La tercera voz

Plot-- Edmond O'Brien (he has no movie name) collaborates with his lover Marian (Day) to impersonate her wealthy boss in order to collect a quarter-million dollars. The ruse, however, involves more telephone calls than AT&T, hence the title "The Third Voice".

For a brief time it looked like writer-director Cornfield would follow in Stanley Kubrick's footsteps with his intricately plotted, stylishly filmed Plunder Road (1957), a caper movie in the mode of Kubrick's classic The Killing (1956). For some reason, however, Cornfield's career petered out, especially following a feud with Marlon Brando on the set of The Night of the Following Day (1968), another caper film.

Looks like Cornfield worked best with small-scale b&w movies like this one, his follow-up to Plunder Road. The Third Voice is an imaginative, low-budget variation on the caper film that makes good use of a veteran cast, including a sultry Julie London. But it's really a showcase for that icon of film noir Edmond O'Brien, who runs up a monumental phone bill, that is, when not changing hotels like some modern-day Gypsy.

There're several episodes of good suspense, especially the pins & needles of wondering whether an accountant will follow protocol or not. Also, catch that sweaty hang up with the incriminating boat. The climax itself amounts to a neat, ironical twist in a hotel room that I didn't see coming. I'm just sorry Cornfield's career, for whatever reason, didn't match the early promise of this nifty little suspenser.

Worthwhile, but not brilliant, film noir by director/writer Hubert Cornfield. Edmond O'Brien does a good job as a man hired to impersonate a rich businessman after the businessman is murdered. A few good twists, but the movie seems to have a lot of padding (too many long driving shots), some unfortunate zooms that cheapen the style, and way too many wipes as transitions because the director gave himself no other options. It's fun, but if it had been done by Edgar Ulmer, it could have been a mini-masterpiece.

"The 3rd Voice" is a worthwhile crime drama that is painstakingly laid out and seems longer than its 79 minutes. Much of its success is due to the efforts of old pro Edmond O'Brien, who is in virtually every scene. What saves this picture from a worse rating is the unique deus ex machina to wrap up the picture. I hadn't seen that one before, and the screenwriter gets high marks for resourcefulness and mental dexterity.

This could also be called "The Phone Call Movie", as it contains more telephone conversations than I have ever seen in a full-length feature film. Just when it begins to seem as if some action will take place, the phone rings, killing the pace as the picture goes into a stall. My main objection to the film is the slow, deliberate pacing.

As stated, O'Brien carries the film, aided by Laraine Day and Julie London. For younger film fans, Julie London was a 50's singer with a sultry voice and appearance to match. She never looked better than in "The 3rd Voice" - didn't know she could act and I didn't care.

Not bad.

Edmond O'Brien, Laraine Day, Julie London, and Olga San Juan star in "The 3rd Voice" from 1960.

"The Voice" is O'Brien, who has no other name in the film other than that of the man he is impersonating, Harris Chapman. The Voice was offered a great deal of money by Marian Forbes (Day) to impersonate her lover and ex-boss in order to clean out his bank accounts.

First, though, the bitter and revengeful Marian has to kill Harris, and The Voice has to get rid of the body. He has been rehearsing and memorizing every aspect of Chapman's life, and now he begins his impersonation.

He makes a property deal with people in Mexico in order to make arrangements for the money. Meanwhile, he is on the phone daily with his fiancee, a "24-year-old professional virgin" so described by Marian, as they plan their wedding and honeymoon.

It all seems pretty straightforward, but there is more than one agenda in play.

This film was longer than it needed to be, but it had a few surprises in store for the audience.

Day does a terrific job as the embittered ex-secretary. O'Brien had to take on a rather annoying voice to impersonate Chapman, but he was good. Day is terrific as the embittered ex-secretary. Julie London is gorgeous as a young woman The Voice picks up in a bar. O'Brien's ex-wife, Olga San Juan, appears in this film, and it's her last. She was actually divorced from O'Brien 18 years earlier.

The bitter secretary and ex lover of a wealthy man plans to hire a look alike to assume his identity so they can clear out his liquid assets after they murder him.

It was an ingenious idea with a poor execution and a lackluster ending. It is a shame. This B noir had potential.