A deranged mother avenges herself against the man she thinks seduced her daughter by imprisoning him in a cage in her basement.A deranged mother avenges herself against the man she thinks seduced her daughter by imprisoning him in a cage in her basement.A deranged mother avenges herself against the man she thinks seduced her daughter by imprisoning him in a cage in her basement.
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Husband and father Bradford Dillman has an important briefcase full of documents switched on purpose by a vengeful woman hoping to lure him into her basement trap; that lady is none other than Shelley Winters, once again showing her mettle as a forceful, off-balanced foe. Well-made TV-movie isn't the straightforward thriller it may first appear to be. The missing man's wife, who is 'sensitive' to psychic vibrations, consults with a professional mind-reader to locate her husband (after the police department proves to be indifferent, natch). It all leads to a somewhat strenuous conclusion that piles up both bodies and improbabilities. Winters, however, is a villainess to contend with right up to the end; she pulls off some creepy dramatic scenes without going too far over the top (Kathy Bates might have studied this performance before "Misery"). Interesting work from the entire cast, particularly Carol Rossen, a real wild card as Dillman's spouse (you can't quite get a reading on her, which works for the role). Joseph Stefano adapted his teleplay from a novel by Elizabeth Davis, which doesn't bear close scrutiny. Dominic Frontiere composed the eerie music; talented John Alonzo was the cinematographer.
Very basic thriller is a modest time-filler at best, with businessman Dillman incarcerated by unhinged Winters, avenging the death of her daughter for which she believes Dillman is vicariously responsible. Texturing the otherwise superficial plot is Rossen as Dillman's faithful wife whose premonitions brings her into contact with self-described clairvoyant Whitman, the two forming a somewhat symbiotic alliance hoping to discover Dillman's whereabouts.
Winters is suitably grieved but doesn't have enough material to showcase her talent, whilst Dillman as her unwitting victim is surprisingly insensitive toward her plight especially given his predicament. Does this behaviour implicate him? You'll have to wait to find out.
Whitman and the real star - Rossen - have possibly the best characters, but they're 'discovery' (and more importantly the plot device which gets them there) is just a little too contrived to really satisfy. Despite the plot weaknesses the cast has some depth, and it's good to see TV veterans Roger Perry and Gary Clarke in minor roles, and General Hospital alumni Lesley Charleson also featuring in the second act.
At just over an hour run-time it's compact and might've even served as a pilot for a subsequent psychic /medium type show; then again with a bigger budget and a few more plot twists it could also become a decent big screen thriller. Missed opportunities aside, it remains a watchable if not altogether logical minor thriller, featuring a contemporary A-list cast and some modest tension to keep a casual armchair sleuth mildly entertained.
Winters is suitably grieved but doesn't have enough material to showcase her talent, whilst Dillman as her unwitting victim is surprisingly insensitive toward her plight especially given his predicament. Does this behaviour implicate him? You'll have to wait to find out.
Whitman and the real star - Rossen - have possibly the best characters, but they're 'discovery' (and more importantly the plot device which gets them there) is just a little too contrived to really satisfy. Despite the plot weaknesses the cast has some depth, and it's good to see TV veterans Roger Perry and Gary Clarke in minor roles, and General Hospital alumni Lesley Charleson also featuring in the second act.
At just over an hour run-time it's compact and might've even served as a pilot for a subsequent psychic /medium type show; then again with a bigger budget and a few more plot twists it could also become a decent big screen thriller. Missed opportunities aside, it remains a watchable if not altogether logical minor thriller, featuring a contemporary A-list cast and some modest tension to keep a casual armchair sleuth mildly entertained.
I dug up this 1971 TV movie expecting to see the great Shelley Winters in a trashy, campy, bad 1970s TV movie. What a disappointment. It stunk.
Thin plot dragged out paper thin. No believable or likeable cgaracters. No scary and hateful ones either. A complete waste.
Thin plot dragged out paper thin. No believable or likeable cgaracters. No scary and hateful ones either. A complete waste.
I saw this movie a few years ago and thought it was one of the most clever psychic / thriller / psycho movies I'd ever seen. I wish it was available on DVD / VHS or was on TNT.
Shelly Winters's daughter commits suicide after a guy breaks her heart. Shelly kidnaps the guy so as to take revenge. The guy's wife finds him via ESP and working with a fake psyhcic who comes to believe that ESP is real. Many other clever twists and a generally very cool movie (the guy Shelly kidnapped isn't the one who broke her daughter's heart, and......well I don't wanna ruin it). Great flick! Should be remade today with Kathy Bates (Dolores Claiborne) in the lead role, Kevin Costner as Frank Tanner - would be a blockbuster!
Shelly Winters's daughter commits suicide after a guy breaks her heart. Shelly kidnaps the guy so as to take revenge. The guy's wife finds him via ESP and working with a fake psyhcic who comes to believe that ESP is real. Many other clever twists and a generally very cool movie (the guy Shelly kidnapped isn't the one who broke her daughter's heart, and......well I don't wanna ruin it). Great flick! Should be remade today with Kathy Bates (Dolores Claiborne) in the lead role, Kevin Costner as Frank Tanner - would be a blockbuster!
I will not add anything to the comments made by the other users. This feature is very efficient and the actors great for a TV product, especially Shelley Winters. She was, one of the most known Actor's Studio's former student. Jud Taylor is a specialized director for TVMs. I spent 75 minutes in a unforgettable way. Good film indeed. And I will only say that it reminds me a french movie, made two years later: Pierre Granier Deferre's LA CAGE - "THE CAGE" - in which a woman - I don't remember her name - gets Lino Ventura trapped in the basement of her house. I don't remember why. But that's not important.
I don't think there are so many movies with this very topic.
That's all, folks.
I don't think there are so many movies with this very topic.
That's all, folks.
Did you know
- TriviaThe 1971 source novel by Elizabeth Davis (née Lou Ellen Davis 1936-2007) had the nursery rhyme derived title ''There Was An Old Woman''. For the TV movie the title was as a courtesy to - or perhaps as demanded by - female lead Shelley Winters adjusted to ''The Once Was a Woman'' before finally being entitled ''Revenge!'' for its broadcast.
- GoofsIn the opening scene,for no apparent reason, Frank drops his briefcase steps from the counter when he pays for his paper, facilitating the switch by the thief.
- ConnectionsVersion of Inn of the Frightened People (1971)
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