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Thursday, March 21, 2024

PARANOIA/A QUIET PLACE TO KILL

Carroll Baker and Jean Sorel
PARANOIA/A QUIET PLACE TO KILL (1970). Director: Umberto Lenzi. 

After an accident, Helen (Carroll Baker), a race car driver, is invited by (whom she thinks is) her ex-husband, Maurice (Jean Sorel), to his estate, where he now lives with his wealthy wife, Constance (Anna Proclemer). Helen discovers that Constance actually issued the invitation, and there are early hints -- later discarded -- that she has a yen for her. Maurice is an unapologetic gigolo who left Helen when her money ran out. Constance has good reason to hate Maurice -- one revelation is kept towards the end of the film -- and offers Helen $10,000 if she'll help her kill him. But as usual in these kind of movies, things don't go as expected. 

Proclemer with Sorel
Carroll Baker gives a very good performance in this, one of several thrillers she did for director Umberto Lenzi. Sorel, who may or may not be dubbed, is comparatively listless, however. Proclemer makes a better impression, as does Marina Coffa as Constance's nubile daughter, Susan. Another film inspired a bit by Diabolique -- wife and ex-wife as opposed to wife and mistress -- the lack of originality, despite some minor twists, keeps this from being memorable. The theme song, "You," is horrible and horribly sung! A nominal giallo film essentially devoid of grisly murders. 

Verdict: The picture pulls one along but there's no pay-off. **.  

2 comments:

  1. Watched this one, too, Bill, found all of Carroll's Giallo epics on Tubi and became hooked, thanks to you. You're right, not a great movie but I adore Ms. Baker and Jean Sorel is dreamy....he doesn't need to talk. He's got presence!! LOL.
    -Chris

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  2. Yes, Sorel first made an impression in A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE but his American career never really took off. Still he made quite a few appearances in foreign films. Definitely an attractive fellow!

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