Thriller (TV Series) Sign It Death (1974) User Reviews

Beautiful but deadly

[enochsneed · 8/10 · 6 October 2019]

Another trip down memory lane for me - something I saw over 40 years ago that has stayed with me until the internet gave me the opportunity to see it again.

What can you say about a thriller which opens with a triple murder and builds to a climax? This is another classic episode of the 'Thriller' series which still keeps the nerves stretched for over an hour, even if the production values and filming techniques are dated and studio-bound.

There are good performances by the supporting cast, and two solid appearances by Patrick Allen and Edward Judd as business partners with totally contrasting personalities.

However, the whole episode centres on Francesca Annis. If the actress playing Tracy had not been convincing the result would have been a laughable flop. I cannot praise this performance highly enough, Francesca Annis brings so many facets to the role. Tracy is manipulative, calculating, devious, mendacious and downright psychotic (shown by the malevolent snipping of the scissors when Tracy feels she has been crossed). At the same time we can see that she is deluded by romantic fantasies, probably very lonely and insecure, and occasionally frightened of herself when she fails to control her own behaviour. The fact that she doesn't really understand how life and relationships work (when her boss gives her a cheap promotional toy she sees it as the start of his falling in love with her), and that she is obviously mentally ill and divorced from reality, make her oddly sympathetic, despite her murderous intentions.

Another excellent 'Thriller' episode with a superb central performance; still worth watching.

One Of The Best In The Series

[Slime-3 · 8/10 · 15 October 2016]

An immediate and perfect antidote to the misfiring previous THRILLER episode "K IS FOR KILLING" , this has all the right elements that "K" misses : Taught story-line, dynamic direction, snappy editing, superb casting, brilliant acting, some choice little twists and no half baked attempt at comedy. This is just a proper chiller from the very start. Francesca Annis as the plotting secretary is both captivating (those eyes!)and disturbing.While Patrick Allen as the high-powered businessman reminds us what a good actor he could be when not simply providing his distinctive vocal talents to commercials and public information shorts. The supporting cast are mostly spot-on for their roles. As ever in this series the look is now very dated with 16mm location sequences visually jarring with the inter-cut studio scenes shot on video, the lack of blood (despite numerous stabbings)and the often gloriously outlandish hairstyles and clothes of the era - but they all add greatly to the period charm of the series. This episode boasts a strongly character- driven story and if some elements of it seem a little comical today it's just a reminder of how much the world has moved on in the four decades since the series what first shown and become increasingly cynical and complex.

Best Worst at Cheezy Entertaining

[Mellificent-in-Oaktown · 8/10 · 29 March 2020]

What can I say? It opens with a family of three grown healthy adults sitting down to dinner, when the camera shows (cue weird scary not-scary music) someone hiding behind the curtain, who then takes about 7 full seconds to emerge behind the man (husband?) at the table, in full view of both women at the table, raising a giant pair of scissors over her head before killing him in one blow (and with no blood?!), while the two women just sit there. The murderer then walks over to the older one who continues to sit completely still while again, the murderer raises the scissors slowly over her head and kills her with one blow. Finally, the younger women responds by screaming and attempting to run but, of course, can't open the bloody door, and so she is stabbed in the back once and dies instantly. But the absolute best worst best part is a few seconds later when we see the housekeeper sitting outside real-fake bawling into a handkerchief while the police pull up, wiping away at her tears WITH HER GLASSES STILL ON! What is she wiping at?!? It's so amazing!!

This series is of its time, made almost 50 years ago, with little money and not the greatest scripts BUT it's silly to poorly rate and negatively criticize a show from 1974 because of film quality or cheap sets. I don't think it's necessarily worth purchasing for keeps as the episodes, and occasionally even the stories within each episode, are hit-and-miss. However, there are enough decent stories, however outlandish, in each season, along with a great many recognizable British actors scattered throughout, making this a fun series to watch, especially if it's being shown for free as part of Amazon Prime.

Mundane Story. Interesting direction

[IanIndependent · 6/10 · 7 August 2021]

Another enjoyable episode although a strange one whe you watch these Thrillers as a series. I'm not sure what the beginning was all about with a victim unable to get in and out of doors and then a foreign sounding lady being real totally tearful about the murders. Was it needed. Did it explain what followed?

After that the story that follows is quite mundane with no surprises but some very interesting direction and cinemaphotography. Fortunately, the acting keeps the attention as the plot meanders so watching as mentioned at the beginning is enjoyable especially for us oldies spotting people we remember in other British series of the 70s.

An Incurable Romantic!!

[kidboots · 10/10 · 1 March 2011]

She was also a perfect secretary as well. Unlike some of the other "Thrillers" - you knew the killer from the start but of course what made it scary - no one else did. The episode starts with the slaying of a family - by a killer that vacuums and cleans up before they leave. Next scene shows efficient Tracy Conway on the lookout for a job in London. She collides with Richard Main (Patrick Allen), a millionaire businessman and that is that. She will let no one stand in the way of her dream job - being his secretary and eventually his wife. He already has a very efficient secretary but Tracy, armed with her trusty scissors, soon turns Prue into a missing person.

Of course Main is the only one who doesn't suspect - even at the end when he finds out she has no references. His partner, Bill Lewis (Edward Judd) and office worker, Sally, can see through her icy efficiency and what they see is chilling. Sally, I think, has the best "put down" line in the show. After some terse words with Tracy, she holds up her hand and says "I'm engaged"!!! Tracy, in her insane anger almost drops her guard. Eventually the police find Prue's body and the only clue they have is a romance magazine, a similar one was found at the other murder scene. The quick and efficient way that Tracy, by substituting her magazine with a couple of Bill's photos, almost gets Bill charged with murder - you will be astonished, she really was almost a criminal mastermind!!!

Francesca Annis, who played Tracy, was really the Helen Mirren of her day. During the 60s and 70s she played in a variety of parts - Estella in "Great Expectations", she was a marvellous Lady Macbeth, she played murderess Julia Almond in "A Pin to See a Peep Show" and also Lillie Langtry and Madame Bovary - she could play anything. Jacqueline Tong who played dollybird Sally was the adorable Daisy in "Upstairs, Downstairs".

Highly, Highly Recommended.

A barn secretary and her handy scissors

[coltras35 · 7/10 · 2 February 2023]

Secretary Tracy Conway is a starry-eyed romantic who dreams of the day her wealthy and powerful boss will sweep her off her feet and marry her. She's unemployed, but she soon sets her sights on the ideal boss, Richard Main, head of Main Enterprises, and won't let anyone stand between her and her destiny, at any cost.

A competently made thriller starring the dependable Rod Allen and Francesca Annis is supremely well-acted, progressively gripping and has enough tension to warrant the word "Thriller". Francesca Annis in particular is a standout as the psychotic secretary. She's so devious, yet charm but cold to whoever stands in her way to achieve her dream - which is to marry a rich businessman. As well as being an efficient thriller, it makes a great time capsule in to a world of bowler hats and the office in the '70's.

Chilling

[analoguebubblebath · 9/10 · 4 September 2005]

'Sign It Death' brings Thriller's second series to an explosive climax. The acting performances are outstanding all around, the story entirely plausible, and the tension is maintained throughout with no let up until the stirring conclusion is arrived at.

The leading roles are played by Patrick Allen (as successful company director Richard Main) and Francesca Annis (as a beautiful but deeply deluded secretary Tracy Conway). Allen's voice was instantly recognisable from the 1975 brace of Protect and Survive public information films in which he sternly advised of how to cope after a nuclear explosion. Annis plays the role of Tracy Conway to perfection. Conway's sole aim is to marry her boss who has to be a successful businessman. She ruthlessly schemes her way into Main's company and becomes his secretary. From then on her aim is to ensnare him and anyone who stands in the way is expendable.

The plot unfolds with sickening inevitability as Tracy's dangerous fantasies are acted out with chilling intensity. The supporting roles are well acted - particularly the delectable Jacqueline Tong (Daisy from Upstairs Downstairs) who plays Sally, another of the company's administrative staff.

'Sign It Death' is one of Thriller's most memorable episodes and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

The secretary from Hell

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 19 January 2018]

A family sit down to dinner, but are all brutally killed by a hidden figure clutching a pair of scissors. Meanwhile the beautiful Tracy Conway is back from The Bahamas seeking a secretarial post, when she sees the wealthy Richard Maine she sets her eyes on the top job, letting nothing get in her way.

The start is wonderfully theatrical, wonderfully seventies, hugely over the top, but of the time. A great story, well paced, intriguing and menacing. I have adored Francesca Annis for many years, but in this she is superb! She's amazingly menacing, controlling and devious, I never thought Annis could have pulled off a role where she needed to be threatening, but she is wonderful. Patrick Neal and Moira Redmond excellent also.

This is a real tonic after the misfire K is for Killing. Easily one of the best in the series.

'Don't spite me!'

Don't Spite Her

[sherondalewis-20531 · 9/10 · 4 March 2023]

This is another great episode of Thriller that is worth watching! You know who the murderer is but, how cunning, conniving, disturbing and menacing the murderer is.

A few months earlier, Tracy Conway is waiting in the dining room, behind the curtains, to kill the unsuspecting family, The Carters, up in Salzburg. Once the deed is done, she dutifully cleans up her "mess". Once finished, she goes away to the Bahamas but, leaves behind a romance novel magazine..the only evidence left behind.

Now back in London, Tracy bumps into the very rich and successful Richard Main. He's the head of his own firm and is happily married. She follows him into the building where he works and sees the work environment. Richard's trusty secretary, Prudence Prue Claire, his partner Bill Lewis and the other secretary, Sally. Tracy sees how friendly and close he is to her and the rest, and in her mind, the perfect candidate to become his new secretary.....and wife!

Tracy follows her and at first, has the inkling of wanting to push her out on the street, but that doesn't work. So, she follows her, lies to Prue that she was sent by Mr. Main and then, trusty scissors in hand, kills her. Just like she killed the Carters up north.

Tracy assumes the role of Prue, whom no one knows what has happened to her. Mr. Main is very happy that someone stepped in soo quickly..but, the other workers on the floor, Bill Lewis and Sally the secretary, are non too happy with "Miss Goody Two Shoes".

This doesn't help the fact that Sally is warned by Tracy "Don't spite me" and her "attempts" at calling Mrs. Main, which makes Mr. Main assumes that his wife is up to something else...until the 2nd time, Bill calls him herself in front of both Tracy and Mr. Main that some how, she is misdialing.

The performances by everyone in this story is great, Francesca Annis as the disturbed Tracy Conway, who will stop at nothing to get what she wants. Patrick Allen plays Richard Main, the head of Main Enterprise, who is unsuspecting of the very "too reliable" Tracy.

Edward Judd and Jackie Tong plays the other workers in the office, partner Bill Lewis and secretary Sally, who quips to Tracy "I'm engaged" to the unhappy Tracy. And let's not forget Mrs. Main, played by Moira Redmond, a very happy wife of Mr. Main Tracy is trying to take the place of.

Towards the end, the "investigation" from the partner Bill Lewis and the 2 detectives that were searching (and found stabbed to death) Prue and the call that connects this all together (along with that magazine at the original crimes scene) made a fascinating conclusion to this very great episode.

Definitely worth watching this and much, much better than "K is for Killing".

Not My Cup of Tea!

[revbish-3 · 1/10 · 10 February 2019]

As someone else said here, you knew the killer from the outset, so no mystery at all, and of course then, the rest of the show is SO predictable. Not my type of show at all. So many here have badly rated the previous episode, "K is for Killing", but I immensely prefer that type of show to this one that holds no mysteries. I'd watch the previous one twice and just skip this one. It's a real dud! Of course, we all have different tastes, and this one is just not mine!