Pretty Poison

1968

1h 29m

IMDb RATING

6.8/10

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5 Videos

31 Images

Crime

Drama

Romance

Thriller

A troubled arsonist spins a tale of espionage to a captivating girl, who becomes enthralled and entangled in his dangerous fantasies, leading to unexpected murder and chaos that change their lives forever.

Directors

Noel Black

Writers

Stephen Geller(novel by)

Lorenzo Semple Jr.(screenplay by)

Stars

Anthony Perkins

Tuesday Weld

Beverly Garland

See production, box office & company info

Videos5

Photos31

Top cast

Dennis Pitt

Sue Ann Stepanek

Mrs. Stepanek

Morton Azenauer

Bud Munsch

Mrs. Bronson

Pete

Harry Jackson

Detective

Sam Joyals (uncredited)

Bill Sorrells

Cop at Beanery (uncredited)

Tom Gorman

First Detective (uncredited)

Paul Larson

Mrs. Stepanek's Boyfriend (uncredited)

Gil Rogers

Man at Police Station (uncredited)

Dan Morgan

Man at Police Station (uncredited)

Jay Barney

(uncredited)

Timothy Callahan

Plainclothes Cop (uncredited)

William Fort

Cop (uncredited)

Directors

Noel Black

Writers

Stephen Geller(novel by)

Lorenzo Semple Jr.(screenplay by)

All cast & crew

Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

User reviews2

Review

Featured review

8/10

The Pitt and the Poison. Pretty Poison is directed by Noel Black and adapted to screenplay by Lorenzo Semple Junior from the novel “She Let Him Continue” written by Stephen Geller. It stars Anthony Perkins, Tuesday Weld, Beverly Garland, John Randolph and Dick O’Neill. Music is by Johnny Mandel and cinematography by David Quaid. Pure definition of a culter movie? Probably Pretty Poison. A wonderfully odd neo-noir that’s as cunning as a fox, Noel Black’s movie flummoxed many upon release but the underground swell of the cult enthusiasts has ensured this particular poison is still around to be swallowed. Plot finds Perkins as troubled Dennis Pitt, an arsonist as a youth and fantasist as an adult, he’s just been released from a mental health facility, in spite of his parole officer’s reservations. Beginning his employment at a chemical factory, Dennis comes into contact with young high school drum majorette, Sue Anne Stepanek (Weld), and lets her believe he is a secret agent. Little does he know, but Sue is only too happy to indulge his fantasies, since she herself is harbouring some unhealthy desires. Much like the brilliant film noir movie Gun Crazy (1950), Pretty Poison upturns the standard boy and girl crime spree formula by having the girl be the one doing the damage. Dennis Pitt has absolutely no idea how not in control of the relationship he is, he’s beguiled by Sue, thinking he has finally found a soul mate to share in his fantasies, but she’s pulling all the strings, luring him into a web of chaos from which he is completely incapable of escaping from. With the characterisations firmly in place, where both Weld and Perkins are on top form, Black and his tech team pump discoloured blood through the picture’s veins. Pic actually breathes as a black comedy, for the first third the makers are toying with us the audience, making us unsure as to if we should be laughing? Or feeling edgy? Maybe even daring us to walk out? Yes! The film “is” that off-kilter with its tonal flows. Then the light dawns on us, but not the hapless Dennis of course, that we are in a deceptively menacing Americana, one that’s even strangely sexy, and cynical into the bargain. Subversive, intelligent and utterly compelling, Pretty Poison deserves to be better known. 8/10

John Chard08 Mar, 2014