Mirage (1965)

An accountant suddenly suffers from amnesia. This appears related to the suicide of his boss. Now some violent thugs are out to get him. They work for a shadowy figure known simply as The Major.

Director:

Edward Dmytryk

Writers:

Peter Stone (screenplay), Howard Fast (novel) (as Walter Ericson)

Stars:

Gregory Peck, Diane Baker, Walter Matthau

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gregory Peck	...	David Stillwell
Diane Baker	...	Shela
Walter Matthau	...	Ted Caselle
Kevin McCarthy	...	Sylvester Josephson
Jack Weston	...	Lester
Leif Erickson	...	Major Crawford Gilcuddy
Walter Abel	...	Charles Stewart Calvin
George Kennedy	...	Willard
Robert H. Harris	...	Dr. Augustus J. Broden
Anne Seymour	...	Mrs. Frances Calvin
House Jameson	...	Bo (as House B. Jameson)
Hari Rhodes	...	Lt. Franken
Syl Lamont	...	Benny
Eileen Baral	...	Irene
Neil Fitzgerald	...	Joe Turtle

Storyline

Walking down twenty-seven flights of stairs after the power goes out in the New York City office building he is in, David Stillwell emerges outside on the ground level to find that a man he didn't know either jumped or was pushed out a window to his death. That man was Charles Calvin, the head of Unidyne, a humanitarian organization that works toward world peace. David notices other unusual goings-on. What he considers his normal routine that others he knows should recognize, don't. People that he doesn't know seem to know him, such as the beautiful young woman with who he walked down the stairs but who ran off when they got to the bottom. And things that he thought he saw or thought he knew end up not being the case, such as the multiple sub-basement levels he thought were in that office building which don't seem to exist in the clear light of day. When he finally thinks about it, he believes he has some form of amnesia. As an example, he knows that he works as a cost accountant, but...

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Plot Keywords:

amnesia | paranoia | hitchcockian | scientist | conspiracy | 

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Taglines:

Is The Key In His Mind...Or In Her Arms?

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Genres:

Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 September 1965 (UK)

Also Known As:

Espejismo

Filming Locations:

Battery Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Edward Dmytryk originally wanted to cast Tippi Hedren in the part of Shela, but Hedren was under a personal contract with Sir Alfred Hitchcock, who told Dmytryk she was not available. Diane Baker, who had played opposite Hedren in Hitchcock's Marnie (1964), took over the role.

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Quotes

Lester: It's beginning to look like people are on their way out, all together.
David Stillwell: Well, maybe the machines will keep us around for pets.

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Connections

Referenced in Sometimes a Great Notion (1971)

User Reviews

Please put this out on DVD!

I loved this movie. It's tight and dynamic with a cool jazz-influenced soundtrack by Quincy Jones. Peter Stone's writing turns the novel into a well-paced thriller/mystery that surprises you with a subtle sense of humor in unexpected places. Gregory Peck and Walter Matthau work beautifully together and both turn in memorable performances. Robert Harris as Dr. Broden is a standout. Filmed in black and white, you'll appreciate this fact after seeing "Mirage"--New York City is looking sharp as ever. Have your remote control handy because you'll probably want to rewind throughout. Find this movie and watch it! And how is this not on DVD????!!! It is such a crime!