....as well as the spectacular cinematography of James Wong Howe
who at the time was suffering from a career decline so was available
for this independent effort. He made the location the star instead of
boosting a pretty lack lustre script. Ida Lupino also gave more than her
character had - by making Agnes intense but very self contained she
inadvertently switched the focus from the mysterious Jennifer to
herself.
Agnes (Lupino) is keen to start on her job as caretaker at the old Gaille mansion (surely a former silent screen star residence - "a thousand nights ago Rod La Rocque swam in that pool") but she finds doubt and skepticism where-ever she goes, whether asking questions or just the general store. Her keyed up tension makes her clutch at the mystery of Jennifer, the former caretaker who mysteriously disappeared. Finding a diary with cryptic entries, an unsettling record called "Vortex" as well as plans for a sea cruise, with the loneliness of the big house Agnes is walking a thin line. She also has a few visitors, a young man on a college hiatus (who looks more like a seedy 35!!), also Jim (Howard Duff) who manages the estates finances and seems to turn up everywhere she goes. There are also odd phone calls to the Gaille family themselves. Then there are the mirror fetishes, they come into play in every scene intended to scare - all of which makes the disappointing ending even more of a let down.
Just as much of a mystery as the movie is the director Joel Newton whose credits seem to be this movie only!! Just too polished and stylish to be the work of a once offer, I really think it may be a psuedonym for a more established director who just didn't want his name connected with the film for some reason - maybe that's the real mystery!!
Agnes (Lupino) is keen to start on her job as caretaker at the old Gaille mansion (surely a former silent screen star residence - "a thousand nights ago Rod La Rocque swam in that pool") but she finds doubt and skepticism where-ever she goes, whether asking questions or just the general store. Her keyed up tension makes her clutch at the mystery of Jennifer, the former caretaker who mysteriously disappeared. Finding a diary with cryptic entries, an unsettling record called "Vortex" as well as plans for a sea cruise, with the loneliness of the big house Agnes is walking a thin line. She also has a few visitors, a young man on a college hiatus (who looks more like a seedy 35!!), also Jim (Howard Duff) who manages the estates finances and seems to turn up everywhere she goes. There are also odd phone calls to the Gaille family themselves. Then there are the mirror fetishes, they come into play in every scene intended to scare - all of which makes the disappointing ending even more of a let down.
Just as much of a mystery as the movie is the director Joel Newton whose credits seem to be this movie only!! Just too polished and stylish to be the work of a once offer, I really think it may be a psuedonym for a more established director who just didn't want his name connected with the film for some reason - maybe that's the real mystery!!