MARY HIGGINS CLARK'S PRETEND YOU DON'T SEE HER

Canada, 2001, 90 minutes, Colour.
Emma Sams, Heines Janecke, Burr Starr.
Directed by Rene Berrier.

Pretend You Don't See her comes from the lyrics of a Jerry Vale song. Many of Mary Higgins Clark’s novels have the titles of lyrics from popular songs. Mary Higgins Clark is a popular author – something of an American equivalent of Agatha Christie with her Miss Marple stories.

The film is set in New York City, focuses on a real estate agent, a hit-run murder of a stage star on Broadway, the reactions of her mother – and the emergence of a web of deceit. The estate agent is drawn into investigation after she witnesses a murder and is put into the witness protection program.

The film begins in a stilted and rather stolid way, very reminiscent of television soap opera and its styles (the director coming from television). As the plot unfolds, the writing and the acting become steadier – and inviting its audience to explore the intriguing mystery. The film’s strength is in revealing the killer earlier on and having him stalk the estate agent, trying to find her (successfully) when she enters into the witness protection program.

Entertaining, average romantic mystery drama.

1.The popularity of Mary Higgins Clark’s stories, their style and tone? Mysteries that are suitable for all, suitable for television?

2.The New York settings, the transfer to Minneapolis? Affluent society, offices and homes? Restaurants? The contrast with Minneapolis, apartments, the gym? The musical score?

3.The title, the Jerry Vale song and its being sung? The references to Lacey, her experiences?

4.The focus on Lacey, her personality? Her work, skills? The meeting with Chantal, the selling of the house, the discussions, her listening to Chantal’s grief? Her meeting Blake, trying to sell the house? The return, the witnessing of the killing, seeing Blake? Getting the excerpts from the diary, taking them to Jimmy? Sloan, his help, the interrogations? Her not giving him the information immediately? The threats, going into the witness protection program? Her relationship with her sister, with her niece? Brother-in-law and his surliness? Her not wanting to go, the pain of the move, the details of the change? Minneapolis, the officer and his help, the weekly phone calls – and giving information to her sister which led to the tracking of her? Life in Minneapolis, alone, hearing the radio, going to the gym, meeting Ken, her fears, giving the information to Sloan? Ken and his pursuit, the truth? Blake tracking her down, the attempt on her life? Her returning to Boston and New York, tracking down the victim’s wife, the threats from Blake, Ken and the police saving the day? Her return to Minneapolis, to Ken – happy ever after? A portrait of a competent middle-aged woman?

5.Audience sharing the experience of the witness protection program, victims, lives being changed, ended, losing all one’s possessions in life, the hardships of trying to start again?

6.The basic situation, Chantal and her relationship with Heather, the hit-run, Chantal’s grief, trying to sell the apartment, reading the journal, trying to piece the pieces together, giving the information to Lacey, her being killed by Blake? Heather, her background, her relationships? Jimmy, the separation from Chantal, his restaurant and his success, wanting to go into casinos? Stephen as his right-hand man? Getting the journal, his interest in Lacey? The final phone call, the information about Hoffman, the address?

7.Lacey’s sister, the family support, the husband and his complaints? The niece and her delight with her aunt? The information, the phone calls, going to the restaurant, the Minneapolis paper?

8.Blake, as a customer, the return and the murder? The revelation of the truth about him, his false death, changing his identity, appearance? The phone calls, his pursuit of Lacey? The information, going to Minneapolis, going to the estate agents, to the gym? His following Kenneth, the confrontation, the attempted shootings? The return to New York, his not assessing Lacey’s plan properly, her going to Boston? The going to Hoffman’s, the shooting – and the police arriving? The irony of his getting witness protection?

9.Walker, at the office, the connection with Heather, his being under suspicion, the coincidences? His being used?

10.Sloan, good policeman, his squad, helping Lacey, the investigation, the phone calls? His man in Minneapolis and his being shot, recovering? Lacey’s phone calls, tracking him down, coming in to save the day?

11.Stephen, the intrigue against Jimmy, the money, the deals, using the family, murder? His being caught?

12.Popular ingredients for a popular mystery and thriller?