BootDigest Such a frustrating disappointment

AniInterview Sorry, this movie sucks

Stellead Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

Glimmerubro It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

JasparLamarCrabb A very stylish thriller directed by Jack Smight from a novel by William Goldman. Rod Steiger (in many many guises) is a strangler preying on elderly women and taunting NYC cop George Segal. Though clearly no mama's boy, Segal lives with his mom (Eileen Heckart, who redefines gumption with her smothering Jewish mother routine) and is smitten with Lee Remick, an enigmatic witness and potential victim. Both Steiger & Segal are perfect. Steiger's performance is staggering as he plays, at various times, an Irish priest, a fop wig salesman, a German plumber (who actually uses the word wonderbar!) and a cop. Shockingly for Steiger he does not ham it up as he would in many future roles (Napoleon, Mussolini). Shot on location with great cinematography by Jack Priestley and exceptional art direction by George Jenkins (note Remick's "mod" apartment). The large supporting cast includes David Doyle, Murray Hamilton, Doris Roberts, Barbara Baxley, Ruth White, Val Bisoglio and Michael Dunn, who claims to be the strangler despite some very obvious limitations. The very effective music score is by Stanley Myers.

Robert J. Maxwell Serial killer Rod Steiger beans detective George Segal and knocks him out but not before Segal mortally wounds him with a single shot to the abdomen. With Segal flat on the floor, Steiger appears from the side of the stage -- this takes place in a Broadway theater -- clutching his bleeding belly. "UH-oh!", shouts the expiring Steiger, reeling from one prop to another, as if he's just had a jolt of bad news, as if he'd just been informed that he owed back taxes.It's unintentionally hilarious. At least I THINK it was unintentional. With Steiger overacting so outrageously throughout, and with the director, Jack Smight, off snoozing in a corner somewhere, it's a little hard to tell.I first saw it in a theater in Ketchikan, Alaska, enjoyed it immensely, and still do when it shows up on television. It's just as funny as Goldman's novel but much less venomous. In the novel, Segal's mother is even more irritating, demanding, and dominating, and when she suggests that one of Steiger's victims deserved to die, the protagonist leaps up and tries to strangle his mother, screaming, "JOIN HER!" Steiger isn't really that much good in his impersonations of Irish priests, German repairmen, W. C. Fields, and so on, but it's funny anyway because he's trying so hard that he sweats. Smight apparently lets him get away with too much in the way of improvisation and we're conscious of it. Lee Remick is a pretty woman and has some realistic lines -- the adaptation isn't at all bad -- but she overplays the role too and her make up, grooming, and wardrobe are overdone. I don't know where the director was when Segal is escorting Remick home after their first meeting and the two of them are giggling and laughing like two fifteen-year-olds who have just developed a crush on one another. It's not funny. It's a bit embarrassing.There ARE two scenes that are excruciatingly funny. (I'm not sure either could pass the PC barrier today.) One involves the dwarf Michael Dunn, who visits Segal at the precinct and confesses to the murders. "Just watch it," he warns, "because there are some subjects I'm very sensitive about." Segal rejects the false confession politely and an enraged Dunn accuses him of bigotry. "Do you have any FRIENDS who are midgets? Would you let your SISTER marry one?" He throws a piece of chalk against the detective's forehead and scurries off, fuming. Both Dunn and Segal handle the scene expertly as the absurdity builds. Dunn was quite a good actor in both comic and dramatic roles.In another antic scene, Steiger is a gay hairdresser who insinuates his way into the apartment of an intended victim, Barbara Baxley of the big eyes, as Belle Poppie. She's perfectly serious in her demeanor as she warns Steiger not to step on any of her many cats, as she introduces them one by one. "And that's Pickles in the fireplace," she points out. "Pickles in the fireplace," repeats Steiger, as if earnestly trying to memorize the names and locations of Baxley's cats. The scene is not only hilarious but the editing is snappy and full of the verve it deserves. "Get out of here, you homo!", another woman shouts. Steiger's immediate riposte: "That doesn't mean you're a bad person," and, bang, out the door.Smight (or his cutter) chose a bad take of the gay Steiger's line, "The nerve of some people." Very careless. But they made no mistakes during Steiger's first, stunning, almost surrealistic killing. As the Irish priest -- at this point, we know nothing about his actual identity -- he begins tickling an old lady in her apartment, the way no priest would ever do, "Tickle, tickle, tickle," he chuckles as his fingers deftly flit over her ribs and other sensitive parts, and she lapses into spasms of uncontrollable laughter. Then -- out of nowhere -- his face turns into a horrible grimace, he raises it heavenward, and utters a shattering guttural scream of rage as he strangles her to death. The viewer's mouth drops open: the priest as murderous lunatic. Steiger handles the awkward scene splendidly.Come to think of it, the movie is brimming over with problems relating to political correctness. Not just a dwarf and a gay guy and what we assume to be an Irish priest, but a stereotypical Jewish mother too -- played by Eileen Heckart, a shiksa from Ohio! She's quite good, but still....Segal handles the part of the mild-mannered Jewish cop with considerable aplomb. He's likable, ingratiating. It's no wonder that Remick responds to his bumbling displays of affection. The scene in which Remick pits wits with Mother Heckart are nicely done. "Oh, what a beautiful apartment you have. It's so Jewish." You know what I do when Steiger's impersonations and improvisations become painful, or when Remick is allowed to act giddy instead of happy? I close my eyes and wait for the moments to pass so I can get a kick out of the suspense and comedy that surround those artless moments.

Lechuguilla Watching serial killer Christopher Gill (Rod Steiger) trying to enlist the trust of his prospective victims is what makes this film really interesting. Once these babes in the Manhattan woods let down their guard, then ... pounce. And like some deep-sea predator that changes its color or its shape to suit the needs of its prey, Gill changes his disguise from Irish priest to plumber to eccentric hair stylist to waiter, to suit the needs and desires of his selected middle aged female targets.Gill is a loner, but he still needs human contact. So, between killings, he engages in a phone dialogue with detective Morris Brummel (played well by George Segal). Gill also checks the newspapers frequently, to verify that his killings get noticed by the police and by society in general. The film is thus a character study of a fictional psychopath. But the characterization is consistent with expert profiling of the generalized needs and motivations of real life serial killers.Indeed, some researchers have speculated that the infamous Zodiac killer "may" have studied this film. In some ways, Gill's modus operandi is similar to that of the Zodiac who was known to be a movie buff. Further, the killings in the San Francisco Bay Area premiered just a couple of years after this film came out.Quite aside from its possible historical significance, the film is very well made. It conveys a well-written script, good cinematography, attention to detail in costumes and production design, effective pacing and editing. The background music at the film's beginning and end is beautifully haunting, and lends a tone of sadness, and therefore emotional depth, to the story. And, of course, Steiger's performance is so good that it alone makes the film worth watching. The only downside is Morris Brummel's nagging mother who quickly becomes grating and irritating.That this film has been largely forgotten is unfortunate. But it is available on DVD, and therefore can be seen by anyone who appreciates good movies.

whpratt1 During a hot Summer day in New York City, in the Theatre District around 44th Street, I noticed a large crowd and decided to find out what was going on. I noticed a man getting his hair brushed and make-up being applied to his face and it was Rod Steiger who was getting ready to walk into a theatre as (Christoper Gill),"W.C.Fields & Me",'76. Steiger played a very mentally disturbed actor who was abused by his mother and decided to perform perfect murders, playing roles as Priest, Plumber and many other roles, using plenty of lipstick. Lee Remick,(Kate Palmer)," Days of Wine & Roses",'62, looked very charming and sexy. Kate meets up with detective Morris Brummel,(George Segal),"For the Boys",'91, who is investigating all these murders. This film has comedy between Kate and Morris and it is a great entertaining film.