Publisher: CinemaSerf February 17, 2024
Glenn Ford is quite effective in this conspiracy thriller, He is the middle-aged "Prof. Patterson" who is suddenly faced with quite a dilemma. Many years earlier, he had joined an almost Masonic style group called "The Bell". This is a pretty internecine organisation with tentacles spread throughout the American establishment and woe betides anyone who crosses it. Every now and then it makes demands of it's members, and it falls to "Patterson" to dissuade lifelong friend "Dr. Horvathy" (Eduard Franz) from taking a prestigious position - else he will have to reveal some sensitive information about his past. He's not doing this willingly, indeed if he doesn't then it's his own past that will be splattered all over the media too. Anyway, his friend cannot deal with this and the ensuing tragedy convinces "Patterson" it's time to come clean and expose these people. This is the point when he discovers just how well connected the "Bell" network is, and soon he and his family are under increasing pressure. Director Paul Wendkos has assembled quite a decent cast of television regulars to support his star here, and they deliver quite well in helping to built the sense of frustration and menace that is being experienced by an on-form Ford and Rosemary Forsyth as his not so convincing wife "Vivian". The intense, especially facial, photography helps create a chilling atmosphere and though its really over-scored and a bit too verbal at times, there's still enough of a mystery going on to keep this quite taut to watch.