Mirage

This 1965 feature doesn’t have much of a critical reputation, yet it’s an unusually gripping and compelling thriller of the diabolical puzzler variety, about a man (Gregory Peck) who suffers amnesia during a New York power blackout, during which an executive plunges to his death from a skyscraper. The ensuing conspiracy plot is full of disquieting and effective twists as the hero’s memory gradually leaks back into consciousness and various goons try to kill him; there’s also a nice actorly turn by Walter Matthau as a private detective. The denouement is something of a corny letdown, but prior to that Edward Dmytryk’s direction is adroit and purposeful. Scripted by Peter Stone; with Diane Baker, Walter Abel, Leif Erickson, Jack Weston, George Kennedy, and Kevin McCarthy. 108 min. (JR)

This entry was posted in Featured Texts. Bookmark the permalink.