A 1962 thriller turned San Francisco into a playground for a sinister, unseen killer.
In short: Directed by Blake Edwards, this neo-noir masterpiece uses the fog-drenched streets of San Francisco to heighten a terrifying game of cat and mouse. When a bank teller is coerced into a heist, the city itself becomes a character, masking a villain whose presence is felt more than it is seen.
Released in 1962, Experiment in Terror follows Kelly Sherwood, a bank employee forced by a sadistic criminal named Garland Lynch to steal $100,000. Lynch threatens to kill Sherwood and her teenage sister, Toby, if she alerts the authorities. Despite the danger, she contacts FBI agent John Ripley. The film builds tension through the villain's asthmatic, menacing voice and his ability to remain largely hidden in shadows, a stylistic choice that critics like those at the BFI Companion to Crime found particularly chilling.
The production was notable for its extensive use of San Francisco locations, including the Crocker-Anglo Bank, Fisherman's Wharf, and the Clarendon Heights district. Director Blake Edwards utilized the city's bridges and cable cars to contrast a sophisticated, respectable urban environment with the hidden violence lurking beneath. The climax takes place at Candlestick Park during a game between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers, featuring real-life pitcher Don Drysdale. The production was so committed to its atmosphere that it brought its own wind and fog machines to ensure the city looked as moody as intended.
While some critics, such as Clive Hirschhorn, felt the director relied too heavily on self-conscious camera angles, others like Leonard Maltin praised the film's taut suspense and Henry Mancini's musical score. Ross Martin, who played the villainous Lynch, earned a nomination for his performance at the 1963 Golden Globe ceremony. Today, the film remains a celebrated entry in the noir genre, noted for its ability to transform a familiar city into a landscape of unpredictable, nameless dread.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Experiment in Terror
- Also: Wikidata — Experiment in Terror · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — Experiment in Terror · CC0
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