Someone Behind the Door (1971)

A neurosurgeon with a cheating wife takes an amnesiac into his home and conditions him to believe that the cheating wife is his own and to take the "appropriate" action.

Director:

Nicolas Gessner

Writers:

Marc Behm (adaptation), Nicolas Gessner (adaptation)

Stars:

Charles Bronson, Anthony Perkins, Jill Ireland

Cast

Cast overview:
Charles Bronson	...	The Stranger
Anthony Perkins	...	Laurence Jeffries
Jill Ireland	...	Frances Jeffries
Henri Garcin	...	Paul Damien
Adriano Magistretti	...	Andrew
Agathe Natanson	...	Lucy
Viviane Villamont	...	Young Girl on Beach (as Viviane Everly)
André Penvern	...	Intern
Carl Studer	...	Fisherman (as Carl J. Studer)
Denise Péronne	...	Nurse
Isabelle Del Rio	...	Nurse
Silvana Blasi	...	Mrs. Evans
Colin Mann	...	Sgt. Gordon
Yves Elliot	...	Policeman

Storyline

Dr. Laurence Jeffries, a neurosurgeon, intent on his research, neglects his wife Frances. The frustrated woman accordingly takes a lover, Paul Damien, a French journalist. When he realizes what is going on, Laurence has only one thing in mind, vengeance. A diabolical idea comes to him: why not use one of his patients, an amnesiac, as his instrument of revenge? He soon implements his plan, taking the amnesiac into his home and making him believe that Frances is HIS wife, that she cheats on him and that he has to eliminate her...

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Plot Keywords:

taking off shirt | adulterous wife | bare chested male | scar | amnesiac | 

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Taglines:

No memory, no name, no mind: This man will act out someone else's insanity and revenge.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

GP

Did You Know?

Trivia

Anthony Perkins and Charles Bronson got along very well during filming, Perkins said Bronson "was a doll" to work with.

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Quotes

The Stranger: How long am I gonna stay here?
Laurence Jeffries: Well, that depends.
The Stranger: It's, uh, considerate of you.
Laurence Jeffries: Not at all, it's my job.
The Stranger: Uh, what was in that, uh, shot you gave me?
Laurence Jeffries: Are you feeling sleepy?
The Stranger: Yeah...
Laurence Jeffries: Good.

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Connections

Referenced in Bleeder (1999)

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Soundtracks

Symphony No. 9: Largo
Written by Antonín Dvorák (as A. Dvorak)

User Reviews

Missed this Bronson Film

Enjoyed this film starring Charles Bronson,(The Stranger),"The Indian Runner",'91 who plays a man who has lost his memory and is treated at a hospital and taken home by Anothony Perkins,(Laurence Jeffries),"Edge of Sanity",'89. Laurence is a psychiatrist and decides to use this Stranger as an experiment and at the same time play games with his brain that seems to be empty of all personnel remembrance. Jill Ireland,(Francis Jeffries),"The Mechanic",'72 is a very attractive wife to Laurence Jeffries, but is neglected in the bedroom love making and has drifted a part from her husband. This is a rather interesting drama and suspense film, but rather slow paced.

Details

Country:

France UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 July 1971 (France)

Also Known As:

Someone Behind the Door

Filming Locations:

Folkestone, Kent, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Comacico, Lira Films, Medusa Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1