In den Fängen des Teufels

The "unguarded moment" seems to come from the forties ,when the Freudian movie was so trendy: "secret beyond the door" "cat people" " "spiral staircase" "the dark mirror" ,the list is endless.

Unfortunately it's marred by a providential love story between the teacher and the cop.Had it focused on the father/son relationship,the movie could have renewed the genre.The character of the father is by far the most interesting of the screenplay: he must have failed professionally as well as sexually in his own life and he wants his whizz kid (a young John Saxon) to be all that he could not be .If he disappoints him,he will break him!Esther Williams is an attractive teacher ,but to be interesting ,such a character needed to show some ambiguousness.After the first thirty minutes ,there's no real surprise.

Watch it for Edward Andrews' offbeat performance.

This time, don't expect anything "wet" in this Esther Williams performance, nothing at all. She on the contrary shows us that she was more than a swimming pool ingenue, or a simple comedy faire valoir...she was a genuine good actress. I won't come back to this stiry, but it's a surprisingly good suspense, especially starring an actress who was always put in a specific category, swimming musicals for MGM company. Don't miss it.

Esther Williams is a hot teacher. So it's natural for her boys to have a crush on her. But to act on it! John Saxon, in his screen debut, is the boy in question. Goerge Nader is the law, who's brought in, when she is coaxed by a series of letters to meet the boy in the boys' locker room at night! In the scuffle, she is shaken up and her clothes a bit torn, and the officer, who is quite taken by her, is out to get the boy, despite the fact she wants to forget the whole thing and put it behind her. He's just a boy! But if you don't punish the behavior, they don't learn, says George Nader. Then there's the question of whether Saxon is the suspect they are looking for in the case of a young girl murdered. Despite the facts that the movie starts out really melodramatic with corny dialogue and that George Nader has practically no screen personality, I got really engrossed in the film. I thought I had heard that this film was really bad. It does have some parts that were overdone or done to extreme, like Edward Andrews' performance as Saxon's father. But, costarring good supporting actors like Jack Albertson and Les Tremayne, the film certainly delivers a punch. '7' is still a little generous, but for pure entertainment and camp value, it sure fits the bill.

The Unguarded Moment is directed by Harry Keller and adapted to screenplay by Herb Meadow and Larry Marcus from a story by Marcus and Rosalind Russell. It stars Esther Williams, George Nader, John Saxon, Edward Andrews and Les Tremayne. Music is by Herman Stein and cinematography by William H. Daniels.

Music teacher Lois Conway (Williams) starts receiving notes from a secret admirer, it's merely the start of something that will have severe consequences for all involved.

It's a little tricky to say exactly what the intentions of the story's creators were for this one. Is it meant to be a sharp observation on sexism, misogynism, some other ism? or maybe just a caustic warning on the dangers that can lurk in teacher/student relations? Whatever the case may be, and it really isn't all together clear, it's a quirky, yet dramatic, trashy slice of entertainment.

Opening with a wonderfully Hitchcockian type score (Hitch could have done wonders with this material), pic serves us up the dead body of a woman and then thrusts us into the sexually charged atmosphere of an all action college. It's a school where the girls swoon over the jocks and where the main teacher of the tale is one of the sexiest and most beautiful teachers ever! From here there's mysteries to be solved, who is stalking teacher? who is the murderer? is it the same person? and so on.

Narrative revels in lurid teasings, with the Technicolor photography vividly aiding the cause. Keller's direction is sadly plodding, but he does show a keen eye for shadow play and tension mounting sequences. Perfs are good, especially an out of type Williams in a thankless role, while a brilliantly creepy Andrews steals the show.

It's all a bit wild and rickety, but I have to say I really liked it. Newcomers will have to roll the dice and take their chances with it. 7/10

Although Esther Williams got out of the pool in her first film outside MGM one look at this must have had her longing for her own set with water tank that MGM gave her.

Esther plays a high school music teacher who starts getting mash notes that are getting more and more explicit. They seem to be coming from a popular jock at her high school played by John Saxon. You'd think this kid could get about any girl in the school, but Saxon has issues, specifically dad issues and dad is played by the self righteous and repressed Edward Andrews.

Things aren't really handled well in fact the investigating detective who believes Esther is in danger is the only one who really has her back. George Nader is the detective, but he shouldn't have gotten involved with Williams while there was an active case. Not professional behavior, he should have been reprimanded or worse.

Next to her swim suit spectaculars at MGM, The Unguarded Moment comes off as distinctly second rate. Best in the film by far is Edward Andrews. He will really creep you out.

Esther's fans might be disappointed.