BY TIM MCGLYNN
Kino-Lorber
has released a Blu-ray edition of 1971’s The Deadly Trap starring Faye Dunaway
and Frank Langella. Helmed by famed
French director Rene Clement, this film is a nifty thriller with more than a
few surprising plot twists. The 1980s
VHS release of this film carried the incredibly inappropriate title of Death
Scream which may be the reason you never heard of this more reserved story.
Written
by Sydney Buchman and Eleanor Perry with a little help from an uncredited Ring
Lardner, Jr., this film requires some patience on the part of the viewer as the
characters are introduced thoroughly before events are set into motion.
Faye
Dunaway, looking gorgeous as a brunette, and Frank Langella play Jill and
Philippe, American ex pats living in Paris where they raise their two
children. Philippe is a successful book
editor who has a mysterious past as a member of a the “Organization.†It is revealed that he previously was an
expert at industrial spying and has moved his family to France to start a new
life.
Odd
things begin to happen that suggest that Jill may be suffering a nervous
breakdown as she has recurring lapses in memory. These lapses are becoming more noticeable to
her husband, daughter and downstairs neighbor Cynthia (Barbara Parkins), who
seems just a bit too helpful to Jill in caring for the children, who are
superbly played by Michelle Louire and Patrick Vincent. Lourie, as young Cathy, has an extremely
expressive face that conveys both joy, and later on, disappointment as she
begins to realize that all may not be well with her mother. Patrick Vincent is a cute, rambunctious sort
that you just know is going to get into trouble. But you love him anyway.
Philippe,
much to his surprise, is contacted by the Organization and offered another
assignment with a hefty paycheck as incentive. Not wanting to sacrifice any more time away from his family, Philippe turns
down their generous offer. As it turns
out, his former employers are not accustomed to taking no for an answer.
More
strange events ensue as Philippe’s publisher is mistakenly informed that his
star editor is tendering his resignation. Jill continues to experience more lapses in memory that cause her
husband and neighbor to become concerned for the safety of the children. These events culminate one afternoon when
Jill loses track of her kids while on an outing in a busy plaza.
Jill
at first is suspected of foul play as young Cathy and Patrick’s belongings are
found by the river’s edge. After intense
questioning by Commisaire Chameille (marvelously
played by Raymond Gerome), it is becomes apparent that the children have been
kidnapped by the Organization in an attempt to force Philippe to accept their
assignment offer.
The
kidnapping is the point where the tempo picks up and all of the characters
we’ve met so far begin to reveal themselves in this mystery. We have also learned about the habits of the
kids and in particular the toy gun young Patrick plays with constantly. This
will become part of a shocking plot twist later on.
Reviewers
in Europe have referred to Rene Clement as the French Hitchcock and elements
from the master’s playbook are present in this film. We have mistaken identities and wrongly
accused characters struggling to prove their innocence to doubting authorities.
Faye
Dunaway is somewhat restrained in her performance even as her character, Jill,
begins to doubt her own sanity. We
experience one session with her psychiatrist that adds to her insecurity. It is the eventual support of her husband
that gives her the strength to become more rational and aid the police in the
search for the children. Frank Langella, fresh from Mel Brooks’ The Twelve
Chairs, is handsome and somewhat awkward as the book-smart Philippe. He loves Jill, but has trouble expressing his
affection. Barbara Parkiins, as helpful
neighbor Cynthia, is very good at balancing between being truly helpful and a
bit mysterious. She seems to have
feelings for Philippe, but we’re not quite sure.
Gritty
cinematography portrays Paris as less-than-beautiful in the winter. The locations look brown and a bit bleak with
the usual amount of 70s grain. There are
some soft focus shots particularly during the opening scenes of Jill and
Patrick riding on a barge one misty gray morning. The New Wave editing style may feel abrupt
and clumsy to some viewers, as transitions are not always obvious. After a time, it feels like a technique to
move the story along at a faster clip. There is careful attention paid to the color scheme of Jill and
Patrick’s clothing and this is discussed in some detail during the commentary
track.
The
Kino-Lorber Blu-ray is sharp and has clear mono sound with just a few picture
flecks at reel changes. The main
characters speak in English while most of the minor cast converse in French
without the benefit of subtitles. It is
fairly easy to deduce what is going on in these scenes, however.
There
is an incredibly informative commentary track provided by entertainment
journalist and author Bryan Reesman. Discussed are director Clement’s role in the French New Wave movement
and comparisons to his previous film Rider on the Rain. Reesman notes that while the story is set in
Paris, we are not shown any typical landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower or the
Notre Dame Cathedral. A very ordinary-looking
city is pictured for this story of marital discord and an eventual kidnapping.
One
curious note is that some of the music during the kidnapping and investigation
sequences seems oddly out of place. The
score by Gilbert Becaud begins innocently enough, especially during a circus
setting with the children. However, as
the drama becomes more intense near the conclusion, the music is more jovial
and almost comical.
As
with most Kino-Lorber editions, there are trailers for several of the company’s
current offerings. If you enjoy a film
that takes the time to properly introduce the characters before developing the
story, then you will enjoy The Deadly Trap. It is not a high-octane thriller, but it does contain twists, turns and
a satisfying conclusion.
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