ISN'T IT SHOCKING?

US, 1973, 90 minutes, Colour.
Alan Alda, Louise Lasser, Edmond O'Brien, Lloyd Nolan, Ruth Gordon, Will Geer.
Directed by John Badham.

One of the several comedy murder stories produced for television in the early seventies with question mark titles. This one has a pun since the victims are killed by a heart attack induced by electric shock. Allan Alda is a pleasant lead as the police chief and he is supported by the daffy Louise Lasser. Edmond O'Brien is revealed immediately as the insane murderer and there is a good gallery of older actors and actresses for the victims - they are all old people. The atmosphere of a small town in America is well caught. Direction is by John Badham who went on to make many telemovies and then successfully broke into cinema with Saturday Night Fever.

1. How entertaining this kind of murder thriller, mystery, black comedy? A satisfying blend for entertainment?

2. The title, the pun? Serious/comic? which predominated?

3. The towns of Mount Angel and Horse Creek, the comments made throughout on middle America and the way of life in the town? Authentic flavour and atmosphere?

4. The fact that the audience saw Justin killing at the very beginning? The type of murder, manner? The cumulative effect? the threat to the various victims? The discovery about the age, the class? Puzzle about the motive? The character of Justin booking into the motel, ugly, his way of eating, his pursuit of Dan and crashing into him? His visit to Marge, the story or the past and his motives? His madness?

5. The film as a police story? the harassed and busy police, their interests? Blanche and her work as secretary and following her suggestions through? Dan and his coping with the town, the temptation to go to Horse Creek? His interest in bird-watching? The liaison with the motel owner, the outing with her and the children? his friendship with Jesse and the bond between them, his being affected by Jesse's death? His continually being on the move and saying he had to go?

6. The portrait of the victims, especially Jesse as character, the audience regretting his death with Dan? Myron and his work at the store, the funeral, his comments about the group? The build-up to the confrontation with Marge? The puzzle about the story? Her madness, eccentricity, the visit of Justin and her behaviour, the shooting?

7. The doctors and their contribution, father and daughter, the autopsies, the various theories?

8. The detail about the town life and its helping, the effect of the thriller, the audience able to identify with it?

9. The build-up to the finale, Dan staying the night, the confrontation with Justin and his collapse?

10. The humorous rounding off with Dan laughing, the proposal to Blanche? A satisfying comedy thriller?