L'assassino sul tetto

Titolo originale: Appointment with a Shadow

1957
Approved
1h 12min

VALUTAZIONE IMDb

LA TUA VALUTAZIONE

Aggiungi una trama nella tua linguaGeorge Nader plays a reporter whose career is ruined by liquor. A comeback opportunity presents itself when he is a bystander at the arrest of a well-known criminal.George Nader plays a reporter whose career is ruined by liquor. A comeback opportunity presents itself when he is a bystander at the arrest of a well-known criminal.George Nader plays a reporter whose career is ruined by liquor. A comeback opportunity presents itself when he is a bystander at the arrest of a well-known criminal.

Vedi le informazioni sulla produzione su IMDbPro

VALUTAZIONE IMDb

6,5/10

517

LA TUA VALUTAZIONE

Vedi le informazioni sulla produzione su IMDbPro

Foto82

+ 78

Interpreti principali16

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George Nader

Paul Baxter

Joanna Moore

Penny Spencer

Brian Keith

Lt. Spencer

Virginia Field

Florence Knapp

Frank DeKova

Dutch Hayden

Stephen Chase

Sam Carewe

Ralph Brooks

Joe - Newspaper Man
(non citato nei titoli originali)

Raoul Freeman

Burlesque Club Patron
(non citato nei titoli originali)

Bill Hickman

Farrell - Police Detective
(non citato nei titoli originali)

Rusty Lane

Pat O'Connell - Bartender
(non citato nei titoli originali)

John Phillips

Reporter
(non citato nei titoli originali)
…

Fred Sadoff

Jeffrey Sayre

Burlesque Club Patron
(non citato nei titoli originali)

Charles Sherlock

Reporter
(non citato nei titoli originali)

Bert Stevens

Burlesque Club Patron
(non citato nei titoli originali)

Hal Taggart

Burlesque Club Patron
(non citato nei titoli originali)

Regia
- Richard Carlson
Sceneggiatura
Tutti gli interpreti e le troupe
Produzione, botteghino e altro su IMDbPro

Recensioni degli utenti15

6,5517

Recensioni in evidenza

searchanddestroy-1

Rare little gem from Universal Studios

It is a rare item that I review now, it was totally unavoidable in France and I finally purchased it thru some collectors nets. It is a good atmospheric thriller from the fifties, shot in black and white and in LBX, which adds to the fifties charm. The story itself is not that exciting though, predictable and George Nader - Unversal Studios home star - is as lame as usual. He should not have had the lead role, he deserved supporting roles instead. That said, it is a more than worth watching thriller, which I highly recommend for fifties movies lovers. It is a good film from Richard Carlson, the famous actor.

6boblipton

Just Shy Of The Delirium Tremens

George Nader is a reporter. Perhaps more accurately, he was a reporter until his extreme alcoholism got him canned from every newspaper. Only fellow reporter Joanna Moore cares, and she persuades her brother, police lieutenant Brian Keith, to let Nader know about the forthcoming arrest of evil criminal Frank DeKova. But DeKova is dead, and Nader has the shakes so bad he can't hold a shot glass with two hands. Or is he? And can he?

Nader was never a big star, even by the standards of Universal, taking the roles that Rock Hudson and Tony Curtis turned down. Here, under the direction of Richard Carlson, he turns in a fine performance of a drunk on his last legs. Director Richard Carlson -- he was much better known as an actor -- also gets a fine performance out of Miss Moore, who is far sexier here than stripper Virginia Field. It's a movie worth watching for the performances.

10tiffanie_says_stay_in_your_lane

Character study meets noir

Well, I don't know about anybody else, but it gave off character study vibes to me. I'm fascinated by movies that examine someone's personal struggles, even more so if they grow and develop throughout the course of the story. Otherwise, if they're one-dimensional, and don't learn anything as they go along, that's just boring. Appointment with a Shadow is an exceptionally crafted film about former newspaper reporter Paul (George Nader) who lost his job as a result of his alcoholism. His girlfriend Penny (Joanna Moore), also a reporter, believes he has the potential to bounce back, so she gives him a tip that could help him re-launch his career. There is one condition: he has to go without a drink for 24 hours. Despite experiencing major withdrawal, he accepts the challenge. Penny's brother, Lt. Spencer (Brian Keith), thinks she's wasting her time trying to help him become sober. So essentially, Paul has to prove himself. This is one of many B films that contains brilliant performances. George Nader was so convincing as an alcoholic who was trying his hardest to stay sober for a full day. You could see the desperation, physically and emotionally. He was shaking, sweating, unable to stay focused on a task, jumpy - he got startled by every little noise. You don't see acting like that anymore. Also, a couple of amusing things were added in to lighten the mood: two beatniks playing music in a hotel room that he fell into through a window. The nerdy guy who works backstage in a gentleman's club and spends all of his time reading, completely unphased by the women around him. I just thought that was clever. The pacing was consistent and the characters were engaging. I was glad Paul wasn't made out to be a stereotypical alcoholic. He wasn't violent or nasty. He was an affable person, thus making his character likeable. Otherwise, if he was the raging type, I probably wouldn't have been interested. And to think, this was inspired by a story that was published in a magazine. It's a fantastic noir that will hold your attention. Don't pay attention to the negative reviews.

9planktonrules

Proof that a mostly forgotten actor was too good to be forgotten.

"Appointment with a Shadow" is a gritty film starring George Nader, a famous American actor whose career slid into obscurity after it was revealed he was gay. It's a shame, as he was very good in this film and his Jerry Cotton spy films of the 1960s...which were filmed in Germany since American studios would no longer hire him.

When the story starts, you see that Paul Baxter (Nader) is a falling down drunk...and it's pretty much ruined his career as a reporter. His girlfriend, Penny (Joanna Moore), is almost ready to walk, but she gives him an ultimatum and one more chance. Although it's very tough, Paul tries his best to stay away from alcohol and write an article he can be proud of creating. The problem is when he sees a murder, the cops don't believe him...and assume he's drunk. So he has to find someone who believes him, as his reputation is so bad, no one seems to believe him. And, in the meantime, a mobster is out to keep Paul quiet...permanently!

Nader was very good playing a drunk. He didn't overplay it (an easy trap to fall into) and was quite good in this noir movie. It also helped that the writing was exceptional. Overall, a terrific film...one that deserves to be more well known.

9skirner

Wow blown away by this great film noir!

Didn't expect much from this movie I just got in a Blu-ray 3 pack of vintage noir thrillers. Never been that impressed with George Nader's acting range I rate him similar to Kerwin Matthews great unique, identifiable speaking voices who can play stalwart heroes but not much dramatic range or emotional intensity. Nader has made me reevaluate his acting a little in this arguably in my opinion his best performance and film.

He gives a pretty good performance as an alcoholic newspaper reporter given one last chance at redemption. His haggard appearance that is strikingly different from his normal robust healthy anc handsome film persona certainly helps sell him being an alcoholic but he does some good layering of twitches and mannerisms that impressed me and had me question my previous opinion he was just an average leading man type of the era.

Besides Nader the film had a great supporting cast including the always capable Brien Keith plus the beautiful lady who starred in "Invaders From Mars" whose name escapes me.

Kudos go to fine direction by Richard Carlson but the best thing about the film is a really suspenseful script that I'm surprised wasn't used in an A list production with a big name star in the leading role. The story is that good with a load of twists and turns once the action starts going in the second act.

I highly recommend this very entertaining suspense film and quite frankly am surprised it had not been remade with a big budget and top line actors and directors.

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Quiz
Filming began with Jeffrey Hunter in the lead, but a serious case of hepatitis caused him to be replaced by George Nader after one day of shooting.

Citazioni
[In an apartment, a woman can be seen approaching a door when she hears the bell ringing. This is Penny Spencer. When she opens the door, she sees Police Lieutenant Spencer carrying a man, the latter is Paul Baxter]
Lt. Spencer: Do you mind if I say I'm glad this is the last time I'm gonna have to do this?
Penny Spencer: [starts walking towards another room] Bring him in here, Spence.
Lt. Spencer: [looks at the intoxicated Baxter] Come on...
[Penny and the Lieutenant enter a room where they lay Baxter on a bed. After positioning him, they take a closer look at him]
Lt. Spencer: Look at him. Paul Baxter and clean sheets they just don't add up. Do they, sis?
Penny Spencer: A shower and shave will help.
Lt. Spencer: It'll take a lot more than a shower and a shave to make anything add up for him again.
Penny Spencer: You just don't have any faith in him at all. Do you, Spence?
Lt. Spencer: Penny, I got more faith in these guys than most people have. In fact, I got so much faith in them I can predict exactly what'll happen when you clean them up and turn them loose. He'll go get drunk again.
Penny Spencer: Anybody deserves another chance.
Lt. Spencer: We got him another chance on every newspaper in town.
Penny Spencer: [turns towards the door] Well, he still needs help.
Lt. Spencer: Oh, come on, sis, why don't you just settle for being a good newspaper woman till the right guy comes along, huh?
Penny Spencer: He is the right guy.
Lt. Spencer: And the top reporter in town at twenty-five and he's an alcoholic bum before he's thirty. You call it right?
Penny Spencer: You made me a promise, Spence.
Lt. Spencer: I know, I know, I just don't want to see you through your life away, I want to see you happy, that's all.
Penny Spencer: Then keep your promise... I love him.
Lt. Spencer: Alright, you'll love him. You're my sister, I happen to love you. Believe me, that's the only reason I'm going through with this deal. I took me a long time to make Lieutenant you know, I could be back pounding a beat in thirty seconds if the department found out what I'm up to. So I think that gives me a right to make you promise.
[Penny remains silent]
Lt. Spencer: Look, if he goofs this one up, you see him for the last time. I mean it, Penny. I want you to promise me this is the end of the line.
Penny Spencer: [softly] It's the end of the line.
Lt. Spencer: [puts his hand on his sister's shoulder] Good night, sis.
[the Lieutenant leaves the apartment]