The Worst Film Ever

Sadly Over-hyped

Absolutely the worst movie.

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

In general, I don't like Hitchcock-like thrillers, and this is no exception. I found the screenplay rather boring ,on the whole, with some major questionable aspects, as follows: 1) The mysterious voice that keeps popping up certainly did not sound like Rex(Harrison) nor like Natasha Parry(Peggy). In fact, it didn't sound clearly like a man or women, but something in between. 2) Peggy's supposed involvement in pushing Kit(Doris) in front of the bus doesn't look possible. I didn't see her standing in back of Doris, among the crowd looking to board the bus. Rather, a short time later, she comes barging through the thick crowd behind where Doris was. How did she get back there so quick if she did the pushing? 3)I thought Peggy's husband was in Singapore in the navy, or do I have the wrong neighbor in mind? 4)Why did Kit keeping listening to the phone messages by the stalker, instead of slamming the phone down as soon as she recognized the voice? 5)Why did Rex bother with the stalker voice if he wanted to kill Kit because he needed her inheritance and because he was having an affair with Peggy, and wanted Kit out of the way before she discovered the affair and divorced him? Presumably, he wanted to drive Kit out of her mind(which he did) so that her death might be chalked up as a suicide, if done right......Things sure got complicated at the end, with both Rex and Peggy's husband on the prowl. Good thing John Gavin(Brian) showed up every now and then to comfort or save Kit......See it at YouTube or on DVD.

I'm not as impressed with this film as are many of our viewers, so I am giving it a very weak "7".Let's begin with the photography. I thought lighting here was often substandard. Many times the characters appear in dark shadows. It was quite distracting.In terms of the acting, also mixed reviews from me. I have never been that impressed with Rex Harrison. And this film didn't boost his image with me. I once saw him live at an opening night at the Kennedy Center; we had seats 5 rows back from the stage and I could barely hear him; I thought it must be me; but next day in the "Washington Post" they complained about how such a great experienced actor could hardly be heard. I have long felt that Harrison made a splash at one point in his career and then coasted. Here he certainly coasted. Perhaps you have to be British.I have liked Doris Day in many films, including her more dramatic roles. In particular, I liked her in "The Man Who Knew Too Much". Here she does "okay", but this is far from her best role.I always sort of liked John Gavin, but even I admit he sometimes seems a bit wooden. The wonderful Myrna Loy has a supporting role her as Doris Day's aunt. To me, her role was ruined by some lousy dialog, and it seemed to me she had lost her touch. I was happy to see another veteran actor in a supporting role here -- Herbert Marshall. Unfortunately, he was way past his prime here, and it was not a very good part. Unfortunately, Roddy McDowell is here, as well; I never thought he was very good.The plot...well, they did a really good job of shining the light of suspicion on several of the supporting characters, although, quite frankly, I think most of us knew who the villain was in the first 15 minutes of the film.Look, this is a decent film, probably worth watching for most people who like the genre or Doris Day, but it's no great shakes.

Doris's costumes are high fashion - but unfortunately it was a bad fashion year. They were aiming for the 20s and achieving only hats like inverted flower pots. The colour is vivid, but it makes everyone look over made-up - and a little too old. Back in those days, women were always being warned against being "hysterical" (complaining, displaying any emotion). You either kept a stiff upper lip or collapsed completely, as Doris does here. It gets a bit boring. I'd give top marks to their luxurious but rather vulgar flat, full of heavy antiques - and a textured, mirrored wall. Myrna Loy's straw hat has to be seen to be believed. And wasn't 50s ballet dull? Acting-wise, darling Hermione Baddeley comes off best. Norah the maid is a close second. The last scene owes a lot to 32 Paces to Baker Street, and the whole film takes place in the same Hollywood London. Preston's offices are opposite Lambeth Palace, but you can see Westminster Abbey from the windows. And the London airport bus is bound for Dublin! Doris goes to bed in full slap every night - and why do people in films never have any bedclothes?

Ultra luxurious equally overwrought melodrama with Doris in one high fashion outfit after another being terrorized by phone. Barely believable but highly entertaining film has good co-stars in Rex Harrison and Myrna Loy, who while for the most part is also dressed very well, is forced to wear one of the ugliest hats every seen in film! It looks like an upside down flower basket was dumped on her head. Otherwise the settings are incredibly plush and poor Doris, who has rarely looked better on screen, spends the entire movie in a state of just below the surface hysteria. Also provides a chance to see some nice scenery of London in the early 60's. Silly but a whole lot of fun.