The Savage Eye (1960)

This drama takes the form of a story told using documentary material as an intrinsic part of the narrative. In this journey through the dark side of 1950s urban life, the camera follows ... See full summary »

Directors:

Ben Maddow, Sidney Meyers,

Writers:

Ben Maddow, Sidney Meyers,

Stars:

Barbara Baxley, Gary Merrill, Herschel Bernardi

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview:
Barbara Baxley	...	Judith McGuire
Gary Merrill	...	The poet
Herschel Bernardi	...	Kirk
Jean Hidey	...	Venus the Body
Elizabeth Zemach	...	The nurse

Storyline

This drama takes the form of a story told using documentary material as an intrinsic part of the narrative. In this journey through the dark side of 1950s urban life, the camera follows Judith - a newly divorced woman looking for a fresh start - through the streets of Los Angeles as she encounters the strange denizens of the city, ranging from trendsetters to religious fanatics. All the tawdry and desperate faces of this world become a mirror for Judith's personal failures and struggles to claim her new life.

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Plot Keywords:

religious fanatic | divorcee | murphy bed | faith healing | strip club | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 November 1961 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

El ojo salvaje

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

City Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

68 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

User Reviews

A film light years ahead of its time

An amazing roller-coaster ride through the full range of human emotions, THE SAVAGE EYE is just as remarkable today as when it was first made, and the title is so apt and pertinent. Didactic and profound, it comes across almost as a warning or an alert to human society showing us the high price paid by our psyches for the "joys" of civilisation. The things we really need we ignore and despise, and instead pursue an empty materialism that leaves our "souls" impoverished and starved; not because we choose to do so, but because we mindlessly drift along with whatever the dominant ideology of the day tells us we should want. Brilliantly assembled and conceived, it is one of those films that once seen will linger deep in your subconscious forever.