Themes: Mind Games, Doctors and Patients, Murder Investigations
Main Cast: Gregory Peck, Diane Baker, Walter Matthau, Kevin McCarthy, Jack Weston
Release Year: 1966
Country: US
Run Time: 108 minutes
Plot
A dazed man, David Stillwell (Gregory Peck), wanders down the stairs of a New York skyscraper during a power blackout, only vaguely aware of who he is, where he's been, and why he has this nagging feeling that danger lurks all about him. Stillwell does know that many of the people in the building are acquainted with him -- and that he is somehow linked with the death of wealthy philanthropist Charles Calvin (Walter Abel), who has fallen 27 floors to his death (a special effect that was remarkable for its time). From this point onward, everyone Stillwell meets is connected with Calvin's death, or is in some way threatening Stillwell's well-being. When he seeks the help of Dr. Pepper-imbibing private eye Ted Caselle (Walter Matthau), he is told that "you don't want to remember" -- shortly before Caselle is murdered by persons unknown. Only the enigmatic Sheila (Diane Baker) evinces any real sympathy, and she too is part of the conspiracy aimed at silencing and/or neutralizing the dumbfounded Stillwell. Mirage has far too many twists of plot to go into here, but if you stay with it, everything is satisfactorily explained. Less than three years after its initial release, the black-and-white Mirage was remade in color as Jigsaw. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
A neat little mystery thriller, Mirage suffers a bit in comparison with Spellbound, the Hitchcock classic that also starred Gregory Peck as an amnesiac who may have murdered a man. The missing ingredient here is Hitchcock; while director Edward Dmytryk does a more than serviceable job throughout and even has moments that are really quite good, Mirage needs the extra-assured touch of the master to rise from the level of "good" to "exceptional." This is especially true in terms of keeping the complexities and twists and turns of Peter Stone's taut screenplay understandable to the audience; even the most careful viewing tends to leave one believing that a few plot points were left unexplained. Even so, there's more than enough here to entertain the audience, starting with Peck, who is in great form here -- commanding attention and sympathy and keeping the viewer rooting for him throughout. Diane Baker does a great deal with a part that is a bit slapdash in writing and conception, and Walter Matthau steals each of his scenes with the laid-back ease of his performance. Mirage is a gripping diversion, a fine way for puzzle lovers to sharpen their wits. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Frank Arrigo - Art Director, Alexander Golitzen - Art Director, Jean Louis - Costume Designer, Terence Nelson - First Assistant Director, Edward Dmytryk - Director, Ted Kent - Editor, Quincy Jones - Composer (Music Score), Bud Westmore - Makeup, Joe MacDonald - Cinematographer, Harry Keller - Producer, John P. Austin - Set Designer, John McCarthy - Set Designer, Waldon O. Watson - Sound/Sound Designer, Corson Jowett - Sound/Sound Designer, Peter Stone - Screenwriter, Howard Fast - Screenwriter, Walter Ericson - Short Story Author
