This almost went in the film noir thread, but since it knocked me flat, it needs its own thread. This is one of those films where every element is just working -- a perfect movie, if you will. I'm almost glad the remake fell through, because Joltin' Joe Carnahan has/had some mighty big shoes to fill.
The first 80 minutes of this are really suspenseful and tense, and then the last 20 minutes are crazy as fuck. However, Otto Preminger, you've got a huge, huge set of testicles for that "twist." That, in '65? Holy cow.
The cinematography in this is gorgeous. A series of amazing tracking shots and London just looks great. I have been watching a lot of black and white movies, and some of my favorites are from the last days of B&W film in the early 60s. This is one of them.
One of the "what the fuck" moments for me, though, was realizing in the credits that the creepy landlord was Noel Coward. He did not age well, but he gave great creepiness.
Much love has to be given, though, for Sir Lawrence Olivier as the detective. I'm not sure where the thread went, but his detective definitely deserves his own movie. I want to live in an alternate world where he did at least a couple more movies as Superintendent Newhouse.
It's odd how I'm discovering the movies of all these actors I'd heard about, but hadn't really appreciated. This was definitely a flick that makes me want to go back and look at Olivier's other movies.
Buying this one for sure.
The first 80 minutes of this are really suspenseful and tense, and then the last 20 minutes are crazy as fuck. However, Otto Preminger, you've got a huge, huge set of testicles for that "twist." That, in '65? Holy cow.
The cinematography in this is gorgeous. A series of amazing tracking shots and London just looks great. I have been watching a lot of black and white movies, and some of my favorites are from the last days of B&W film in the early 60s. This is one of them.
One of the "what the fuck" moments for me, though, was realizing in the credits that the creepy landlord was Noel Coward. He did not age well, but he gave great creepiness.
Much love has to be given, though, for Sir Lawrence Olivier as the detective. I'm not sure where the thread went, but his detective definitely deserves his own movie. I want to live in an alternate world where he did at least a couple more movies as Superintendent Newhouse.
It's odd how I'm discovering the movies of all these actors I'd heard about, but hadn't really appreciated. This was definitely a flick that makes me want to go back and look at Olivier's other movies.
Buying this one for sure.
