Anthony Armstrong's novel, The Case of Mr. Pelham, revolves around an evil doppelganger trying to take over a man's life; it's an intriguing idea, but the story isn't strong enough to sustain a whole movie, being far better suited to either an anthology or an episode of a TV show (indeed, before becoming a full length feature, The Case of Mr. Pelham was filmed for '50s series Alfred Hitchcock Presents).
Roger Moore, fresh from success of TV show The Saint, plays uptight bowler-hatted businessman Pelham, who, whilst travelling home from work, is gripped by an inexplicable urge to release his seatbelt and drive like a maniac (this scene using some truly awful back projection). After crashing his car, he is taken to hospital for an operation, during which he momentarily flat-lines and then returns to life with two heartbeats. From this point onwards, Pelham's life becomes decidedly strange: he's apparently been places and done things that he cannot remember, which seriously affects both his professional and working life. Eventually, Pelham comes to believe that an imposter - an exact double with a more outgoing personality - is trying to take his place.
Moore, so often lambasted for his expressionless acting (a raised eyebrow to suit all occasions), is actually very impressive here, convincingly portraying a man being pushed to the edge by uncanny experiences out of his control. Unfortunately, it's clear from the outset that poor Pelham is being plagued by a doppelganger, so there is little genuine mystery or suspense to be had, and director Basil Dearden struggles to keep the momentum going for the duration. Thankfully, things do pick up for the finalé, when Dearden gets with the groovy times, employing some wonderfully psychedelic visuals as both Pelhams battle it out on the road, driving dangerously at speed with only one possible survivor.
Roger Moore, fresh from success of TV show The Saint, plays uptight bowler-hatted businessman Pelham, who, whilst travelling home from work, is gripped by an inexplicable urge to release his seatbelt and drive like a maniac (this scene using some truly awful back projection). After crashing his car, he is taken to hospital for an operation, during which he momentarily flat-lines and then returns to life with two heartbeats. From this point onwards, Pelham's life becomes decidedly strange: he's apparently been places and done things that he cannot remember, which seriously affects both his professional and working life. Eventually, Pelham comes to believe that an imposter - an exact double with a more outgoing personality - is trying to take his place.
Moore, so often lambasted for his expressionless acting (a raised eyebrow to suit all occasions), is actually very impressive here, convincingly portraying a man being pushed to the edge by uncanny experiences out of his control. Unfortunately, it's clear from the outset that poor Pelham is being plagued by a doppelganger, so there is little genuine mystery or suspense to be had, and director Basil Dearden struggles to keep the momentum going for the duration. Thankfully, things do pick up for the finalé, when Dearden gets with the groovy times, employing some wonderfully psychedelic visuals as both Pelhams battle it out on the road, driving dangerously at speed with only one possible survivor.