffensive but seems almost intentionally boring. Like the people who made it wanted it to be quickly forgotten.
Father Confusion
wes-connors30 June 2008
"A British girl is traveling with her estranged father in order to attempt to rebuild their relationship. Shortly after they arrive in East Germany, the girl begins to suffer from strange sensations and mental lapses, where she remembers events from World War II that she could never have experienced herself. Is this a case of mental breakdown, is it possible memories from a past life, or is she dealing with a rip in the fabric of time and she is actually experiencing the events for real?" asks the DVD sleeve's synopsis.
James Dearden's "The Cold Room" opens with the telling definition: "Possession: psychological state in which an individual personality is replaced by another." In this case, possession can also be mind-numbingly dull. When she throws up her milk, you'll know ill-tempered Amanda Pays (as Carla Martin) is becoming Nazi-era rape victim "Christa Bruckner". Her father, George Segal (as Hugh Martin), wants to bridge the generation gap, as Ms. Pays goes mad. Pretty, model-like Pays has some serious father problems. Anthony Higgins (as Erich) has a good supporting role.
*** The Cold Room (1984) James Dearden ~ Amanda Pays, George Segal, Anthony Higgins
James Dearden's "The Cold Room" opens with the telling definition: "Possession: psychological state in which an individual personality is replaced by another." In this case, possession can also be mind-numbingly dull. When she throws up her milk, you'll know ill-tempered Amanda Pays (as Carla Martin) is becoming Nazi-era rape victim "Christa Bruckner". Her father, George Segal (as Hugh Martin), wants to bridge the generation gap, as Ms. Pays goes mad. Pretty, model-like Pays has some serious father problems. Anthony Higgins (as Erich) has a good supporting role.
*** The Cold Room (1984) James Dearden ~ Amanda Pays, George Segal, Anthony Higgins
Flawed but kind of interesting
lazarillo14 March 2010
This is a somewhat ambitious movie about an adolescent English girl (Amanda Pays) visiting East Germany with her divorced American father (George Segal). The girl (who's kind of an annoying brat to begin with)becomes possessed by the spirit of a previous young female tenant of the house, who during WWII was hiding a Jewish male lover in a "cold room" behind the wall.
People say a lot of bad things about this movie. But considering it was made by the guy that wrote the piece-of-crap script for the piece- of-crap 80's movie "Fatal Attraction", I thought it was OK. It isn't very well-executed, but frankly it's a hell of a lot more ambitious than "Fatal Attraction" (which was basically a crappy re-make of "Play Misty for Me" made to cash in on 80's AIDS hysteria). George Segal is OK as the father. Unfortunately, Amanda Pays, in her first film, is simply not a strong enough actress to do this role very convincingly. (She's a very pretty girl though who later appeared most famously in the Rob Lowe movie "Oxford Blues"). The other actors all seem to be East European, perhaps ones living in Britain or whatever country they actually filmed this in. James Dearden does a pretty bad job of directing this, leaving all kinds of loose ends everywhere. Thank god though he wasn't responsible for the source material (I haven't read the book this was based on, but I'm sure it's far, far better than anything this talentless Hollywood hack could have come up with).
At times this seems almost like a children's movie. But then it also contains scenes like where the possessed protagonist has a fever dream where she experiences her forbear's experience of being raped by her father--and then she falsely tells the East German authorities SHE was raped by her own father! (Luckily a doctor inspects her and it turns out ghosts can't rupture hymens). I think if they took a few scenes like this out, this could be kind of a decent high-school horror companion piece to "The Diary of Ann Frank". As it is, it's a very flawed film, but a kind of interesting one.
People say a lot of bad things about this movie. But considering it was made by the guy that wrote the piece-of-crap script for the piece- of-crap 80's movie "Fatal Attraction", I thought it was OK. It isn't very well-executed, but frankly it's a hell of a lot more ambitious than "Fatal Attraction" (which was basically a crappy re-make of "Play Misty for Me" made to cash in on 80's AIDS hysteria). George Segal is OK as the father. Unfortunately, Amanda Pays, in her first film, is simply not a strong enough actress to do this role very convincingly. (She's a very pretty girl though who later appeared most famously in the Rob Lowe movie "Oxford Blues"). The other actors all seem to be East European, perhaps ones living in Britain or whatever country they actually filmed this in. James Dearden does a pretty bad job of directing this, leaving all kinds of loose ends everywhere. Thank god though he wasn't responsible for the source material (I haven't read the book this was based on, but I'm sure it's far, far better than anything this talentless Hollywood hack could have come up with).
At times this seems almost like a children's movie. But then it also contains scenes like where the possessed protagonist has a fever dream where she experiences her forbear's experience of being raped by her father--and then she falsely tells the East German authorities SHE was raped by her own father! (Luckily a doctor inspects her and it turns out ghosts can't rupture hymens). I think if they took a few scenes like this out, this could be kind of a decent high-school horror companion piece to "The Diary of Ann Frank". As it is, it's a very flawed film, but a kind of interesting one.
Physological mumbo jumbo
rwe312 July 2009
George Segal is the estranged father of a 17 year old girl. She is a troubled youth and is played quite ably Amanda Pays. In an attempt to reconnect with his daughter, Segal takes her from London to East Berlin. She is not happy and quite rude to him but he continues to try and please her. The East Berlin setting makes for empty streets and strange encounters. Why he picks this locale is never explained. It's a grim place. The daughter gets into all sorts of strange physic changes which makes her unbalanced and unpredictable.
Warren Clarke has a marvelous part as a "heavy" which is a far cry from his performance as Detective in "Dalziel and Pascoe" (61 episodes)a
It's worth your time if you really need diversion. There are some real "plot holes" so don't expect a satisfactory ending.
Warren Clarke has a marvelous part as a "heavy" which is a far cry from his performance as Detective in "Dalziel and Pascoe" (61 episodes)a
It's worth your time if you really need diversion. There are some real "plot holes" so don't expect a satisfactory ending.
The Cold Room
RJean196731 October 2007
The movie lights upon "unfinished" business, as shown from the dreams of Amanda Pays' character. The unfinished business is almost reminding of the Gordon Lightfoot song, If You Could Read My Mind. On a vulture note, a hint of a sub-parallel; a similarity to Seward's Ice Box/Polar Bear Garden - Alaska, USA.
World War, US War History buffs and students pour through info. for study, research and writing. While doing so, watching the movie becomes an opportunity to consider such possible aforsaid symbolism; then, to refine it; to supplicate the history/movie experience.
Whether or not the movie's possible symbolism fits into a template like format, using other content to describe something - like an allegory from symbolism, is interesting. Ambitious history buffs, amateur code breakers and students might find some "meat and potato" substance there.
World War, US War History buffs and students pour through info. for study, research and writing. While doing so, watching the movie becomes an opportunity to consider such possible aforsaid symbolism; then, to refine it; to supplicate the history/movie experience.
Whether or not the movie's possible symbolism fits into a template like format, using other content to describe something - like an allegory from symbolism, is interesting. Ambitious history buffs, amateur code breakers and students might find some "meat and potato" substance there.
Don't Bother with This Dismal Mess
richievee13 December 2014
Warning: Spoilers
I had high expectations for this film, hoping to catch a glimpse of East Germany during the Cold War. Moreover, the story was reputed to include an element of time travel, which is a genre that I enjoy. But The Cold Room is an unmitigated mess. Never does director James Dearden make an effort to clarify what is happening on screen. Is Carla Martin the same person as Christa Bruckner, or is she a lookalike or distant relative? Does she actually return to the days of Nazi Germany, or is this simply a dream sequence? Who rapes her, if indeed she is raped at all, and why does Carla stab her own father instead of Christa stabbing Wilhelm, the butcher? And why does Carla's father, Hugh Martin, arrange for a father-daughter reunion in East Germany, of all places? Nothing is explained by final curtain, so the audience is left to wonder why they have invested an hour and a half of their lives in watching this dismal, boring story slowly unfold upon itself. It is difficult to sympathize with any of the characters. George Segal is a smiling, long-suffering wimp, hardly changing expression or attitude - - even after being stabbed in the chest by his own daughter. He has learned nothing about her, except that she might be a tad mentally unbalanced. Amanda Pays seems to be a good actress, but her character is hopelessly self-centered and spoiled. Who can really blame her for being confused about what is happening around her? Even reading ahead in the script would provide not a clue!
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