Games (film)
| Games | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Curtis Harrington |
| Written by | Gene R. Kearney |
| Produced by | George Edwards |
| Starring | Katharine Ross James Caan Simone Signoret Don Stroud |
| Cinematography | William A. Fraker |
| Edited by | Douglas Stewart |
| Distributed by | Universal Studios |
Release date |
|
Running time | 100 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1 million[1] |
Games is a 1967 psychological thriller, directed by Curtis Harrington and starring Katharine Ross, James Caan, and Simone Signoret.
Plot
Paul Montgomery (James Caan) and his wife Jennifer (Katharine Ross) are a pair of wealthy but blasé Upper East Side New York socialites with an attitude sometimes accompanying the overprivileged: a propensity to amuse themselves in a bizarre, chic, and upscale fashion, in this case playing socialite games for their peers, and occasionally revealing what appears to be a playfully sadistic streak.
Lisa Schindler (Simone Signoret), an older woman from Germany, arrives at their door one day selling cosmetics; the couple invite her in, and when the conversation reveals that Lisa is believed to have psychic abilities, Paul and Jennifer ask her to arrange some "games" for their amusement. Lisa proceeds to set up several situations of simulated domestic discord that the couple can react to.
Things turn deadly when an acquaintance, Norman, is accidentally killed during a so-called "game." He was killed with a gunshot wound in the right eye. Paul has to go to enormous lengths to conceal any evidence. He fears being blackmailed by Lisa, whose psychic activities continue and intensify during her stay. Ultimately, at the request of Paul, Lisa leaves, for the welfare of an ever more anxious Jennifer.
Ultimately, after a tense confrontation between Jennifer and the supposedly murdered man, Jennifer actually does shoot and kill him, at which point Paul walks in and calmly calls the police to report that his wife has committed murder.
Paul and Lisa orchestrated the entire affair in order to trick Jennifer into killing someone, so that Paul could get her fortune. The murdered man had been in on the "game," but was double-crossed. Paul and Lisa share a celebratory drink as Paul pays Lisa her ten-percent cut and they prepare to go their separate ways.
Unfortunately for Paul, Lisa has poisoned his drink. After Paul collapses and dies, Lisa takes the briefcase containing all of the money, leaves the house, and walks down the street.
Cast
- Simone Signoret as Lisa
- James Caan as Paul Montgomery
- Kent Smith as Harry Gordon
- Don Stroud as Norman
- George Furth as Terry, Party Guest
- Ian Wolfe as Dr. Edwards
- Estelle Winwood as Miss Beattie
- Katharine Ross as Jennifer Montgomery
- Peter Brocco as Count, Party Guest
- Luana Anders as Party Guest
- William O'Connell as Party Guest
Production notes
Director Curtis Harrington wrote the role of Lisa with Marlene Dietrich in mind to play the part.[2]
Release
The film was released theatrically in the United States by Universal Pictures in September 1967.
The film was given a belated VHS release by Gaiam, Inc. in 1995 and Universal Home Video in 2000. Both versions are currently out of print.
The film was released on DVD in the Spain by Universal Studios. This release presents the film widescreen. In the 4th quarter of 2011 the film was released as part of Universal's Vault Series on DVD-R. This release is anamorphic 2:35:1.
References
- ^ Games' Men Hold Good Hand Thomas, Kevin. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 19 Nov 1966: 22.
- ^ "Retrospective in Terror: An Interview with Curtis Harrington - April 2005". The Terror Trap.
