This month in June Turner Classic Movies is doing a special feature called "Screened Out" in which they look at the history of gays and lesbians on film. I looked through the stack of movies that they are showing and yet, they're missing one movie. And that leads to our next movie which is Deadfall. Released as the bitter summer of 1968 was ending, the film was based on a novel from Desmond Cory and written by Bryan Forbes; who also was the director. Michael Caine (in his first movie after finishing up his character of Harry Palmer in that era) plays Henry Clark-a jewel theif who loves to drink alcohol. As a result he's in rehab to kick his addiction. Then one day just as he is about to be released he meets a mysterious young girl in which she calls herself Fei Moreau (Giavonni Ralli). She comes up to Henry with a deal ("Deal. Or No Deal" as what Howie Mandel would say): Rob and steal possesions from her older husband Richard (Eric Portman) because he may be in Henry's league. He agrees and suddenly the three plan the robbery. Once the job is done they head to Richard's house in Spain. But it is here that the film turn to its ugly head: Not do they know it, but Henry and Fei start to love each other and then suddenly they see Richard come home with his "friend" Antonio. As the movie goes along Henry discovers the real truth and that is Richard is really a gay man who killed people for the Nazis and using Fei to hide his real idenity; who is also bisexual. Nanette Newman, who was the director's wife, co-stars.
Friday, June 8, 2007
Suspense Movies of the 60's: Deadfall
This month in June Turner Classic Movies is doing a special feature called "Screened Out" in which they look at the history of gays and lesbians on film. I looked through the stack of movies that they are showing and yet, they're missing one movie. And that leads to our next movie which is Deadfall. Released as the bitter summer of 1968 was ending, the film was based on a novel from Desmond Cory and written by Bryan Forbes; who also was the director. Michael Caine (in his first movie after finishing up his character of Harry Palmer in that era) plays Henry Clark-a jewel theif who loves to drink alcohol. As a result he's in rehab to kick his addiction. Then one day just as he is about to be released he meets a mysterious young girl in which she calls herself Fei Moreau (Giavonni Ralli). She comes up to Henry with a deal ("Deal. Or No Deal" as what Howie Mandel would say): Rob and steal possesions from her older husband Richard (Eric Portman) because he may be in Henry's league. He agrees and suddenly the three plan the robbery. Once the job is done they head to Richard's house in Spain. But it is here that the film turn to its ugly head: Not do they know it, but Henry and Fei start to love each other and then suddenly they see Richard come home with his "friend" Antonio. As the movie goes along Henry discovers the real truth and that is Richard is really a gay man who killed people for the Nazis and using Fei to hide his real idenity; who is also bisexual. Nanette Newman, who was the director's wife, co-stars.
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