Experiment in Terror (1962)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Blake Edwards

Writers:

Gordon Gordon (novel) &
Mildred Gordon (novel) ...

Release Date:

25 June 1962 (Sweden)

Genre:

Crime | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

CHALLENGING! THE FASTEST TWO HOURS THE SCREEN HAS EVER SEEN! SHOCKING! IT PLUNGES YOU INTO A NEW DIMENSION OF FEAR! IMPORTANT! IT RATES WITH THE GREATEST SUSPENSE FILMS OF OUR TIME! (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

Kelly Sherwood is terrorized by a man with an asthmatic voice who plans to use her to steal $100,000 from the bank where she works...

Plot Keywords:

Bank | FBI | FBI Agent | Teenage | Woman In Jeopardy

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

Glenn Ford	...	John 'Rip' Ripley
Lee Remick	...	Kelly Sherwood
Stefanie Powers	...	Toby Sherwood
Roy Poole	...	Brad
Ned Glass	...	Popcorn
Anita Loo	...	Lisa
Patricia Huston	...	Nancy Ashton
Gilbert Green	...	Special agent
Clifton James	...	Capt. Moreno
Al Avalon	...	Man who picked up Kelly
William Bryant	...	Chuck
Dick Crockett	...	FBI agent #1
James Lanphier	...	Landlord
Ross Martin	...	Garland Humphrey 'Red' Lynch

Also Known As:

The Grip of Fear (UK)

Runtime:

123 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Finland:(Banned) (1962) | Sweden:15 | UK:X (cut) | Argentina:16

Filming Locations:

100 St. Germaine Street, San Francisco, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Several elements of this film inspired scenes in David Lynch projects. To begin with, there is the "Twin Peaks" (1990) sign at the beginning of the film which served as obvious inspiration for the title card and setting of Lynch's television series of the same name. Also, a scene or two later (the infamous "opening" scene,) when Kelly is in here garage, the killer mentions that he has "killed twice before" - this is something which "Bob," the supposed killer from "Twin Peaks" also mentions. This scene also has uncanny resemblances to a scene in Lynch's Wild at Heart (1990) where Willem Dafoe's character, Bobby Peru, has Lula Fortune in his filthy grasp and is talking to her similarly. Later in the film, we find out that the killer in "Experiment in Terror" is actually called Garland "Red" Lynch. The resemblance to David Lynch's name is something which the director no doubt noticed, as he also named a character in "Twin Peaks" after him (Major Garland Briggs).

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the baseball double play scene, the Los Angeles Dodgers' batter hitting the double play ground ball is #12, but, the runner getting thrown out at first base is #55.

Quotes:

Garland Humphrey 'Red' Lynch: Your sister's all right.
Toby Sherwood: You said she was dying.
Garland Humphrey 'Red' Lynch: I had to find some way to get you here. Take off your clothes. You want me to take them off for you?
Toby Sherwood: [shakes her head]
Garland Humphrey 'Red' Lynch: Then take them off.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Battlestar Galactica: Experiment in Terra (#1.19)" (1979)

Soundtrack:

When the Saints Go Marching In

Did this inspire David Lynch?

Just saw this movie for the first time and the DVD transfer just released is fine.

From the moment this film opens, I couldn't help but wonder how many times Lynch has seen this movie. Those of you who've seen Experiment should know what I mean.

The score, the angles, the subdued dialogue all help to create one heck of a moody, brooding piece of work. I couldn't agree more with some of the other IMDB comments here...this is a great piece of film noir, if not the last great piece of film noir for a particular generation!

What I so admire about classic film-making from years past is how directors, like Blake in this instance, don't or couldn't resort to gratuitous blood and nudity to creat atmosphere. Unlike Lynch, who exploits graphic gore and nudity, Blake thrills with mere thoughts of sexual deviency and violence.

The opening scene to Experiment is one I shall not forget soon! As our villain forces himself on Remick and proceeds to dirty her ears with the filth of what he could do to her is just simply incredible film-making. It reminded me of the scene from Lynch's Wild at Heart where Dafoe's character has Dern's character in his filthy clutches. Except in Experiment, I think it works even better...why? Because there were no profane words or over-the-top characterizations, just simple text and superb acting that later matches a villain who seems quite normal as he strolls the streets of San Fran. I really believed the characters in this film...Blake puts everyone in context.

Congrats to Blake Edwards on his only serious movie...I wish you had done more! And, Mancini is as sly as ever on the score. I could go on and on. Suffice it to say, I really enjoyed this movie and am happy to have it as part of my DVD collection. Although, I'd love to see Criterion get a hold of this one...I'd love to learn more about the history of this film.