The story....
Shy American librarian Jenny Ffrith (Barbara Feldon) is on holiday in Britain. She feels lonely but meets a man called Paul Tanner (Robert Powell) who befriends her and offers her the company and appreciation she craves. They embark on a whirlwind romance which seems too good to be true – and it is. Paul has plans for Jenny and he doesn’t plan on her being around for long. Instead Jenny has an unwitting part in a devious and deadly plan….
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| Why does Paul have a picture of another woman - who rather resembles Jenny - in his belongings? |
Review
This was the first episode of Thriller broadcast in the UK and it was a worthy choice. It is a very impressive instalment which almost always gets a good reception from fans. It does not scale the real heights but is extremely well-accomplished and professionally done.
Although thrillers are often “whodunits” the formula is sometimes broken and the offender is made evident from the start – the fascination comes from seeing what he or she will do and how they will be caught. This is certainly an example of the latter and it may be significant that such a type be used for Thriller’s debut rather than the “whodunit”. As thrillers are about fear and suspense there is just as much value in having the villain in the open from the beginning – the viewer then knows things that the hapless victims or potential victims do not. It is clear that Paul is a villain but there are still mysteries such as the identity of the person he rings up - a criminal associate or accomplice almost certainly but who is he - or she? Another disconcerting figure is the cleaner who certainly seems to know things Jenny or Paul - or both - do not. What secrets does she know - or is hiding? Could she be the downfall of one or both of them?
The story premise is simple but very effective. However it still requires strong performances. Robert Powell is in great form as the duplicitous Paul, a man with obvious charm but a real edge if crossed. He takes advantage of the lonely and insecure Jenny. Barbara Feldon does a good job communicating Jenny's journey from initial fragility, increasing confidence as she settles down with Paul and then increasing doubts about his past and trustworthiness.
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| Jenny (Barbara Feldon) is unhappy to discover some alarming things about Paul's past |
In the ancillary performances Linda Thorson is excellent as Toni, a woman from Paul’s past but who doesn’t want to let him go. Toni bears a striking resemblance to his new wife – simply a sign that he prefers women of a similar type or something of unexpected significance. She only makes her entry half-way through, a late point for a guest star but she makes a great impact in that time. TP McKenna makes an excellent impression as Jack Hardisty, a friend of Paul’s who knows his personality and ambitions all too well – a potential ally or accomplice or someone who might thwart his plans. Mary Wimbush is fine as the cleaner who may be up to no good. All considered definitely worth seeing.
Notes
Ronald Mayer makes one of the briefest parts for a credited actor when he is seen very fleetingly in the distance (and with no dialogue) as the church minister who marries Paul and Jenny. He was later the first actor to reappear in Thriller with a slightly larger part as a doctor in Only a Scream Away.
Although Canadian actors regularly appeared in Thriller Linda Thorson was the only one to play a Canadian character, all the others played Americans.
This was the only Thriller episode to feature a scene in a church although the characters involved were certainly not there for religious purposes!
TVM (TV Movie) version title-watch
The titles by Dolphin for this are quite notorious for the silly and overly literal animation. The figures of Jenny and Toni bear little resemblance to their real counterparts. The titles are slightly redeemed by some good visual effects.
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| TV Times listing for Thriller's first UK broadcast in April 1973 |
Making the antagonist clear from the start, allowing the audience to be ahead of the characters, is of course the essence of 'pure' suspense, literally suspending the resolution as long as possible in the building of intrigue, tension etc. Hitchcock's favourite structure for his movie thrillers and therefore not surprising Clemens mirrored the effect in 'Thriller' so extensively. As described this is a classical example. Aside from this, a couple of highlights of 'Lady Killer' for me are the dramatic use of coastal locations to good effect and the interesting decision to make Paul Tanner such a 'flaky' character for a classic 'schemer'. Throughout, it appears he's at the point of 'falling apart' every time some 'minor detail' threatens to undo his plans! Most schemers in these type of plots are usually far more in control!
ReplyDeleteWhile there's always a temptation to make thrillers "whodunits" there is a lot of value in signposting the threat from the start. When we see the villain with a potential victim it creates a fear factor much greater than if we don't know whether they are a villain or not - indeed in a whodunit there can only be one villain (usually) so most we see on screen will prove to be innocent. Both types of story have different merits and attractions but there is much to be said for the "transparent villain".
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