You won't rank this one among the classics of the genre, but it has its pleasures. Dirk Bogarde behaves like a criminal and debates with Knox like a member of the Oxford Union, so there's a contradiction there. Alexander Knox as the psychiatrist who's supposed to help Bogarde to resolve his conflicts behaves recklessly, leaving his wife exposed to B's advances and even acting as accomplice after the fact when he arranges for the return of money the young man has stolen at gun-point! Then there's Alexis Smith who has to play ice-goddess a la Grace Kelly while enticing Bogarde into her arms. All very complicated, and not well handled by Joseph Losey who was a refugee from McCarthyism in the 50s. You'll enjoy the interiors of the doctor's house, and how Bogarde is able to use chairs and couches to his benefit.
I was attracted to this story by the presence of Alexander Knox (1907-1995). He'd been so effective as Ingrid Bergman's husband in Europa 51, as the scientist in The Damned, as the president in Wilson, to name only three. As a supporting player he had very few equals.
I was attracted to this story by the presence of Alexander Knox (1907-1995). He'd been so effective as Ingrid Bergman's husband in Europa 51, as the scientist in The Damned, as the president in Wilson, to name only three. As a supporting player he had very few equals.