Diagnosi: Morte

I taped this just because Christopher Lee was in it and got around to watching it last night. I didn't expect much but was pleasantly surprised.

A doctor is suspected by the police of murdering his wife but they can't find a body. During the movie all kinds of deceptive clues are dropped which leads a person to think a certain event took place but in fact didn't. This, to me is what makes a good murder mystery film, leaving the audience guessing...

That's what this film accomplishes.

If you like murder mysteries then watch this movie. (7/10)

Christopher Lee plays a strange psychiatrist who's wife goes missing and who's the subject of letters mailed to the police saying that he has killed his wife. The police dive into the case with zeal and find that things concerning the case just don't really add up.

This is a really good thriller with a many nice twists. I like that you're over half way into the movie before you have any idea what's really going on, and once you do know, things don't take a predictable path to the end.

This is a small gem of a movie thats well acted by all concerned. The actors actually give their characters a life that isn't typical for what seems to be, but really isn't, a by the numbers mystery. Jon Finch, as the detective makes an excellent foil for Christopher Lee by simply refusing to do what he's suppose to.

My sole complaint is that the ending wasn't 100% clear, then again based on IMDb's running time the version I saw was missing about ten minutes so something may have been cut (or more likely I wasn't paying enough attention) . Definitely worth seeing, or in my case re-seeing.

Diagnosis: Murder is not the Dick Van Dyke show but a compelling drama starring the great versatile actor and future Knight of the Grand Cross, Christopher Lee,playing the main suspect in a murder mystery. It has more twist and turns than the most crooked street in San Francisco. If you want a good fright, this film is worth it. I saw it last night on Metro TV and loved it with the wonderful British scenery and a great script too. Christopher Lee is one of Britain's best loved and known film actors. Acting in movies is looked down upon by stage actors although they would sell out in a minute to become a film star. it is not an easy genre to play in and Christopher Lee plays his characters thoughtfully and better than any known stage actor. He is a veteran actor of the horror genre and I pray that he is knighted on day. Nobody can compare to his film history.

"Diagnosis: Murder" is a most unusual film for Christopher Lee. Instead of playing a monster, a Satanist, a maniac or Sauron, he plays a seemingly 'normal' guy. Of course, he isn't! You see, Dr. Hayward's wife is missing...and the police soon realize that he might be their number one suspect, as Hawyward has been having an affair. This is also interesting, because his story, in some ways, parallels that of the investigating officer.

Overall, this is a mildly enjoyable police drama and is worth seeing...particularly if you want to see the very prolific Lee playing something different!

By the way, if you do watch the film, note the opening credits...they are pretty creative and cool.

This film follows a couple of awful male cops, a sad wheelchair bound man, and a complete psychopath all who happen to have plots about being terrible, unintelligent , chauvinist pigs. But thats not all, its also about dumb groan inducing women who love them. Watch as a cop chain smokes, acts like he has morals after sleeping with a disabled man's wife, watches a man constantly attack a woman in a speed boat, play quarters while on duty and cause the unintended death of a person hes trailing ! Watch as a man fumbles his way through murder, begs the cops to catch him , openly tells people hes a killer and romantically abuses his secretary ! Theres no mystery here, it tells you pretty much off the bat whats happening. You just have to sit there hoping it will get interesting. Sadly it does in a last few minutes of a quazi twist. But then it just ends. If all this and some bad TV movie directing sounds like fun , by all means its for you .