Low-cost
thrills artist William Citadel’s The Night time
Walker, was actually extra suspense than shock. The flamboyant producer/director
performed up the scares to trip the early ‘60s wave of post-Psycho/Child Jane type
fright flicks, however this outing was mild on horror.
The
1964 movie was hardly “hag horror” as star Barbara Stanwyck performed a superbly
regular particular person being tormented and regarded fairly engaging at age 57. Stanwyck
was teamed reverse former husband Robert Taylor, who truly did look very haggard and prematurely aged at 53.
They labored collectively as professionals and with out feuding, not like different stars
with histrionic “historical past.” 5 years later, Taylor could be useless of lung
most cancers, after a lifetime of chain-smoking.
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| Producer/Director William Citadel along with his stars, Robert Taylor & Barbara Stanwyck, for 1964’s “The Night time Walker.” |
The
premise of this moody noir-like film is that after the loss of life of her unstable
scientist husband (Hayden Rorke in disfigured make-up), Stanwyck’s Irene Trenton
returns to her magnificence salon to take her thoughts off hubby’s sudden loss of life. Irene’s
desires have develop into more and more romantic, which had infected her jealous
husband, satisfied that she had a lover. Properly, we see at the least in her desires that
she has one, performed by that unctuous smoothie, Lloyd Bochner of Dynasty fame. Not less than he doesn’t put on
his normal smoking jacket and ascot! He’s fairly younger and good-looking, in his
aquiline approach.
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| That is fairly a liplock dream lover Lloyd Bochner lays on Barbara Stanwyck in 1964’s “The Night time Walker.” |
The
desires develop into extra intense and dire, as Mr. McDreamy desires to marry her. Are
the desires turning into actuality? Is Irene at risk? Or is she merely wigging out?
With the quite small forged, there are usually not loads of suspects to select from. The
plot of The Night time Walker is as slim
as Stanwyck’s determine. And you recognize that Barbara Stanwyck, probably the most
smart stars ever, is just not going berserk like Joan Crawford or all “Child”-ish
like Bette Davis. So “the how” of this thriller is extra the query than whodunit.
Stanwyck
is meant to go excessive in response to her psychological torture, however appearing a hysterical
scream queen is just not Barbara’s bag. “Stany” is finest when she’s all the way down to earth or
cool and understated. In her finest movie noirs or suspense movies, Barbara Stanwyck
is the appearing equal of Peggy Lee, slyly insinuating with out going large.
Total, Stanwyck’s efficiency is her normal whole professional flip, with pure empathy.
However when she begins screaming and hollering, it feels false and falls flat.
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| Barbara Stanwyck bellowing hysterically was not a very good search for the cool actress! |
I
assume Stanwyck aged fairly gracefully and strikingly, together with her grey hair now
silver, in a refined coiffure and make-up. This can be a far cry from most of her
contemporaries who have been turning into more and more cartoonish wanting or simply going
to seed. Stanwyck regarded her age, however with nice type.
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| Barbara Stanwyck was refined and classy in her older years, right here in 1964’s “The Night time Walker.” Fortunately, “The Huge Valley”was simply across the nook, a giant profession increase. |
As
the household lawyer in The Night time Walker,
Robert Taylor acts like a sleep walker. As he aged in canine years, Bob regarded
more and more dour, very similar to Alan Ladd. Taylor additionally didn’t have Gable’s robust
character or Tyrone Energy’s heat appeal. The long-time MGM star appeared to be
put more and more out to pasture in westerns. Nonetheless, this horror movie was a
hiccup in each Bob and Bab’s careers.
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| Robert Taylor was a rough-looking 53 when he made 1964’s “The Night time Walker.” |
Producer-director
William Citadel used nice creativeness to stretch his B-movie budgets. In The Night time Citadel, the intro, full
with spoken work creepiness by Paul Frees, is visually putting if not terribly
associated to the film itself. The rating is by Vic Mizzy, the prolific composer
who famously got here up with The Addams
Household theme. One recurring riff sounds amazingly like “Meals, Superb
Meals” from the Broadway musical Oliver!,
which made its Broadway debut round this time. Coincidence? Who can say?
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| No, Hayden Rorke and Robert Taylor aren’t debating who’s the warmer dude for Barbara Stanwyck! From 1964’s “The Night time Walker.” |
The
dream scenes are stylishly accomplished and subtly, too, besides when the courtroom
marriage ceremony scene is populated by puppets that appear like life measurement variations of The Thunderbirds. Hilariously camp,
particularly when the chandeliers catch hearth and spin, with Stanwyck’s smoky
voice emitting raspy screams!
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| No, this is not Raymond Burr with blonde hair from “Rear Window,” it is one of many creepy puppets/mannequins from 1964’s “The Night time Walker.” Bizzaro! |
This
movie has a skinny plot, low price range, and loony logic, typical of William Citadel.
As a temper piece, it’s fairly entertaining and exhibits some type, together with some
eye-rolling chills! The Night time Walker
pairs nicely with Stanwyck’s half-baked ‘40s WB thriller, Cry Wolf, with Barbara’s character coping with the loony males in
her life, and a secret lab!
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| Under is a hyperlink to “The Night time Walker.” Get pleasure from! |
Right here
is a wonderful, free copy of The Night time
Walker to look at on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5RYClikxcc&t=5s
Right here’s
my have a look at Barbara’s finest “girl in jeopardy” position, 1948’s “Sorry, Improper Quantity”: https://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/2025/06/stanwycks-fatal-phone-call-sorry-wrong.html