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| Carroll Baker and Michael Craig |
THE FOURTH VICTIM (aka La ultima senora Anderson/1971). Director: Eugenio Martin.After his third wife is found dead in the pool, Arthur Anderson (Michael Craig) is put on trial for murder. His first two wives also died in accidents, and Superintendent Dunphy (Jose Luis Lopez Vazquez) is convinced that Anderson killed all of them. But the jury doesn't agree, and Arthur enters into a new relationship with a woman named Julie (Carroll Baker). But Julie seems to be hiding a number of secrets which concern the owner of the crumbling estate next door. And did Julie herself commit a murder? Dr. Shephard (Manuel Gallardo) at a certain institution may have the answers if he lives long enough to give them ...
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| Michael Craig |
A co-Spanish/Italian production, the low-budget Fourth Victim is chiefly of interest for the teaming of the two very attractive leads who both play with veracity despite the rather impossible nature of their roles. None of the characters, including the cop, are sympathetic, and a revelation late in the game, which should add to the film's suspense, seems to do just the opposite. A nominal giallo film, this could have used a few grisly murders but the movie instead tries to keep you guessing as to what is actually going on. The premise of the film is far-fetched but workable (and not that original), but the execution is fairly dismal. A really bad musical score doesn't help at all. Although she was past her Hollywood prime, Baker still looks gorgeous, and Craig remained handsome no matter how old he got. Verdict: Potboiler with good-looking leads and a convoluted screenplay. *1/2.
Must see for me, as I am a huge fan of Carroll Baker. Just finally saw Something Wild (didn’t like it, a bit overwrought and slow moving and atmospheric but loved her!); have always enjoyed her sardonic delivery, both in early ingenue roles like Giant and later character roles like Bad and Star 80. Was this during her Giallo gothic phase? She did a couple of those too, like Sweet Body of Deborah....
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Yes, like many fading stars she went to Europe to get major parts, although the movies were not so hot. I like what you said about Baker's sardonic delivery -- yes, that's a perfect way of putting it and one of the reasons she was such an interesting actress. Don't get me started on the problems I had with "Something Wild!"
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