Games (film): Difference between revisions
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==Plot== |
==Plot== |
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Paul Montgomery ([[James Caan (actor)|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 over-privileged: 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. |
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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. |
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. |
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Revision as of 16:25, 14 June 2019
| Games | |
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| 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 Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 100 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1 million[1] |
Games is a 1967 American psychological thriller film 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 over-privileged: 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.
It turns out that Paul and Lisa had orchestrated the entire affair all along 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
- Katharine Ross as Jennifer Montgomery
- 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
- 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. The producers vetoed the idea, however, so Simone Signoret was cast instead.[2]
Release
The film was given a belated VHS release by Gaiam, Inc., in 1995, and Universal Home Video in 2000. It was released on DVD in Spain by Universal Pictures. In 2011, it was released as part of Universal's Vault Series on DVD-R. Scream Factory released the film on Blu-ray from the first time on February 13, 2018.
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.