Available at WarnerArchive.com
Thanks to WB, I was able to review the latest offering from the Warner Archive collection, Two on a Guillotine. The film, which stars Connie Stevens, follows Cassie Duquesne, the daughter of a deceased magician (Cesar Romero) who has to stay in her father’s creepy house for a week in order to receive her inheritance.
The film is one of those borderline B-films that keeps you engrossed not because the film is polished and refined, but because it’s common-man storytelling. Stevens is rather believable as both Cassie and her mother, who has a very important role that cements the backstory of this film. Cassie’s reporter boyfriend Val Henderson (Dean Jones) can be pretty annoying at first (a trait that I suppose is necessary in a news reporter, but I wouldn’t know, since I’m one of the rare reporters who aren’t annoying), but he grows on you, and you can see how protective he is of Cassie. You can also see that he probably is more grounded in reality than Cassie is. Virginia Gregg as Cassie’s childhood nanny Dolly is at once creepy and caring.
However, like I said, the film is not a polished gem. The bond that grows between Cassie and Val happens too quick–it happens in the span of two days!–and Dolly somehow enters the magician’s house without any rhyme or reason. But aside from minor glitches, this thriller does have actual, genuine thrills. Just be wary that the real thrills happen towards the last 30 minutes of the film. Overall, this film is a good diversion from a non-productive afternoon or evening. Make sure to pick this up at the Warner Archive site at www.WarnerArchive.com
