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In the 1930s, Braddock, Iowa, was a small town with quite a few small-minded locals. When the sons of two local women brutally murder of Ellie Bannerare and are sentenced to life in prison, both of their mothers, Adelle Bruckner (Debbie Reynolds) & Helen Hill (Shelley Winters) are ostracized into the local pariahs. Adelle's dance school's doomed. So she decides to move to California & offer lessons to gifted children. Helen's threatened by a phone stalker who claims that she's going to pay for what the boys did. So, Adelle invites the obese, neurotic, paranoid Helen to leave town with her to start their lives over in Hollywood. Once in Hollywood, Helen becomes the piano accompanist of Adelle's Academy of Dance. Adelle's made herself up like Jean Harlow. As she begins to spruce up the ultra-frumpy Helen, cutting her hair, the sight of the scissors triggers a panic attack which traces back to being traumatized by the gruesome death of her husband after he landed under a farm plow's blades. Helen's son witnessed his father's death when he was 4yo.. Helen's obsessed with blaming herself. Now enters a third odd character: Hamilton Starr (Michael MacLiammóir), who comes to the Dance Academy wanting a job teaching elocution to Adelle's gifted students. Adelle hires him much to Helen's chagrin. The following day, another man enters into the picture: Lincoln Palmer (Dennis Weaver). He's a wealth enough Texan, who's the divorced father of one of Adelle's students. After coming to watch a rehearsal, Linc's instantly taken with Adelle & invites her out to dinner. It seems like the unraveling of the suspense begins after Adelle lies to Linc about never having been married before. As Helen becomes more paranoid, Adelle doesn't know when to believe what she says. She claims they're being stalked by someone who's seeking revenge. As a strange series of events happen in rapid succession, Adelle begins to realize there may be some truth to Helen's hysterical fear. I was surprised to find Debbie Reynold's playing the role of Adelle. Not because she tap-danced, of course. But rather, because this really is a suspenseful thriller. I'd never seen Reynold's play in this kind of role. Winters as Helen seems like the typical type of character she tended to play. The contrast between Reynolds & Winters couldn't be more stark. I'd make more comments about some of the other characters but by so doing I'd give away who's involved in doing what to whom. In all, this film's worth a watch~Read full review
Debbie Reynolds and Shelley Winters. Together in one movie. Plus, the two of them in a horror movie. And with them not feuding off-camera. And it came in a pretty good package that's protected (i.e. no bangs, bumps, dents etc. to make the pictures blurry or fuzzy.) What more can one ask for?
It was new in sealed package they were great to deal with. I saw part of the movie on tv and wanted to see it all. Did not dislike anything. I will purchase from them with out reservation next time.
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