Complete credited cast: | |||
Edmond O'Brien | ... | Capt. Dan Taggart | |
Brian Donlevy | ... | Capt. Ed Bates | |
Natalie Wood | ... | Elizabeth | |
Raymond Burr | ... | Harold Loftus | |
Richard Anderson | ... | Owen Clark | |
Irene Hervey | ... | Helen Taggart | |
Carol Veazie | ... | Mrs. Mabel Loftus | |
Mary Lawrence | ... | Madge Taggart | |
Anthony Caruso | ... | Tony Chavez | |
George J. Lewis | ... | George Gerrity | |
Peter Hansen | ... | Dr. Frazee | |
Tina Carver | ... | Mrs. Marie Holzapple | |
Herb Vigran | ... | Jensen - Sergeant at Police Desk |
Owen Marks, parked at Lovers' Loop with girlfriend Liz Taggart, surprises a peeping Tom, who knocks him out and kidnaps Liz. The police leap into action when they learn the victim is a cop's daughter. Kidnapper Harold Loftus, the unhinged product of a smothering mother, makes ineffectual advances toward Liz, who staves him off as the police close in, hindered as much as helped by her overprotective father Capt. Dan Taggart. Written by Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu>
Policeman (Edmond O'Brien) hunts down the hulking brute (Raymond Burr) who kidnapped his teenage daughter (Natalie Wood). Had potential to be a sleazy thriller but doesn't live up to it. As for the acting, the special of the day is ham. Raymond Burr channeling Lenny from "Of Mice and Men" will elicit laughter from most viewers. Carol Veazie as his trashy mom is fun to watch. Overweight Edmond O'Brien's turn as the hot-headed thuggish overprotective father is impossible to stop watching. Seems like every scene he has he's grabbing someone and yelling at them. It's not good acting but the movie is much more intriguing when he's on screen. Brian Donlevy spends most of the movie telling his pal O'Brien to go home. For her part, Natalie Wood is lovely to look at and handles herself fine in a weak role. Herb Vigran is good as the comic relief desk sergeant. Somewhat interesting for its glimpse at 1950s' attitudes towards sex, parenting, and mental illness. Ultimately can't be taken seriously enough to work as a thriller and it's not quite over-the-top enough to work as camp. Watchable but nothing special.