YOU BELONG TO ME

US, 2002, 95 minutes, Colour.
Leslie Ann Down, Tony de Santis.
Directed by Paolo Barzman.

You Belong To Me is the title of the very popular song of the 1950s, sung by Patti Page and Jo Stafford. It is a sentence that is engraved on a number of rings that are found on murder victims on cruises.

This is a Mary Higgins Clark story, a popular murder mystery, a stronger female lead, this time Leslie Ann Down, and a range of male suspects, the actual murderer being the least suspicious.

Leslie Ann Down plays a former police officer who has become a psychologist and has a talk-back radio program. This leads her to an investigation of the series of murders, and involvement of the murderer with her sister. Along the way, there are further murders, suspicious characters, especially the accountant of an ailing mother of one of the victims.

As expected, Leslie Ann becomes involved and it is herself in danger. Once again, these are the popular ingredients of Mary Higgins Clark novels.

1. The popularity of Mary Higgins Clark novels? The tone – availability to most audiences? Mysteries, characters, female leads, males ruthless?

2. The American cities, glossy presentation, radio stations, homes and apartments, art galleries, police precincts? The musical score?

3. The title, the popular song, the reference to the Pyramids, Algiers, the jungle wet with rain?

4. Susan, her radio work, conversations, contacts? Her past in the police? Her work as a psychologist?

5. The mother, concerned her daughter, the week? The title and the ring? The police work, tracing the rig, the dealer, the witness across the street, the dealer murdered? The victims with the ring?

6. The caller, trying to be anonymous, her husband, the secretary at the office recognising her? Her experience, the plan for the visit, the accident?

7. The victim’s mother, her terminal illness, her work with the curator, the exhibition, the funds, the foundation? The documents?

8. The accountant, his advice, suspicions, the embezzlement, arrested, not the murderer?

9. Susan and her interviewing other characters, the girl working at the diner, making the connection about the caller and her life? The various victims? Locating the places of the business, the cruises, according to the song?

10. Susan’s sister, marriage breakup, jealousy, dating the curator, his charm, preparing for the trip, becoming a victim?

11. The revelation of the killer, psychopath, type, smooth surface, sinister depths?

12. Susan, her character, involvement, saving his sister, working with the police, the past?

13. A satisfactory resolution?