evanston_dad
"Follow Me Quietly" is an atmospheric noir about a police detective on the hunt for a serial strangler.The film's most memorable plot device is a dummy that the police department has made based on the limited information they've been able to capture about the killer. They know roughly his height, weight, hair color, the color of his suit, etc., and they construct a mannequin that approximates his appearance. They then wrangle up crooks and bring them into police lineups with the dummy to see if any of them look alike. It's actually pretty humorous and doesn't seem like the makings of crack detective work, but it does allow for some rather creepy scenes, and one in particular, when the police detective has an entire conversation with what he thinks is the mannequin, and which the audience finds out is the actual killer after the detective has left the room.If you're a fan of rain-soaked streets and movies whose titles have nothing to do with what they're actually about, you'll like this one.Grade: B+
rwagn-620-792438
Don't waste your time on this stinker. The movie only runs an hour but you'll be thinking that it had to originally run longer and has been severely cut. There are no explanations as to what motivates the killer-we get some conjecture but never find out why this man has selected his victims ahead of time. What "evil" could a random housewife be responsible for? Why is his killing instinct motivated by rain? Actually he gets motivated by ANY falling water (as indicated in the lame chase/conclusion). Why? The scene where he replaces the dummy (known only to the police working the case)is mind boggling.Is the man omnipotent? How does he stay one step ahead of the police? If you want frustration then watch this film. It had possibility but comes up short very early on. Regarding those prior questions-they never get answered.
ALauff
Exactly what I was looking for on a sleet-filled Sunday nighta 60-minute crimer that is as ludicrously entertaining as it is nonsensical. A serial killer calling himself "The Judge" strikes on rainy nights, strangling his victims and leaving behind stenciled notes with warnings like, "I have been ordained to destroy all evil!" That one was left behind on an editor's desk, after the killer pitched the newspaperman through a second-story window (notable for the victim narrating the struggle in flashback). The cops are given hilarious dialogue that never fails to provoke a giggle. In one scene, the tough detective covering the case runs down the list of evidence. Regarding the killer's personality, he offers, "And we know how he thinkshe likes passing judgment on people." His wisecracking partner actually gets off a few humorous quips. The detectives get the inspired idea to create a faceless dummy to supplement their "routine bulletin information," which adds absolutely nothing to that knowledge but an odd, faceless, 3-dimensional model to complement their faceless, 2-dimensional sketches. And what a rough customer the protagonist is! He's absolutely ruthless to a (beautiful blonde) reporter, heaping insults at her ("that rag of a newspaper belongs in the river!") and basically scolding her for being an information whore. Somehow she falls for him. As written by Lillie Hayward and Anthony Mann, the film has a surprising streak of ill will towards print media; through Lundigan, they effectively state that newspaper coverage will inspire a breed of copycat killers. And did Anthony Mann step in to direct that incredible finale in a chemical plant? I wonder. It features his fascination for geometric angles and outstretched hands to the face and such. I never tire of movies like this. An unpretentious good time courtesy of the old RKO studio and solid worker-bee Richard Fleischer.
stoneyburke
In defense of the movie I DID have a decent time. Story was neat..Who couldn't appreciate a faceless suspected murderer..(See it to know of what I speak.) The scenes with the faceless fella were indeed eerie like the wonderful Jeff Corey also commented. My problem was 100% with Dorothy Patrick. She reminded me of Priscilla Lane, not one of my favorites, but Ms Lane could show something going on in her noggin. It seemed like perhaps William Lundigan treated her poorly or plain ignored her off camera..there wasn't an ounce of anything resembling attraction/chemistry that I could detect. Ms Patrick wasn't the sexiest gal around but she also showed nothing resembling acting ability.Anyway, besides she standing out in the rain in her raincoat and entering a bar dry was not her fault but after the ginger ale her bird-dog attempt to get to the police LT (Lundigan) for allowance for her magazine article was weak. Lundigan caved in far too quickly for his "release" or whatever it was called. The film may have done fine without the weak romantic addition. Sure Barbara Stanwyck could have pulled the Patrick role off in spades but...Do see it and it's not a lengthy film and then YOU can chop it to pieces or hail its praises!
AD
