Intrigued as I was by seeing Natalie Wood a year after 'Rebel Without a Cause,' I have to say, this film is pretty bad. So many aspects of it are awkward at best, and awful at worst. The script, with its wooden dialogue. The character motivations, including the logic and actions of the police. The acting, with a few brief exceptions from Wood and Raymond Burr. The direction, which wanders into silly behavior at the police desk, presumably to fill out its (mercifully short) 75 minute run time. Even the casting, which has 30 year old Richard Anderson dating 18 year old Wood. Edmond O'Brien tries to breathe energy and verve into this drama, but it's often misplaced. The film plays out in a predictable and yet ridiculous way.
One of the aspects I think it was going for was to try to put O'Brien's overbearing parenting next to the protective mothering of the disturbed person, which might have been an interesting idea had it been in better hands and properly developed. As it is, this film is just a pale, lightweight reflection of better dramas and noirs, without any real tension or believability. Oh, and there's some misogyny tossed in for good measure. Upon hearing Wood cry for help up on Lover's Lane, a young man nearby shouts "Sock her again! They love it!" And then later when O'Brien is informed his daughter has been kidnapped, his wife is left inside, because, well, you know how women can be right? I give the film two stars out of five for Natalie Wood, who for me is the only reason to watch it.
One of the aspects I think it was going for was to try to put O'Brien's overbearing parenting next to the protective mothering of the disturbed person, which might have been an interesting idea had it been in better hands and properly developed. As it is, this film is just a pale, lightweight reflection of better dramas and noirs, without any real tension or believability. Oh, and there's some misogyny tossed in for good measure. Upon hearing Wood cry for help up on Lover's Lane, a young man nearby shouts "Sock her again! They love it!" And then later when O'Brien is informed his daughter has been kidnapped, his wife is left inside, because, well, you know how women can be right? I give the film two stars out of five for Natalie Wood, who for me is the only reason to watch it.