Experiment in Terror (1962)

100% of critics liked it
(5 reviews)
71% of users liked it
(1,246 ratings)

Bank teller Lee Remick is accosted in her garage one dark night by asthmatic psycho Ross Martin. He forces her to go through with an elaborate robbery scheme, threatening to kill Lee's teen-aged sister Stefanie Powers if the police are summoned. FBI agent Glenn Ford suspects that something is amiss… More Bank teller Lee Remick is accosted in her garage one dark night by asthmatic psycho Ross Martin. He forces her to go through with an elaborate robbery scheme, threatening to kill Lee's teen-aged sister Stefanie Powers if the police are summoned. FBI agent Glenn Ford suspects that something is amiss and advises Lee to play along with Martin, hoping in this way to capture this dangerous criminal with a minimum of bloodshed. Unfortunately, Martin is as clever as he is deadly, always managing to stay one step ahead of Ford. The now-famous climax of Experiment in Terror finds the feds closing in on Martin during a crowded night baseball game at San Francisco's Candlestick Park. Experiment in Terror is based on the Gordons' novel Operation Terror. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr. 3 min.
Directed By: Blake Edwards
Written By: Gordon Gordon
Genres: Horror, Mystery & Suspense, Classics

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1962 Wide
On DVD: Jun 10, 2003

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
This stylish noir thriller is one of Blak Edwards' best films and one of the genre's highlights, well acted by Lee Remick, exquisitely shot by Philip Lathrop, and moodily composed by Henry Mancini, who contributes a great jazz score
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
One of director Blake Edwards' best w/terrific Mancini score.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Suspenseful.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Superior thriller from before Edwards' typecasting as a comedy specialist.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Stella D

like a bridge between film noir detective stories and the modern thriller, this really was an experiment on the part of blake edwards, much better known for his light comedies. made immediately after the charming if over-rated breakfast at tiffany's, the film pioneered… More
like a bridge between film noir detective stories and the modern thriller, this really was an experiment on the part of blake edwards, much better known for his light comedies. made immediately after the charming if over-rated breakfast at tiffany's, the film pioneered techniques used to great effect by depalma among others in the 80's. it looks a little dated now but this is a solid and influential piece of work
Michael G

Unfortunately, Experiment in Terror was one of those pesky "those who don't remember the past are condemned to repeat it" moments for me when I let high expectations ruin this movie for me. I heard David Lynch's name thrown around a lot when being told and reading… More
Unfortunately, Experiment in Terror was one of those pesky "those who don't remember the past are condemned to repeat it" moments for me when I let high expectations ruin this movie for me. I heard David Lynch's name thrown around a lot when being told and reading about this movie. That alone wrote Experiment in Terror's death certificate. Its one of the very last noir movies so it's one of the last of its kind from that era. It starts off with sharp imagery and a score to go nuts over by Henry Mancini. It started great, started nodding off toward the middle, then eventually started snoring pretty damn loud be the end. Its definitely not bad and I can see even a small influence it had on Lynch, but its definitely not worth busting your balls over to get a copy of. Impress a film teacher with it, I don't know.

Cast

            Glenn Ford as John "Rip" Ripley

            Lee Remick as Kelly Sherwood

            Stefanie Powers as Toby

            Roy Poole as Brad

            Ned Glass as Popcorn

            Anita Loo as Lisa

            Patricia Huston as Nancy

            Gilbert Green as Special Agent

            Clifton James as Capt. Moreno

            Al Avalon as Man Who Picked Up Kelly

            William Bryant as Chuck

            Dick Crockett as First FBI Agent

            James Lanphier as Landlord

            Warren Hsieh as Joey Soong

            Sidney Miller as Drunk

            Clarence Lung as Attorney Yung

            Sherry O'Neil as Edna

            Mari Lynn as Penny

            Ross Martin as Red Lynch

            James Callahan as F.B.I. Agent

            Fred Coby as F.B.I. Agent

            Frederic Downs as Welk

            Edward Mallory as Dick

            Fay McKenzie as Hospital Superintendent

            Bill Neff as F.B.I. Agent

            Karen Norris as Saleswoman

            Gil Perkins as Taxi Driver

            William Remick as Coroner

            Audrey Swanson as Nurse

            Barbara Collentine as Janie

            Mary Ellen Popel as Secretary

            Ken Wales as F.B.I. Agent

            Helen Jay as Waitress

            Russ Whiteman as TV Director

            W. Beal Wong as Pastor

            Robert Carraher as Police Lieutenant

            Judee Morton as Louella

            David Tomack
            
            Ray Kellogg as Man at Ballpark

            Richard Norris as F.B.I. Agent
See full cast