Main Cast: Talia Shire, Joe Cortese, Elizabeth Ashley, Kay Medford, Michael Gorrin
Release Year: 1980
Country: US
Run Time: 96 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Slow-moving and dark, this Klute clone stars Talia Shire as Emily Hollander, a retiring, painfully introverted woman with a stutter who advertises her insecurity. She is attacked one day and her anguish recorded on tape by her assailant. It soon becomes apparent that her wacko lesbian neighbor Andrea (Elizabeth Ashley) is in love with her but too demented to express herself openly. She hired the assailant, though exactly why is not clear. Detective Bob Luffrono (Joseph Cortese) is called in to watch over Emily and perhaps corner her attacker. The relationship between Emily and the detective starts to slowly heat up, but meanwhile, there is Andrea with her telescope, spying on Emily and definitely up to no good. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
Russell Horton - Steven Hollander; Michael Lipton - Dr. Marin; Bryce Bond; Ken Chapin - Renting Agent; Tony di Benedetto - Nick; Linda Gillin - Policewoman; Marty Greene - Ira; Bill Handy - Desk Officer; Kyle-Scott Jackson - Detective; J. Patrick McNamara - Doorman; Rick Petrucelli - Obecny; Ron Ryan - Detective Swid; Robert Hodge - Desk Sergeant; Gerald Vichi - Ben
Credit
Richard Fuhrman - Art Director, Clifford Capone - Costume Designer, Robert F. Colesberry - First Assistant Director, Gordon Willis - Director, Barry Malkin - Editor, Ennio Morricone - Composer (Music Score), Mel Bourne - Production Designer, Gordon Willis - Cinematographer, Michael Lobell - Producer, John Nicolella - Producer, Les Bloom - Set Designer, Christopher Newman - Sound/Sound Designer
Emily Hollander (Shire) is the subject of a lesbian obsession at the hands of Andrea Glassen (Ashley), her next-door neighbor. As Emily begins dating detective Bob Luffrono (Cortese), Andrea overflows with jealousy, spying on Hollander through her own window.
The film was the subject of many protests from gay rights activists who accused the film of being homophobic and resorting to hateful stereotypes of lesbians.
