Great Film overall

Absolutely the worst movie.

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

William Wyler's outstanding psychological chamber drama is a unique two-hander between a young butterfly collector Freddie Clegg (Stamp) and his victim, Miranda Grey (Eggar), an art school student with whom he has been obsessed since their school days in Reading, England.A windfall falls upon to a lonesome Freddie, an introvert bank clerk fascinated by entomology, using the money he has won from a lottery, he buys an estate in the remote countryside, where he lives alone with (almost) no exterior interference. Thus facilities his plan to kidnap Miranda and locks her up in the basement which functions as a breeding ground for her to get to know about him and eventually fall in love with him, yet it is horse sense that this is only his wishful thinking. After the initial shock, Miranda starts to reason with him as Freddie appears to be not life- threatening to her, in fact, he is awfully kind, willing to provide her anything except freedom, finally they reach a four-week agreement under the circumstances, but it is totally at the mercy of Freddie's whimsy whether he will keep his promise, at the same time, Miranda pits her wits against her captor of every possible chance to escape or seek help. The mind game is played out with gusto and suspense even though viewers are fully aware that Miranda's nightmare cannot arrive its finish line that easy.Meanwhile, a tentative proceeding of mutual-understanding and affection-naturing is conducted during the period, Miranda begins to paint with Freddie as the live model, and Freddie shows her his butterfly collection, a cheery occasion has been shaped up until the agreed day of Miranda's release, it is at that moment, the imminent feeling of despair hits hard on her, she might never get out of it alive. In the ensuing days, she puts to good use of everything (from participating a sincere debate of art, as a sign of her own willingness to communicate with him in a deeper level, to the last resort, sex), to please and convince him that she is in complete submission to be what he wants her to become. Only if she were a better actress, a final blood-spurting resistance fails because she is not a cold-blooded slayer at any rate.THE COLLECTOR sparks off a incredible duel between Stamp and Eggar: the former, impeccably embodies his twisted psyche with his good-look and inviting timidity, terrifying but in a rather charming poise, even manages to generate a certain commiseration for such an unlovable role, a psychopath who doesn't resort to violence but beguilingly tortures his prey to the last breath with a tyrannical cruelty; the latter, who is honoured with an Oscar nomination (together with two other nominations for Wyler and its screenplay), counter-acts Stamp's vicious perverseness with her exhaustive range of portraying a prisoner inflicted by Stockholm syndrome and soon cornered at the ends of her wits, an Agnus Dei figure succumbs to the pure evil of our world. Both are supremely impressive achievements and acknowledged by Cannes that year.Wyler admirably resists any poetic justice to dampen the staggering ending which is diametrically in opposition to any major studio offerings. Underlined by Jarre's emotion-channeling score, THE COLLECTOR has never slumped into a tiresome drag, not for a minute, on top of its minimal milieu and an almost 2-hour length, it withstands the test of time and turns out to be a thrilling cautionary tale, which would only be matched by George Slugger's equally uncompromising THE VANISHING (1988).

I've been looking forward to watching this one. The premise of the film is intriguing and by the plot outline I could tell this wasn't going to be a film that would just aim for thrills and suspense. Of course, I wouldn't have expected William Wyler to go in that direction either, even if this looked to be more eerie than anything he had done before.'The collector' was no disappointment, in fact it had the impact of a... shovel. The abduction takes place almost straight away, and the rest of the film we observe a young man and a young woman both fighting in various manners for what they believe in and hope for. Pretty much all of this unfolds in an almost otherworldly house and cellar (Gabriels Manor, Edenbridge, UK^) far from the hurly burly of London, from where the girl was kidnapped.The script may seem to take its time, but not one moment felt too much or out of place, playing on various themes such as trust, alienation, sadism, coming of age, love and paranoia, and manages to be utterly disturbing in such a subtle way. It consists of several long acts that eventually seem to take the two back to the beginning, but every time it is, or has to be, a néw beginning. Until... the ending may not be for everyone, though I think it was exactly what it needed - which is not to I say I saw it coming! Darkly humorous...? Or rather mind-numbingly sad...?The performances of Terrence Stamp and Samantha Eggar are of course key here, and they delivered two characters who pulled me deep into this two hour story and made it feel like it was just a half hour or so.A very big 9 out of 10 for now, but I might change my mind... sooner or later.^ On the market right now for almost 2 million pounds, with no particular mention of the age old cellar, though... (outbuildings)

When I recently saw "The Collector" 1965 on Fearnet OnDemand. I didn't know what to expect as the main male character collects butterflies and is a Bank Clerk played by Terrence Stamp. Where could this go? I thought and little did I Know I was Taken on a Deep Reaching Emotion Filled Trip!As the overly-withdrawn bank clerk decides to get a certain woman for a permanent date of sorts!This is when one is taken on the Trying Emotional Trip That is done excellently by the pacing of the movie to let one feel they are going through this situation themselves and getting into the character of the Woman played by Samantha Eggar as well by odd enough in spots for the man- Terrance Stamp!I was actually stunned by this movie and will always have feelings for the female character and highly recommend, bringing to life what these captured Women go through in a situation that still unfortunately continues and would help one to understand what these women go through!It's Effectively Emotionally Disturbing and one should watch it in quiet when they won't be disturbed and this is the Best Way to watch this to Feel the Full Impact of the Situation Yourself!Not many movies in Fact no new ones bring out the Emotions in me like this one did! Only a 60's Classic like this can Leave Me Stunned in Real Life!Totally Top! In Fact Samatha Eggar and Terrance Stamp Won Awards for this well deserved! Samatha Eggar received a nomination for The Academy Award for Best Actress for "The Collector" Directed by William Wyler also did win Cannes Film Festival Best Actress Award The Golden Globe Award for Best Actress- Motion Picture Drama The Sant Jordi Award for Best Performances in a Foreign Film Among others, as well from the fans and people that saw this realistic slice of Human Culture As Unfortunate as it is! Another interesting note is that the Movie was original 3 hours in length so 61 minutes got cut out!There was a different ending made also but it was not used for effect and a good choice for true impact! I would like to see a restored version but at that perhaps Thats what made it be such a Stunner as released!! So Brilliant on that! As I know that can be drastic to meaning of movie as well the Producer and Director and the Stars for sure!It's completely worthy as released for a fact! Please watch it by yourself in the dark with no disturbances because you will become disturbed by this Classic!Excellently played by Samatha Eggar!Samantha Eggar is engrossing and you feel for her character in the movie!I noticed elements of later movies apparently that were influenced to copy!

One of my favorite things in life is finding or discovering obscure but great movies. Especially films that I've known about for quite some time, but was never able to find. Sometimes I'll cross paths with a film that is so unknown that I've never heard of it, yet so great that it feels like I should have known it forever. Recently I discovered "The Collector" ('65) by William Wyler. A film about a passionate but lonely butterfly-collector who kidnaps a beautiful girl, and holds her as a hostage in his cellar. Not to violate or sexually abuse her, but for the satisfaction of having her in his presence. And, the hope that she'll eventually fall in love with him.This is a film that you should place in context. For the basic storyline and some of the more specific subplots are somewhat of a cliché at the present time in cinema, but where fresh and daring at that time. Prior to 1965 there already were movies about 'darker' characters, and even psychopaths of course. Films like "Leave her to heaven" ('45/John M. Stahl) and "Possessed" ('47/Curtis Bernhardt) were already pretty dark, but still in a certain Hollywood style. In 1958 Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece "Vertigo" delved into some new cinematic territory. "Vertigo" was a film of which the essence; the core, was the human psyche of a man in trouble. A man struglling with his deepest and darker longings and desires. Then, in 1960 Hitch made another masterpiece called "Psycho" ('60) and Michael Powell in England made "Peeping Tom" ('60). Those two films were – at least in my humble opinion – the 'parents' of what is now known as the 'slashermovie' or 'psycho-movie'. A certain kind of genre was born. Films about sick, dark individuals were becoming more interesting and popular at the same time. This is the context in which you should place Wyler's "The Collector".This film is full of great elements. The purity of the story, the style and mood of the film, the great performances by two leading stars Terence Stamp as Freddie and Samantha Eggar as Miranda, the great almost dreamy music score by Maurice Jarre, the wonderful cinematography of one of my heroes Robert Surtees. It's a film that uses lots of elements that are now being viewed as clichés, but never feels like a cliché itself. Of course this is because of the year it was released, but also because of the great and daring choices of director William Wyler. I was very happy to have found this great and obscure picture, and recommend it to anyone who likes the darker side of cinema.