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| James Best and Mala Powers |
Living with his horrible mother (Vivi Janiss), Doug Gerhardt (James Best of Killer Shrews) has developed a positive hatred for women. He beats one poor gal who resists his advances to death with his fists. Then Doug accidentally encounters Marian Wood (Mala Powers), who is married to car dealer Woody (Jerry Paris) and has two cute little boys (Josh and Jeff Freeman). Arrogant and attracted to Marian -- one senses she is drawn to Doug despite her love for her husband -- Doug does his best to court her, but she will only agree to having a beer with him because he tells her they went to the same school. This only makes Doug obsess more over Marian, putting both her husband and her children in mortal danger.
Man on the Prowl may have been the only starring role for James Best, who gives a strong performance as the psychopath, with good work from Mala Powers and Jerry Paris as well. Ted de Corsia is fine as the detective on the case, and Vivi Janiss makes an impression as Doug's monster mother. The film features a tense and suspenseful climax. Art Napoleon directed only two other films, the Diana Barrymore biopic, Too Much, Too Soon, starring Dorothy Malone and Errol Flynn, and The Activist ten years later.
Verdict: Worthwhile minor suspense film ***.
I met Jerry Paris once; he gave a seminar at my college. Very nice guy...loved him on Dick Van Dyke Show. Also in Caine Mutiny —handsome and a god actor before he turned to directing.
ReplyDeleteThis looks good—will check it out!
Yes, this flick isn't bad. Paris was most famous for the Van Dyke show but he did other stuff then went behind the camera, as you say. Glad to hear he was a nice guy.
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