Based on a novel by Ira Levin, this classic murder most foul film noir came to the screen for the very first time in 1956. Starring Robert Wagner, Joanne Woodward, Jeffrey Hunter (before he was Jesus in “King of Kings”), Virginia Leith, Mary Astor and George Macready, the lead actors were all 20th Century Fox contract players and yet the film was released by United Artists. Go figure!
Robert Wagner is at his slickest best as the cool, psychopath (Bud Corliss) who is determined to marry an heiress even if he has to kill a few people (heiresses and otherwise) along the way to achieve his goal! He loves money and his mother (played very well by Mary Astor) but everyone and everything else in the world appears to be relative and absolutely expendable.
Set in the 1950s, this film is a retro classic. Everywhere you look there are saddle shoes, poodle skirts, jukeboxes and greasy hairstyles. (No Elvis yet; only the shadows of a few side-burns and jiggling pelvii in the background.) Joanne Woodward is sweet and tragic as (Dorothy “Dorie” Kingship) in this her first role for the screen. She falls in love with Bud and unfortunately gets herself pregnant, a condition that Bud finds unacceptable and inimical to his plans.
Jeffrey Hunter is the dashing young professor (Gordon Grant) who helps to solve the mystery of Dorothy’s murder along with Virginia Leith who plays her older sister, Ellen. She too falls under Bud’s spell, but in the end, wins out. George Macready effectively plays the millionaire father who is also taken in by the manner of the dapper and very slick Mr. Corliss.
The film was remade in 1991 with Matt Damon cast as the murderous Bud Corliss and Sean Hunt as the chic and savvy older sister, Ellen. It was an effective remake because of the strong performances of the lead characters, but there were only minor changes made to the original story line.
Have YOU seen this classic film? What are YOUR thoughts about it?