Bernard Wicki’s film of Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s play (also known as Time and Again) is a fascinating work. The tragi-comedy (as Dürrenmatt describes it) is related to a theme ubiquitous in the arts, that money is the root of all evil.
Karla Zachanassian (Ingrid Bergman), one of the richest women in the world, returns to Guellen, a town in Central Europe, where she was born and from which she was expelled as a shameless harlot, 20 years before.
The town is on the brink of financial ruin and the people welcome the woman as a benefactor.
At a civic reception in her honour, Karla makes her intentions clear. She will give the people two million dollars for the trial and execution of one of their citizens – the merchant Serge Miller (Anthony Quinn, pictured at left) who made her pregnant and caused her humiliation two decades earlier.
Arguably miscast as a cold, merciless nemesis, Miss Bergman gives a striking portrayal.
Quinn’s personality and physical appearance are at odds with the characterisation but he plays the role of pathetic victim skilfully.
Karla Zachanassian
Ingrid Bergman Serge Miller
Anthony Quinn Doctor
Paolo Stoppa Town Painter
Romolo Valli Lawyer Bardick
Claude Dauphin Police Officer Fisch
Jacques Dufilho Police Captain Dobrik
Hans Christian Blech Teacher
Richard Münch Mayor
Ernst Schröder Minister
Leonard Steckel Mathilda Miller
Valentina Cortese Anya
Irina Demick
Director
Bernard Wicki
Related Posts
Strangler, The (1964) A psychological thriller about an overweight paranoid schizophrenic hospital lab technician (Victor Buono) with low self-esteem brought on by his…
Every Day's A Holiday (1964) Released in the US as Seaside Swingers, this light and breezy film - shot in widescreen and Technicolor - was a…
Nothing But The Best (1964) Humble estate agent's clerk Jimmy Brewster (Alan Bates) is determined to become a gentleman whatever the cost, and asks sleazy…
Pleasure Seekers, The (1964) Three American girls go on holiday to Madrid, each hoping to attract a suitable husband. A rare example of a…
Two Thousand Maniacs (1964) Tom White (William Kerwin, billed here as Thomas Wood) and Terry Adams (Connie Mason) are heading to Atlanta when they…
Yellow Rolls-Royce, The (1964) This anthology movie is the story of a luxuriously upholstered vehicle - at once witty, romantic, plush, glamorous and dreamy…
Night Must Fall (1964) Danny (Albert Finney) is a charismatic young Welsh chap who enters the isolated countryside mansion of wealthy old wheelchair-bound widow…
633 Squadron (1964) Lieutenant Erik Bergman (George Chakiris), a Norwegian Resistance fighter, tells British Air Intelligence that the Germans are about to launch…
The town is on the brink of financial ruin and the people welcome the woman as a benefactor.
Karla Zachanassian
