Really liked this movie a lot but what a roller coaster story line!!
Renowned physics professor Dr. Martin Becker (Ed Nelson) is feeling
on top of the world - he has the Nobel Prize for an atomic energy
project he has been credited with formulating within his grasp and
he has fallen in love with a mysterious raven haired beauty Ann Banning
(luscious Susanne Pleshette) who accidentally on purpose wanders into
his lecture. But everything is smoke and mirrors - in reality Ann is the
widow of a technician who had been working alongside Becker on the
same project but was killed during a workplace experiment gone wrong!!
Ann believes there is a more sinister answer!!
For the first half hour you would be forgiven for thinking this is just going to be another mushy romantic telemovie - walks on the beach, cheesy 70s elevator music, fun times at restaurants and Ann starts to think maybe Martin is a nice guy after all!! Maybe she has let her thirst for vengeance take too much control!! Until a chance conversation - Ann is very curious about the original team Martin worked with. Most people would have been suspicious at her interest but Martin's over inflated ego sees nothing wrong. She probes him about a particular scientist who was killed and Martin's response about him being a hack, how he was really a glorified technician who's death was no great loss, chills her. From that moment Ann's purpose never varies and she disappears!! Becker is now plunged into a nightmare trial in which the only way out is guilty!!
Of course it's completely far fetched and becomes more so as the film progresses. Ann is in the master class of leaving subtle clues that implicate Becker in a horrendous crime. Then comes the letter......
Wouldn't be a 1970 movie without a flaky neighbour but telemovie stalwart, Brooke Bundy, makes Adrienne a bit different - yes, she has her hippie moments, including studying down at the beach but she is the movie's voice of reason and although she is a sage advisor when Ann presents herself bruised and battered, there is also a "Rosemary's Baby" moment with "we are all your friends here, you need to go for a little holiday somewhere - with Martin"!!!! Another refugee from teleland - Andrew Prine as Adrienne's "fuzz" boyfriend. His sensible, measured character probably did a lot for police public relations at this time when the "fuzz" wasn't thought too kindly of by the anti establishment!! Richard Anderson has a small role as the prosecuting attorney!!
Very Recommended
For the first half hour you would be forgiven for thinking this is just going to be another mushy romantic telemovie - walks on the beach, cheesy 70s elevator music, fun times at restaurants and Ann starts to think maybe Martin is a nice guy after all!! Maybe she has let her thirst for vengeance take too much control!! Until a chance conversation - Ann is very curious about the original team Martin worked with. Most people would have been suspicious at her interest but Martin's over inflated ego sees nothing wrong. She probes him about a particular scientist who was killed and Martin's response about him being a hack, how he was really a glorified technician who's death was no great loss, chills her. From that moment Ann's purpose never varies and she disappears!! Becker is now plunged into a nightmare trial in which the only way out is guilty!!
Of course it's completely far fetched and becomes more so as the film progresses. Ann is in the master class of leaving subtle clues that implicate Becker in a horrendous crime. Then comes the letter......
Wouldn't be a 1970 movie without a flaky neighbour but telemovie stalwart, Brooke Bundy, makes Adrienne a bit different - yes, she has her hippie moments, including studying down at the beach but she is the movie's voice of reason and although she is a sage advisor when Ann presents herself bruised and battered, there is also a "Rosemary's Baby" moment with "we are all your friends here, you need to go for a little holiday somewhere - with Martin"!!!! Another refugee from teleland - Andrew Prine as Adrienne's "fuzz" boyfriend. His sensible, measured character probably did a lot for police public relations at this time when the "fuzz" wasn't thought too kindly of by the anti establishment!! Richard Anderson has a small role as the prosecuting attorney!!
Very Recommended