The Strange Vengeance of Rosalie (1972)

A traveling salesman gives a pretty hitchhiker a ride home, who then injures him to keep him captured in her run-down shack.

Director:

Jack Starrett

Writers:

Anthony Greville-Bell, John Kohn

Stars:

Bonnie Bedelia, Ken Howard, Anthony Zerbe

Cast

Credited cast:
Bonnie Bedelia	...	Rosalie
Ken Howard	...	Virgil
Anthony Zerbe	...	Fry

Storyline

A traveling salesman gives a pretty hitchhiker a ride home, who then injures him to keep him captured in her run-down shack.

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Plot Keywords:

man smoking | burial | billboard | chant | vagabond | 

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Taglines:

First she loves, then she kills- Then she goes out and collects the next victim!

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 October 1972 (UK)

Also Known As:

Someone to Watch Over Me

Filming Locations:

Tabernas, Almería, Andalucía, Spain

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cinecrest, Palomar Pictures (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in Lovelace (2013)

User Reviews

Offbeat thriller with odd atmosphere

A true obscurity. Most of the user comments reference its unmistakable similarity to MISERY. In Stephen King's defense (not that I'm a huge King fan, nor is the author above "homages" to previous works), even ROSALIE can't be said to have broken new ground with its theme of a woman keeping a man "hostage" (Don Siegel's BEGUILED with Clint Eastwood came out just a year before, for instance). And, the film is OBSCURE. I had to find it on the dark corners of the internet to find an import VHS - with Dutch subtitles to boot (anybody who NEEDS to see this can email me).

A virtual three person show with Bedelia and Howard on screen for virtually the entire running time (Anthony Zerbe shows is the 3rd main actor, though his part is much smaller). The odd perverse atmosphere helps a lot, but there is little in the way of action or psychological insight. Bedelia is not altogether convincing as a Native American, but she truly carries the film with her portrait of a deeply disturbed young woman. At times, the script doesn't seem consistent as to whether Rosalie is totally naive, or whether she is merely cunning. With some things, she appears to have NO understanding of the wider world, but at other times, she keeps up with the well bred Virgil. The twist ending works on one level, but carries little meaning.

Considering that the indie film was originally distributed by 20th Century Fox and that all three of the stars are name actors, it remains a "strange" mystery why this film seems to have vanished. Perhaps, Rosalie's ultimate vengeance?