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| DIRECTED BY |
| Alfred Hitchcock
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| STARRING |
| Karen Black |
| Bruce Dern |
| Barbara Harris |
| William Devane |
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Comedic thrillers rarely work well and Hitchcock�s final film is no exception. What we get is only a semi-plausible storyline concerning two kidnappers and the two scam artists who�re pursuing them. The problem is that none of these characters are particularly likeable � the two scam artists are simply slightly less detestable than the two kidnappers. This could have even been OK had this been a tightly drawn, suspenseful, and intelligent Hitchcock caper but sadly it comes across as more of an incompetent and rather facile self-indulgence on behalf of the Master of Suspense.
The only thing to really be accounted for here is the cinematography, which is at times quite stunning � witness the initial sweeping dolly shot of Fran near the beginning of the film. But the sequence showing Arthur and Fran suddenly appearing in religious clothing and kidnapping a priest is about as stupid as anything you�ll see in a Hitchcock film. Couldn�t George have discovered the big �plot revelation� in a slightly more interesting manner than through simple dialogue? Why is the editing so sloppily executed? Why does the ending have to be so incredibly dumb? At least the nonsense that preceded it attempted realism.
There doesn�t really seem to be any place for comedy within this film even though it strives so hard to achieve it within the characters of George and Blanche. For the most part - it takes itself seriously - so it�s an awkward combination. If Hitchcock wanted to make a dumb film then he should�ve just made it completely dumb a la �Naked Gun� (although I�m not saying I would�ve enjoyed that either.) This isn�t exactly an auspicious conclusion to such a great director�s career.
