An American woman (Carol Lynley) in London reports her four-year-old daughter missing from the Little People’s Garden School on what was to have been her first day.
It appears to be a kidnapping but the police can find no clues to the alleged crime, nor any trace that the child actually existed (nobody at the school has seen her and there’s no evidence of her voyage from the US).
Laurence Olivier (as a leaden-paced, raincoated British copper) and Noël Coward may have regarded this as a bit of slumming, from the way they camp it up.
Keir Dullea demonstrates that, even prior to 2001: a Space Odyssey (1968), he was an unconventional actor, and his performance reflects the illusory atmosphere of the movie.
John and Penelope Mortimer wrote the screenplay, but it’s Preminger’s gimmickry that makes it such fun.
Superintendent Newhouse
Laurence Olivier
Ann Lake
Carol Lynley
Steven Lake
Keir Dullea
Ada Ford
Martita Hunt
Elvira
Anna Massey
Andrews
Clive Revill
Wilson
Noel Coward
Dorothy
Adrienne Corri
Doll Maker
Finlay Currie
The Zombies
Themselves
Director
Otto Preminger
