Introduction
Welcome to my corner! Last week, I shared my thoughts on the film Harvey. This week, I'm sharing my thoughts on the film Night Watch. The TCM television channel played Night Watch in the afternoon on April 21 as part of their 'Criminal Couples' lineup.
Enjoy!
Night Watch
Night Watch is a 1973 mystery thriller film directed by Brian G. Hutton from a screenplay by Tony Williamson, based on the 1972 play of the same name by Lucille Fletcher. The film reunited Elizabeth Taylor with co-star Laurence Harvey from their 1960 collaboration BUtterfield 8. It was the last time the pair acted together on screen. Some of the story elements recall the plot outline of the 1944 film Gaslight. (A movie which I've also seen.)
Plot: Ellen Wheeler (Elizabeth Taylor) is an unhappy housewife who settles her fraying nerves with alcohol while staring out her window. When she witnesses what she thinks is a murder through a neighbor's window, she calls the police, who find nothing when they investigate. With her neglectful husband (Laurence Harvey) skeptical and unsupportive, Ellen turns to her friend Sarah (Billie Whitelaw), who is slightly more receptive as the pair attempt to get to the bottom of the mystery.
Acting: Elizabeth Taylor played Ellen Wheeler. Similarly to last week's column with James Stewart, I think most people have heard of Elizabeth Taylor. Despite being a legend in film and television, I haven't seen many of Taylor's filmography, only a handful.
She showcases her acting prowess in Night Watch, playing a rick, beautiful, married woman who seemingly goes mad after witnessing a murder (or murders) in the abandoned house next door. No one believes her, thinking she's gone cuckoo. Taylor does a believable job of acting crazy, or man. I find that crazy is one of the hardest...emotions? to act out on screen seriously, without it being laughable. Not everyone could pull off the role off the way Taylor did. Her role is very similar to that of The Boy Who Cried Wolf.
Four of the films she's most known for in her long career are: The Taming of the Shrew, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf? and Suddenly, Last Summer. out of these four, I've only seen Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf?. I don't know why that film is held in such high regard, but I can tell you that I didn't enjoy watching it...The longest two hours of my life. Because I haven't seen many of her films, I don't have a favorite. The same goes for the rest of the cast.
Laurence Harvey played John Wheeler. This role in Night Watch would be his last. He died of stomach cancer after the film was released. He didn't particularly stand out in his role, but I don't think he was meant to. Night Watch was always meant to focus on Taylor's character, Ellen. His acting was fine.
The four films he's most known for are: Room at the Top, The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm, Walk on the Wild Side, and The Manchurian Candidate. I've actually seen the Brother's Grimm movie he was in. I thought he looked familiar, but I didn't realize why until I was doing my research. Harvey played one of the Grimm brothers in that movie. It was an enjoyable watch.
Funnily enough, Harvey also starred in the television movie version of Dian M for Murder. It's the same story and title as the Hitchcock movie I previously reviewed for my column but a different movie. Apparently, Harvey played Tony Wendice in the television movie version.
Billie Whitelaw played Sarah Cooke. Much like Harvey, Whitelaw's character wasn't meant to stand out. Other than the fact that she was Ellen's supposed best friend and John's mistress, I don't understand why she was constantly at their house. Did she not have a home of her own? At the very beginning of the movie, she sticks her head out of the Wheeler's house asking Ellen to come up and talk. Ellen had just gotten back from shopping, and as far as I could tell, John wasn't home yet, so why the heck is this woman at the Wheeler's house all the time? That's probably my biggest issue with the movie. She's always around?
Four of the films she's known for include: Hot Fuzz, Charlie Bubbles, The Omen and The Krays. Of those, I've seen The Omen. I don't generally like horror movies (strange I know), but I can see why people who do like horror movies enjoy The Omen franchise.
Technical Aspects: Night Watch was based on the play of the same name by Lucille Fletcher, starring Joan Hackett. the play opened in February 1972.
Film rights to the play were bought prior to the play reaching Broadway by producer Martin Poll. He said, "it's really a lot more now than a suspense story. It deals with the relationship between people torn by their emotions, their betrayals and jealousies."
Filming was interrupted several times. It shut down for a week when Hutton contracted bronchitis, and then later for six more weeks so Harvey could have an operation on his stomach. Harvey said at the time that the operation was due to appendicitis, but it was in fact stomach cancer, which would kill him shortly after the picture was released. Filming was wrapped in September 1972.
Final thoughts: To be honest, I didn't think I would like Night Watch very much. I wasn't really into it at the beginning. I wasn't paying much attention until the sightings started to happen, then it got more interesting. And by the end of it, I was pleasantly surprised. This is truly a mystery/thriller movie that I can say I didn't know what was going to happen. If you're interested in that kind of movie, I would certainly encourage you to give this one a watch.
Where to watch it: According to Google, Night Watch is available to watch on the streaming services: Plex and Fawesome. Or, you can purchase or rent a digital copy for a few dollars. I've also donated a DVD copy of the film to the Emil M. Larson Library in Clark for you all to enjoy if you choose to.
That's it for this week! What were your thoughts? Feel free to share them with us! You can call us, email us, visit us at the office, leave us a comment or message on Facebook, or even mail us something. Keep the comments, suggestions, questions, submissions, etc. coming our way! We'd love to hear from you!
