Photographer Jeff Bridges is hot and bored with a leg in plaster confined to a wheelchair sat by his rear window, which overlooks the courtyard of his tenement building.
Monotony is broken up with visits from his girlfriend (Lisa) and from his physiotherapist (Stella) who warns him of his voyeurism and that he should marry Lisa. Later, Lisa and Jeff argue over their future and he spends the remainder of a wet and humid night, observing a salesman regularly leaving his apartment with a heavy suitcase and returning with it empty.
The morning dawns with Jeff noticing that the salesman’s invalid wife is absent and sees him wrapping up a large saw and knife. Later deliverymen collect a large trunk. Jeff is convinced that the wife has been killed; he contacts a detective friend who discovers that the wife has sent her husband a postcard to say that she’s received the crate.
After the death of a dog, Lisa, Stella and Jeff are all convinced that the salesman is guilty and hatch a plan. Lisa delivers a note and Jeff telephones him with a blackmail ruse and both agree to meet. This gives Lisa opportunity to enter his apartment where she finds his wives’ handbag, jewellery and wedding ring. However the salesman returns to find Lisa in his apartment. Jeff rings the police to save Lisa from being assaulted but she is arrested. Lisa points to the wedding ring that she is wearing, but the salesman also sees and he is aware that Jeff knows of his wives’ disappearance.
Stella leaves to bail Lisa and Jeff rings his detective friend for help. Soon, the salesman enters Jeff’s apartment to find him alone and helpless. Jeff finds his camera and fires a succession of flashbulbs, which temporarily blind his attacker but once vision is restored, a struggle ensues and Jeff is thrown out the window. Jeff grabs the window ledge and shouts for help. The Police make a timely appearance and help to break his fall. The salesman is arrested for murder.
The final scene depicts Jeff back in his wheelchair, sat by the window, this time with two broken legs!
Tuesday 31 August 2010
Sunday 29 August 2010
Vertigo
Ex-detective (Scottie) is forced to retire after suffering from vertigo but whilst convalescing accepts a job from an old friend (Gavin) to follow his wife (Madeleine) whom he suspects as being possessed by a dead person. Scottie witnesses Madeleine travelling to various locations connected with Carlotta Valdes (possibly her Great Grandmother) however, whilst at the bottom of the Golden Gate Bridge, Madeleine jumps into the water but Scottie rescues her. During his observations of Madeleine, Scottie falls in love and is determined to discover what is burdening her. He learns of Carlotta’s past and her suicide at 26. Madeleine is the same age.
Madeleine tells Scottie about a recurring dream when he recognises that the place she describes is the Mission she visited during his surveillance. He decides to take her there, hoping to dispel the dream and cure her psychosis. At the Mission, Madeleine climbs the bell tower but Scottie’s vertigo prevents him from following. He does see her fall to her death.
After Madeleine’s death, Scottie is distraught and his mental state deteriorates after the Coroner stated that he could have done more to save Madeleine. The verdict tips Scottie over the edge; he becomes mute and placed in a psychiatric hospital.
After leaving hospital Scottie meets Judy Barton (a Madeleine look-alike) and pesters her for a date. Prior to which, Judy has a flashback where Gavin hired Judy as Madeleine’s double and deliberately led Scottie to the tower where Gavin waited with the real Madeleine, who he pushed out of the tower, fully aware that Scottie’s vertigo would stop him from climbing to the top.
Judy’s relationship with Scottie blossomed despite him forcing her to change her appearance to resemble Madeleine. On one occasion, Judy decides to wear Madeleine’s pendant. Scottie instantly recognised it and confronts Judy by returning to the bell tower where she is forced to climb the tower, this time he follows; is cured of vertigo and is able to make sense of Gavin’s plot to kill his wife. Scottie realises that he didn’t know Madeleine at all whereupon Judy declares her love for him but is surprised by the sudden appearance of a nun and ironically, falls from the tower to her death.
Madeleine tells Scottie about a recurring dream when he recognises that the place she describes is the Mission she visited during his surveillance. He decides to take her there, hoping to dispel the dream and cure her psychosis. At the Mission, Madeleine climbs the bell tower but Scottie’s vertigo prevents him from following. He does see her fall to her death.
After Madeleine’s death, Scottie is distraught and his mental state deteriorates after the Coroner stated that he could have done more to save Madeleine. The verdict tips Scottie over the edge; he becomes mute and placed in a psychiatric hospital.
After leaving hospital Scottie meets Judy Barton (a Madeleine look-alike) and pesters her for a date. Prior to which, Judy has a flashback where Gavin hired Judy as Madeleine’s double and deliberately led Scottie to the tower where Gavin waited with the real Madeleine, who he pushed out of the tower, fully aware that Scottie’s vertigo would stop him from climbing to the top.
Judy’s relationship with Scottie blossomed despite him forcing her to change her appearance to resemble Madeleine. On one occasion, Judy decides to wear Madeleine’s pendant. Scottie instantly recognised it and confronts Judy by returning to the bell tower where she is forced to climb the tower, this time he follows; is cured of vertigo and is able to make sense of Gavin’s plot to kill his wife. Scottie realises that he didn’t know Madeleine at all whereupon Judy declares her love for him but is surprised by the sudden appearance of a nun and ironically, falls from the tower to her death.
Wednesday 25 August 2010
Strangers On A Train
Bruno Anthony is an unemployed socialite who has a chance meeting with professional tennis player Guy Haines on a train.
Both men have their own personal problem. Bruno wishes that his father was dead for no other reason than he keeps getting on his back to do something in his life. Guy and his wife are estranged and he wants a divorce that will allow him to marry Anne Morton a daughter of a senator. Bruno is aware of Guy’s predicament and suggests swapping murders. Guy does not take the proposition seriously and refuses. He makes a big mistake by leaving his lighter on the train.
Guy’s divorce proceedings come to a halt when his wife refuses. When Bruno hears of the news, he acts quickly and murders Patricia Haines at a fairground. Bruno immediately informs Guy that his wife is dead and thereafter continuously pesters him to murder his father. Eventually Guy is forced to inform the father of Bruno’s plans but under the pretext to murder him. However, Bruno is alive to the ruse and exchanges places with his father.
Guy’s refusal leaves Bruno with no choice but to plant Guy’s lighter at the murder scene. Guy reluctantly informs Anne Morton of the situation as she helps him escape his Police escort to get to the fairground. Bruno is already there waiting for darkness to plant the evidence, however he is recognised and the Police are informed of his presence. In his bid to escape Bruno jumps on a merry-go-round and is followed by Guy. They fight; Police arrive and contrive to shoot the ride operator, who in his dying moment puts the merry-go-round in to top speed. This forces a belt to snap, the ride is out of control and self-destructs. Bruno is trapped in the wreckage but continues to lie to Police about his involvement in the murder but when he dies, his palm opens to reveal Guy’s lighter giving a conclusion that good has triumphed over evil.
Both men have their own personal problem. Bruno wishes that his father was dead for no other reason than he keeps getting on his back to do something in his life. Guy and his wife are estranged and he wants a divorce that will allow him to marry Anne Morton a daughter of a senator. Bruno is aware of Guy’s predicament and suggests swapping murders. Guy does not take the proposition seriously and refuses. He makes a big mistake by leaving his lighter on the train.
Guy’s divorce proceedings come to a halt when his wife refuses. When Bruno hears of the news, he acts quickly and murders Patricia Haines at a fairground. Bruno immediately informs Guy that his wife is dead and thereafter continuously pesters him to murder his father. Eventually Guy is forced to inform the father of Bruno’s plans but under the pretext to murder him. However, Bruno is alive to the ruse and exchanges places with his father.
Guy’s refusal leaves Bruno with no choice but to plant Guy’s lighter at the murder scene. Guy reluctantly informs Anne Morton of the situation as she helps him escape his Police escort to get to the fairground. Bruno is already there waiting for darkness to plant the evidence, however he is recognised and the Police are informed of his presence. In his bid to escape Bruno jumps on a merry-go-round and is followed by Guy. They fight; Police arrive and contrive to shoot the ride operator, who in his dying moment puts the merry-go-round in to top speed. This forces a belt to snap, the ride is out of control and self-destructs. Bruno is trapped in the wreckage but continues to lie to Police about his involvement in the murder but when he dies, his palm opens to reveal Guy’s lighter giving a conclusion that good has triumphed over evil.
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