A phony psychic and her cab driver boyfriend encounter a pair of serial kidnappers while trailing a missing heir.A phony psychic and her cab driver boyfriend encounter a pair of serial kidnappers while trailing a missing heir.A phony psychic and her cab driver boyfriend encounter a pair of serial kidnappers while trailing a missing heir.
- Awards
- 2 wins & 6 nominations
Elisabeth Brooks
- Woman in Cafe with Priest
- (uncredited)
Carl Byrd
- Lieutenant Peterson
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAt one point during filming, Bruce Dern questioned Sir Alfred Hitchcock about why he was cast. Hitchcock replied, "Because Mr. Packinow wanted a million dollars, and Hitch doesn't pay a million dollars." It took Dern a while to realize that "Mr. Packinow" was Al Pacino.
- GoofsWhen the runaway car is careening down the mountain, George is almost strangled by Blanche as she hangs on to his tie while flailing around in the back of the car. George's tie is clearly loose around his neck in several shots. When he crashes and climbs out of the car, the tie knot is perfect.
- Crazy creditsThe Universal logo does not appear anywhere on this film.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Marlene (1984)
Featured review
Murder Mystery as Comedy: last Hitchcock Film
Get ready for the tricks and suspense you've seen in other films, but be sure to get the commentary on DVD. Barbara Harris looks just like Hitchcock's daughter, as you'll see from the interview, just a younger version. A extra lesson: You will never get a facelift once you see the interviews with Karen Black. If she had allowed herself to age naturally, she would have been so much more attractive than the gargoyle you'll wince at seeing.
Here's a treat: the winding mountain road and no brakes scenario as never you've seen it. I loved the comic touches and the risqué language. It is indeed a unique film. If you happen to love the mountain of California and San Francisco, you'll also love the cinematography. The stills are mostly of Hitchcock in the graveyard, which makes you wonder if he wasn't a little clairvoyant himself. The whole movie centers around a phony psychic and her attempt to cheat an old woman out of her money.
In our cynical world of today, you'll expect them just to dress Dern up as the missing heir, but nope, they play it straight. Having read of Hitchcock's misogyny, you'll appreciate the cuts and slices between the lovers. Both pairs of grifters have their own love thing going. Rather touching to see the fidelity among the crooks. Inspired writing, indeed.
Hitchcock did have a pacemaker installed while this movie was being made, so you have to wonder if his own thoughts of his impending death might have caused as much concentration on the graveyard scenes. Buy the DVD; the added features will make the movies itself 3 times more interesting.
Here's a treat: the winding mountain road and no brakes scenario as never you've seen it. I loved the comic touches and the risqué language. It is indeed a unique film. If you happen to love the mountain of California and San Francisco, you'll also love the cinematography. The stills are mostly of Hitchcock in the graveyard, which makes you wonder if he wasn't a little clairvoyant himself. The whole movie centers around a phony psychic and her attempt to cheat an old woman out of her money.
In our cynical world of today, you'll expect them just to dress Dern up as the missing heir, but nope, they play it straight. Having read of Hitchcock's misogyny, you'll appreciate the cuts and slices between the lovers. Both pairs of grifters have their own love thing going. Rather touching to see the fidelity among the crooks. Inspired writing, indeed.
Hitchcock did have a pacemaker installed while this movie was being made, so you have to wonder if his own thoughts of his impending death might have caused as much concentration on the graveyard scenes. Buy the DVD; the added features will make the movies itself 3 times more interesting.
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Alfred Hitchcock's 53rd Film
- Filming locations
- Angeles Crest Highway, Angeles National Forest, California, USA(runaway car downhill sequence)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $4,490,375 (estimated)
- Gross worldwide
- $111
- Runtime2 hours
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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