Synopsis
A woman reports that her young daughter is missing, but there seems to be no evidence that she ever existed.
Votre Filmothèque
Cast
- Carol LynleyAnn Lake
- Laurence OlivierSupt. Newhouse
- Keir DulleaStephen Lake
- Martita HuntAda Ford
- Anna MasseyElvira Smollett
- Clive RevillSergeant Andrews
- Finlay CurrieThe Doll Maker
- Noël CowardHoratio Wilson
- Lucie MannheimThe Cook
- Adrienne CorriDorothy
- 88
USA Today
Ahead of its time in its attitude toward unwed motherhood, director Otto Preminger's psychological drama has always gotten the same pro/con reaction that typifies Preminger's career. On the chilly side, it also has a great understated Olivier performance, an effective Paul Glass score and some of the era's best widescreen black-and-white photography. [28 Jan 2005, p.4D] - 83
The A.V. Club
It walks a fascinating line between morbid humor and outright horror, and it consistently defies expectations by resetting them at every possible step. - 80
Chicago Reader
As in The Human Factor, Preminger approaches the mystery of human irrationality and emotion through logic and detachment; the effect is stingingly poignant. - 80
Village Voice
A pleasure to watch from beginning to end. [21 Oct 1965, p.21] - 80
Washington Post
Working in crisp black-and-white, director Preminger, screenwriters John and Penelope Mortimer (adapting Evelyn Piper's novel) and cinematographer Denys Coop do an excellent job of externalizing Anna's heightened neuroses. [10 Feb 2005, p.M24] - 75
TV Guide Magazine
A truly compelling psychological suspense story from Otto Preminger. - 70
Variety
What Preminger has achieved is an entertaining, fast-paced exercise in the exploration of a sick mind. - 70
The New York Times
The movie has its share of logical inconsistencies, although to dwell on them is to ignore its deliberate ambiguities and considerable panache.