theowinthrop This film (which was remade in 1986) is a very clever little crime drama that keeps the viewer unbalanced until the end.James Franciscus is a newlywed who is on vacation - and the situation seems normal, but he and his wife have an argument. The next day she is missing and Franciscus goes to the police (Jack Klugman) for assistance. But all of a sudden there is a knock at the door and Elizabeth Ashley enters their cabin and apologizes for being away calming down. Klugman figures that is the end of the problem, and leaves...despite Franciscus' odd complaints: he insists Ashley is not his missing wife. But she insists he's just kidding, and Klugman, shrugging, just leaves. As soon as he does Ashley turns on Franciscus with demands for a huge sum of money for her silence - otherwise she will reveal to the cop that there is something criminal here. Franciscus insists he's the one who has grounds for recalling Klugman, as Ashley is a faker and a blackmailer. And so it goes....the viewers are soon involved in this crazy mystery as we try to find out what Ashley's crazy extortion scheme is, whether Franciscus will be able to prove she's a fake and a criminal, and whether the bored and matter-of-fact Klugman will ever get it into his head that he has not found an open and shut case but a complicated mystery here. Or is Klugman aware of it...in fact, what is his game?Rarely shown on television it is certainly worthwhile catching, with it's three leads keeping the level of suspense up until the unexpected conclusion. Certainly one television mystery that worked.

Putzberger It's not a bit surprising that this movie is based on a play, since it's rather theatrical: except for a couple of scenes tacked onto the beginning and end, it's a one-set mystery, and a rather gimmicky one at that. What makes it involving, however, is the subtext and Elizabeth Ashley's amazingly sexy performance. The film is really about art of deception and the seduction of play-acting. In one especially weird scene, the ever-bland Franciscus and a white-hot Ashley (those eyes!) almost get busy by poolside. You know at least one character is about to succumb to a lie. Later, the Klug-man has his most believable (and least mannered) moment when he embraces a deception and hollers at Franciscus, "where you come from, are all cops HONEST?" I've never considered Elizabeth Ashley a babe -- then again, most of what I've seen her do are lame made-fors and cheesy thrillers. But she won a Tony nomination for playing Maggie in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" so maybe she saved all her sensuality for these two roles.

scribbles241 This is a well crafted mystery/suspense film based on Robert Thomas' play TRAP FOR A LONELY MAN. The cast is rock solid and the clever script will keep you guessing until the very end (unless you already know the final twist ahead of time).Viewers who enjoyed this telemovie (or its inferior 1986 remake VANISHING ACT) should also track down the 1958 Michael Anderson movie CHASE A CROOKED SHADOW (starring Anne Baxter), which boasts a similar concept but with a slightly different premise (a woman is forcibly reunited with a man who claims to be her deceased brother, but only she seems to know that it's not really him).

Munzpens This is a thriller made with all of the best ingredients. Just enough information is given in the beginning to pull the viewer into the plot. Critical information about the characters is withheld, however, to give viewers a chance to bond with the villain, not knowing who he is. The numerous changes in direction of the plot provide roller coaster swings and turns for the pleasantly confused viewer. As the final scenes tumble into the open, the viewer becomes torn in his loyalties to the main character and the supporting actor. At last, the truth of the matter comes into full view as the final scenes breeze by. The viewer is left holding his breath, waiting for permission to exhale! Excellent!