Arthur Franz is the troubled title character who seems as fragile as Norman Bates, also disturbed by the past and his mother. And similarities with Psycho don't end there. For when high-billed bar pianist Marie Windsor is shot dead within 20 minutes it's as shockingly sudden as Marion Crane's early demise in the shower.
This was quite a find - thanks again to Eddie Muller and 'Dark City'. The psychiatric link between sex crimes and murder is an unusual one. It's the first serial killer film, and with its good San Francisco setting anticipates the rooftop killer in Dirty Harry. And it also mockingly comments on the rubbernecking public who ogle at crime scenes and showdowns like moronic fools. Beautifully shot by Burnett Guffey in his high contrasty days, with a memorable final image.
Franz is good, was mainly a B actor. I didn't recognise Adolphe Menjou. With Gerald Mohr, Frank Faylen, Richard Kiley, Marlo Dwyer.
Written by Harry Brown from material gathered by Edna and Edward Anhalt. Music by George Antheil. Columbia.
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