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| I SAW WHAT YOU DID
(director: William Castle; screenwriters:
William P. McGivern/from the novel by Ursula
Curtiss; cinematographer: Joseph F. Biroc;
editor: Edwin H. Bryant; music: Van
Alexander; cast: Joan Crawford (Amy
Nelson), John Ireland (Steve Marak), Leif Erickson (Dave
Mannering), Sarah Lane (Kit Austin), Andi Garrett (Libby
Mannering), Sharyl Locke (Tess Mannering), Patricia
Breslin (Ellie Mannering), John Archer (John Austin),
John Crawford (Trooper), Joyce Meadows (Judith Marak),
Douglas Evans (Tom Ward), Barbara Wilkin (Mary Ward);
Runtime: 82; MPAA Rating: NR; producer: William
Castle; Universal Pictures; 1965) "Nifty little thriller." Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz William
Castle ("The Tingler"/"Strait-Jacket"/"Homicidal")
directs a nifty little thriller and without his usual
gimmicks. It's based on the novel by Ursula
Curtiss and is written by William P.
McGivern. When
the California suburban couple, the Mannerings
(Leif Erickson & Patricia Breslin),
go on an overnight trip to Santa
Barbara they have no choice but leave
their teenage daughter Libby (Andi Garrett)
as babysitter for their 9-year-old daughter
Tess (Sharyl Locke) because their
regular babysitter comes down ill. Libby's
teen friend Kit Austin (Sarah Lane)
keeps her company. The playful and giggling teens call
strangers picked at random from the telephone book and
Libby says "I saw what you did, and I know who
you are." The prank turns into a horror story when
they pull it on psychopath Steve Marak (John
Ireland), who has just brutally killed his wife in the
shower while arguing and finished burying her in a
nearby wooded area. When Steve returns home, he's
surprised to find his love sick older neighbor Amy
Nelson (Joan Crawford) coming onto him.
That's when he gets Libby's alarming call, who
disguises herself as Suzette. It's a call which he
takes seriously, and that sets in place all the
upcoming horror pic frights. The three silly girls were just terrific, and make
everything believable and scary. REVIEWED ON 7/29/2012 GRADE: B+ Dennis Schwartz: "Ozus' World Movie Reviews" © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED DENNIS SCHWARTZ |