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Director: Bryan Forbes
Starring: Kim Stanley, Richard Attenborough
More Info: IMDB
Plot: Myra, a self-styled psychic in London, concocts a scheme to gain celebrity. She convinces Billy, her weak-willed husband, to kidnap the young daughter of wealthy parents. She and Billy will demand money, and then she will go to the parents with extra-sensory messages that will help the police find the child and the ransom. The plan unfolds beautifully until...
My Rating: 8.5/10
Would I watch it again? You bet, Guv'nah!
I was not expecting this. But then again, I didn't know what to expect. WOW! Excellent film. The B&W widescreen photography is outstanding and it wouldn't have worked nearly as well in color.
Nice score by a long-time favorite, John Barry. Underplayed at times and very effective.
Billy: I don't know, Dear, why did you?
Myra: Because you're weak...and...because you need me.
Billy: Well, those are two good reasons.
We hear about a child that the two principles had that died young. Myra talks about him frequently and the conversations they have (as a psychic she speaks to the dead). At times I couldn't help but be reminded of WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? (1966) which explores a similar theme but in a different way. And like WOOLF, the performances here, notably Stanley and Attenborough, are outstanding. As the film progresses your perceptions of the two leads change, culminating in a nice climactic finale.
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