Something to Hide

SOMETHING TO HIDE is a rather strange and dreamy low budget thriller shot on the Isle of Wight. It's a little like THE SAILOR WHO FELL FROM GRACE WITH THE SEA but has nowhere near the same level of power. Peter Finch plays a regular guy harrassed by his nagging wife (a powerful Shelley Winters cameo) who picks up pregnant hitchhiker Linda Hayden. It all goes wrong from there, but I didn't feel much until the admittedly powerful climax.

This low-watt British thriller has never got a decent release either on DVD or VHS, despite strong performances from three great character actors.

Peter Finch is, of course, best known for playing a crazed news anchor-man "Howard Beal" in "Network", a role for which he won a post-humous Academy Award. But his other famous role was as a beleaguered husband in "The Pumpkin Eater", a role very similar to the one he plays here. Shelley Winters plays his nagging, shrewish wife. She is good as always, but doesn't have nearly enough screen time. The real surprise though is Linda Hayden, famous for playing sexy, evil (and oft-naked) vixens in movies like "Blood on Satan's Claw". Unfortunately, her best movie, "House on Straw Hill" was actually banned in Britain back in the day and, as a result, has been barely released outside it. And her earlier collaboration with director Alistair Reid, "Baby Love", is also problematic since she debuted in this rather sexy role at the tender age of 15.

Finch plays a decent, well-meaning husband whose life is entirely destroyed by his own horribly bad decisions and two different female harpies--his wife Shelly winters and Linda Hayden, a very pregnant hitchhiker he picks up. Instead of playing her usual sexy and evil, Hayden is just plain evil here, and never has a pregnant woman seemed so menacing. I won't give away the plot, but Finch's character soon has at least one body on his hands as his life spins into blackly comic, vortex nightmare.

I saw the crappy, cut VHS version of this (the only one currently available), but even so it is a quite entertaining movie. It certainly deserves better.

If the first ten minutes of Something to Hide seem cheesy and over the top, you should know that it only goes downhill from there. I stuck through the end because Peter Finch is a good actor, and I'll give anything with Shelley Winters a try. However, I should have stuck with my initial impression. I should have watched an old favorite of Shelley's and remembered Peter Finch in movies where he showed his acting talents. This is not one of them.

The movie starts with Peter and Shelly screaming at each other. There are a very unhappily married couple having another fight. Shelley pushes him too far, and it implies that Peter loses control... The next section features Peter functioning in the house without Shelly, but sometimes he hears her voice and believes her to still be in the house. It is pretty obvious what has happened, but the movie doesn't come right out and say it. Meanwhile, he picks up a pregnant hitchhiker and allows her to stay in his home. Their relationship is ambiguous and quite pointless. Save your time and watch something else tonight.

Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to adult content, I wouldn't let my kids watch it.

In the broad strokes of the story there's much about 'Something to hide' that's rather familiar. Nosy and gossiping locals, an office worker facing professional difficulties, a marriage in tatters - and a pretty girl that enters the picture in the midst of it all. Even with these common elements as roots, however, filmmaker Alastair Reid demonstrates fine skills as both writer and director that makes the movie roundly engaging. In adapting Nicholas Monsarrat's novel, characters are as complex and troubled as the dialogue is biting. The scene writing is quietly charged and electrifying to an extent I didn't quite expect as the plot unfolds - and for all that, the narrative is gratifyingly absorbing, especially as it somewhat takes on the air of a psychological drama in focusing on increasingly desperate Harry. Even with a solid cast on hand I had mixed expectations, so I'm very pleased to reflect that this is wonderfully vivid low-key thriller well worth checking out.

With the somber chords of Buddy Greco's "How can we run away" opening the film and defining much of Roy Budd's score, the opening scene serves up a vibrant, jolting image of marital discord. Thusly is the tone set for the equally impactful if less immediately invigorating mess that follows as well-meaning Harry Field tumbles down a rabbit hole of escalating problems. Every small turn in the saga delivers a new little punch owing to sharp writing that keeps the tension boiling - and not least of all thanks to outstanding performances. Well and truly, everyone in the cast is swell, down to the small supporting parts ably filled with fine range, nuance, and poise by the likes of Harold Goldblatt, Rosemarie Dunham, Jack Shepherd. Naturally, however, a few key performances stand out - including Shelley Winters, who steals the spotlight even in her limited time on-screen with a riveting display of aggravation. Linda Hayden, only 19 years old in 1972, carries a spark of dangerous energy in portraying conniving young Lorelei. Above all, Peter Finch is marvelous in the starring role of Harry, perfectly expressing the man's crumbling mentality as unfavorable circumstances mount around him. As much as everyone else involved contributes to the film's success, if I had to name only one highlight of 'Something to hide' then Finch's turn as Mr. Field would unmistakably be it.

As much as I would love to verbosely sing the praises of the feature, I'm not sure how much longer I could go on without betraying plot points. I can say to a certainty, though, that the title makes a couple moves I wasn't anticipating, and I'm delighted at the stylistic flavor given to the narrative. It's not the most original or essential film one could watch, and rich as the last several minutes are as a viewing experience, there's also an argument to be made that they are perhaps a bit overdone, and gauche. Yet much more so than not I think this is a fantastic, hushed drama - punctuated with distinctly grabbing moments - that's anchored with strong writing and acting. 'Something to hide' is a softly entrancing picture that digs in its claws to keep our attention, and very entertaining - and it gets my hearty recommendation.

I really like this movie but am distressed that the US video SHATTERED runs 86 minutes while the film should run 99 min. The video box claims 100 min, so something is clearly off with the Media release. I have no idea what is missing from the US version but there are scenes that cut off abruptly and the ending also seems tampered with. Peter Finch gives a mighty performance as a man who is hanging by a thread. His involvement with a young pregnant girl seals his fate as he gets sucked in over his head and then makes a very poor decision about how to dispose of unwanted refuse. If anyone has seen a version other than the US video release I would love to hear some details.