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The Man in the Attic

  • TV Movie
  • 1995
  • R
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
311
YOUR RATING
Anne Archer and Neil Patrick Harris in The Man in the Attic (1995)
BiographyDramaRomance

An older woman hides her younger lover in the attic of her house for years without her husband suspecting. Based on a true story.An older woman hides her younger lover in the attic of her house for years without her husband suspecting. Based on a true story.An older woman hides her younger lover in the attic of her house for years without her husband suspecting. Based on a true story.

  • Director
    • Graeme Campbell
  • Writers
    • Norman Winski
    • Duane Poole
    • Tom Swale
  • Stars
    • Anne Archer
    • Len Cariou
    • Neil Patrick Harris
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.7/10
    311
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Graeme Campbell
    • Writers
      • Norman Winski
      • Duane Poole
      • Tom Swale
    • Stars
      • Anne Archer
      • Len Cariou
      • Neil Patrick Harris
    • 8User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 nominations total

    Photos

    Top cast19

    Edit
    Anne Archer
    Anne Archer
    • Krista Heldmann
    Len Cariou
    Len Cariou
    • Joseph Heldmann
    Neil Patrick Harris
    Neil Patrick Harris
    • Edward Broder
    Alex Carter
    Alex Carter
    • Gary
    Deborah Drakeford
    Deborah Drakeford
    • Amy
    Rick Roberts
    Rick Roberts
    • Reporter
    Martha Cronyn
    • Mary
    Toby Proctor
    • Karl Heldmann
    Nahanni Johnstone
    Nahanni Johnstone
    • Leslie
    Judith Orban
    • Mrs. Meyer
    Bruce Vavrina
    • Detective Joe
    Richard Liss
    • Waiter
    James Mainprize
    • Mayor
    Pixie Bigelow
    Pixie Bigelow
    • Mayor's wife
    Tedde Moore
    • Another wife
    Sam Malkin
    • Guard
    Christopher Marren
    • Charles
    James Binkley
    • Officer
    • Director
      • Graeme Campbell
    • Writers
      • Norman Winski
      • Duane Poole
      • Tom Swale
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews8

    5.7311
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    Featured reviews

    Vincentiu

    nice

    far to be remarkable, it is a nice work. correct acting, right dose of tension, a common story who can seduce large part of public. and flavor of old novels about secrets and gray final of it. you can see it without high expectations but, in same measure, without feel of time waist. the good part is the art of Neil Patrick Harris to define his role and the Thchekov/Tennesee Williams Krista by Anne Archer.Hallmark style and a clean end. movie as surrogate for a kind of literature about fool love and interdict sentimental adventure. a good subject for Hitchcock but far by his recipes. short, a nice film for a Friday evening.
    8ddnoe

    An enthralling film, a powerful story

    This is an excellent film, well-made and well-acted that makes an extraordinary story believable. The characters are multi-layered and performances suitably reflect that. Anne Archer sensitively depicts a woman devastated by the loss of her son, sexually dominant, often deceitful, but possessing a heart and conscience. Neil Patrick Harris appears by turns uncertain, shy, horny, demanding and submissive in the role of Edward Broder, a man who chose to live under a kind of voluntary house arrest to be with the woman he loved. Len Cariou is credible when he plays a husband who is harsh and cruel and equally so when he is endearingly "lovesick."

    I was so intrigued by the knowledge that this tale of a man who lived in a couple's attic for years without the husband knowing he was there was based on a true story that I simply had to research it further. It turned out to be inspired by the story of Otto Sanhuber who lived in the attic of Fred and Dolly Oesstreich, about whom I have a story at Court TV's Crime Library. This movie is so good that it rewards re-watching when the viewer can appreciate its multiple layers of interaction and meaning.
    10doug21

    Brillaint novel and even better movie

    This is one of Norman Winski's later works. It shows maturity, talent and unique creative style. I first saw it on MOVIE OF THE WEEK, and again. I enjoyed as much or even more the second time I saw it. there are little hidden manings everywhere.
    9dalisblu

    Opinion of 1995 Man in the Attic

    I just viewed this film and found it to be excellent. I liked the characters and found them to be believable and well portrayed. The sensitivity shown by Harris was in keeping with the plot of the story. I understand this was taken from a true story. Whether it was or not, I found it to very enjoyable.I wonder why it wasn't advertised more than it was. Too bad...I'm sure some people missed it because of that. I particularly liked the emotion showed by Anne Archer in the portrayer of the heroine. The costumes and houses, etc. gave the impression of really being back in the 1900s. The car that Krista almost hit Edward with was especially beautiful and typified the class of the age.
    Kirpianuscus

    seductive

    Anne Archer. and Len Cariou. and Neil Patrick Harris.in a TV movie who has many from the sins and virtues of this genre of movies. the flavor of soap opera, the forbidden love as the basic ingredient, the marriage as fiction, the past as puzzle of seductive memories. The Man in the Attic has the gift to use inspired form for tell the story. and it is not only a good point but the axis of film's credibility and the detail who builds the seduction of a chain of events who are well known from pink novels and tabloids. result - in strange manner, a touching movie. and a not bad analysis of love, sacrifice, family, need of the other, choices with romantic air but, in fact, forms of survive. Neil Harris does a real admirable job in that case and that fact defines , in many aspects, the special status of film among many others from same genre.

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    Related interests

    Ben Kingsley, Rohini Hattangadi, and Geraldine James in Gandhi (1982)
    Biography
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance

    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      A TV movie for the Showtime network.
    • Connections
      Version of The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom (1968)
    • Soundtracks
      MY HEART OF HEARTS
      Sung by Vivienne Williams

      Arranged by Pete Coulman (as Peter Coulman)

      Composed by Louis Natale (as Lou Natale)

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • 1995 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Canada
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Tavanarasındaki Adam
    • Production companies
      • Atlantis Films
      • CBS Entertainment Production
      • CanWest Global Communications
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      • 1h 30m(90 min)
    • Color
      • Color

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