The Visit (1964)
Carla Zachanassian had a child by Serge Miller as a teenager. When Serge refused to marry her, she was driven out of town. By her own wit and cunning, she has returned as a multi-millionaire for a visit. The town lays out the red carpet expecting big things from Carla, only to learn that her sole purpose is to see Serge Miller killed...
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I'd call it a must-see, a drama full of the darkest of humor. Ingrid Bergman is steely cold as Karla; Anthony Quinn marvelous as the hapless, desperate Serge. The townspeople are wholly believable in their blind hypocrisy. Although changed from the original play, the ending is just as powerful, showing how easily one can abandon one's conscience, turn against others, and justify one's own worst deeds.
I read Der Besuch Der Alten Dame by Durrenmatt in German in college. This book has been one of my favorites as it shows how people might or could act in a similar situation. The book is superior to movie because of the powerful ending. Displays extreme revenge by a powerful rich woman. Shows how greedy some people are. Makes you wonder who you true friends are. But because the book was written in German and I read many years ago, I have forgotten many details about it. In the movie, the policeman and the young girl were secret lovers like the main characters. The young girl leaves and who knows may become another rich powerful woman who seeks revenge on her lover. Only time will tell. I wonder if I would react as the greedy peasants did.
I saw this movie years ago and was slowly fascinated by the allure of the plot. I remember thinking when viewing it for the first ten or fifteen minutes that it would be a boring movie. Far from it for as I kept watching I found it to be very entertaining and as one of the most revealing stories about the character of people under stress that I have ever seen. Anthony Quinn was absolutely believable as Serge Miller and the supporting cast was outstanding. I have been looking for a video or DVD version of the movie, since it is aired so infrequently. For me there are two kinds of movies I enjoy, those that I watch once and those I can watch over and over again. This one fits the latter category.
I wouldn't want to cross that woman in a dark alley!! Loved it. Of course when Quinn's own wife appears in a new dress that she cant pay for until he is killed could be the best moment of the movie. Of course ..the entire movie is over-the-top...but thats what makes it hysterically fun to watch.