Teesri Manzil

This is probably Shammi Kapoor's best performances after JUNGLEE(1961

Its quiet different to see him in the role of a framed musician with an eye for the ladies He has like three bad girls who love him

A young woman fell in love for Shammi and committed suicide but the girls sister thinks her sister was seduced and jilted which is why she wants revenge

The movie is a Hithcock-influenced romance with a small murder mystery thrown in

The movie has fantastic song stand outs like O Hasina Zulfonwali Jaane Jahan and Tumne Mujhe Dekha

Shammi Kapoor stands out in his role Asha Parekh is the spunky revenge seeking sister Premnath is convincing Helen's role is small but effective Prem Chopra is average Rashid Khan is scary with his stare the rest are okay

This movie is one of the landmarks in the history Hindi Cinema. For 158 minutes the audience is enthralled by a spellbound plot, music, dance, songs and suspense saga. The performance of Shammi Kapoor, Helen, both Prems, Iftikar and Rashid Khan is classic. Even during the 5 mt brief intermission, the cine-goer prefers to be glued to his seat lest the entry of Premnath, immediately after the intermission be missed.

Comedy is at its zenith. The entry of Kapoor on the New Delhi Rly platform and his extraordinary style of walking is mind boggling.

Even 40 years down history, its music and songs are as hit as they were when the first gramophone records were released in 1965. I remember people queuing before the radios in shops and halt in the streets when the songs were played. Needless to say, not a single Wednesday program of Binaca Geetmala in 1966 thru 1968 was aired without a Shammi number either from Teesri Manzil, An Evening in Paris and Bhramachari.

The music, drama, settings and perspiring expressions of Kapoor during the climax of accidentally locating the intriguing "gem-studded coat-button " is scary, hair raising and traumatic.

A film for all classes and all age.

The basic instincts of directors come to the fore when they make a movie. Guru Dutt is an observer of life and never resorts to melodrama even in his tragedies. Gulzar is a mischievous person and this comes out in Anand, Chupke Chupke where he wrote dialogues or in the tragic Namkeen where he directed. Vijay Anand has a trained upbringing in terms of directorship when he saw and observed Chetan Anand at work. Here, he has not written the film but as a director his stamp is there in each frame of the film. He is a director by instincts, and a very good one. Apart from his writing and shooting and editing skills, where too he is unmatched.

I first saw this film a few years ago and since then I must have seen it at least 20 times. First and foremost, the songs are excellent. I could listen to every single one again and again, especially O Haseena Zulfon Wali. Mohd Rafi truly is the greatest Indian playback singer to date. Asha Bhosle provides excellent support, particularly in the O Mera Sona Re song. Secondly, both the acting of Shammi Kapoor and Asha Parekh is great, both of them can pull off the comedy and the seriousness. Thirdly the plot of the movie is quite good too, with enough suspense to keep you hooked until the very end. This movie has been credited as the first murder mystery in Indian cinema and although at times its very clichéd and a little unbelievable, it still holds your attention.

All in all a typical 1960's movie but with that added masala that is bollywood!!

In todays world when not even the producers know what they are serving the audience in the name of 'Entertainment' this beautifully made film still is a landmark in film making. It is in true sense a 'Musical Thriller' that today we see only written on posters! Beautifully shot and choreographed, this film is a gripping tale of suspense, drama, and a flavor of humor that keeps the audience excited even today. The lead actors have given their best performance and each character has something to contribute in the story. A very rare thing in Hindi films. The music was so ahead of its time that even today they are being re-mixed for the new generation and are a hit! This type of film comes once in a while and is a must to add to your film library. A must see for every film buff! Nobody can say enough for the film...Just bring it home and enjoy the roller coaster ride! Happy viewing!!