Intimacy

The relentlessly professional Barry Sullivan bulls his way through the blackmail scenario of this obscurity, which played Turner Classic Movies in a graveyard slot and had neither external nor user reviews here, which is very rare. Directed by a one-time Oscar nominee and co-written by the writer of GRIZZLY (76), it's a hidden camera story about a philandering politico (Jack Ging) and a honey trap pretty much set in two rooms, and staged almost like a play. The TV-drawn cast (plus noted songwriter Jackie DeShannon) must have filmed it in their off hours; it has the look and feel of something made at 2am, so it fits to view it then. This mildly compelling insomniac fare is highlighted by a long-ish sex scene (1966 vintage) that might have steamed a few windows had it played anywhere.

In Los Angeles, civil servant Jack Ging (as James "Jim" Hawley) resists repeated brides from pill-popping businessman Barry Sullivan (as Walter Nicholson). Honest with his contracts, Mr. Ging rejects offers of sex with a girl or boy, black or white. He won't even take $30,000. Refusing to take "no" for an answer, Mr. Sullivan sends his sexy blonde prostitute Jackie DeShannon (as Myra Platt) up to the room. Calling herself "Carrie Lane", Ms. De Shannon doesn't give up easily...

For blackmail purposes, Sullivan has also installed a hidden camera in Ging's hotel room. But the camera set-up in the opening sequence is strange; they should have the two-way mirror behind a wall, not a door...

Sullivan squirms and watches Ging sweat as beautiful Joan Blackman (as Barbara Nicholson) and alcoholic Nancy Malone (as Virginia Hawley) also visit. Watching these characters collide with each other is entertaining. Infidelity is the theme. Helping very much, director Victor Stoloff plus photographers Ted and Vincent Saizis keep things moving in essentially only two sets - Ging's hotel room and Sullivan's office. Camera angles, mirrors and a swinging chair are called into play.

****** Intimacy (5/20/66) Victor Stoloff ~ Barry Sullivan, Jack Ging, Nancy Malone, Joan Blackman