Here's the film that gave Marilyn Monroe her first headline feature, as well as the acting debut of future Oscar winner Anne Bancroft and Hollywood directing debut of Roy (Ward) Baker. Throw in Richard Widmark as co-lead and Elisha Cook Jr in support, concoct an uncomplicated if slightly far-fetched plot, set it almost entirely in near-claustrophobic hotel rooms and you have a recipe for a tense, entertaining little movie, all over and done with in 75 minutes.
Monroe was apparently keen to demonstrate that she could act in an extended serious role and she largely convinces in this. She's certainly dressed down for the part and is a long way from the glamorous blonde her movie persona would later assume. She plays the part of a spilt-personality, damaged young woman, still affected by the death years ago of her pilot boy-friend, given a break for a job as a hotel child-minder by her uncle, lift operator Cook Jr. Quite an easy gig you would think, but she gets easily distracted, firstly by the nice clothes and jewellery of the wife who with her husband, hires her to look after their infant daughter while they enjoy a party downstairs and then by the handsome man in the rear window opposite her, played by Widmark, coincidentally also a pilot.
Oh and about him, he's portrayed as a bit of a heel, a heartless user of women, who's flown in at the behest of his current singer girlfriend played by Bancroft only to be told by her that the party's over between them. He's keen to keep her on his string however and plans to hang around his hotel room until the end of her evening set to make a last plea to her, but can't resist the allure of Monroe who he firstly spies at her window and then seeks out in the room she's baby-sitting for no doubt a flying visit. However, when the little girl irritatingly won't settle for the night and disturbs the two them as they're getting to know each other, this sets in motion a chain of events which escalates when firstly Cook and then the girl's mother check in on the room later.
Although you never really sense any danger throughout, with otherwise taut direction and solid playing, it still convinces as a superior low-budget thriller. Monroe you can see lacks a little confidence initially but ultimately grows into her kooky and slightly crazy role, Widmark is quite as good as usual and Bancroft impresses in a confident starting role. Hard to imagine that with all of this going for it, it's such a little-known film but it's certainly worth looking out for.
Monroe was apparently keen to demonstrate that she could act in an extended serious role and she largely convinces in this. She's certainly dressed down for the part and is a long way from the glamorous blonde her movie persona would later assume. She plays the part of a spilt-personality, damaged young woman, still affected by the death years ago of her pilot boy-friend, given a break for a job as a hotel child-minder by her uncle, lift operator Cook Jr. Quite an easy gig you would think, but she gets easily distracted, firstly by the nice clothes and jewellery of the wife who with her husband, hires her to look after their infant daughter while they enjoy a party downstairs and then by the handsome man in the rear window opposite her, played by Widmark, coincidentally also a pilot.
Oh and about him, he's portrayed as a bit of a heel, a heartless user of women, who's flown in at the behest of his current singer girlfriend played by Bancroft only to be told by her that the party's over between them. He's keen to keep her on his string however and plans to hang around his hotel room until the end of her evening set to make a last plea to her, but can't resist the allure of Monroe who he firstly spies at her window and then seeks out in the room she's baby-sitting for no doubt a flying visit. However, when the little girl irritatingly won't settle for the night and disturbs the two them as they're getting to know each other, this sets in motion a chain of events which escalates when firstly Cook and then the girl's mother check in on the room later.
Although you never really sense any danger throughout, with otherwise taut direction and solid playing, it still convinces as a superior low-budget thriller. Monroe you can see lacks a little confidence initially but ultimately grows into her kooky and slightly crazy role, Widmark is quite as good as usual and Bancroft impresses in a confident starting role. Hard to imagine that with all of this going for it, it's such a little-known film but it's certainly worth looking out for.