Watch Pressure Point

Pressure Point is a thought-provoking drama from 1962, directed by Hubert Cornfield and starring Sidney Poitier, Bobby Darin, and Peter Falk. The movie is a contemporary adaptation of the memoirs of Albert Q. Maisel, a prison psychiatrist who treats a Nazi inmate and reflects on his own life and experiences in the process. The story is set in 1960 when the civil rights movement was gaining momentum in the United States. Sidney Poitier plays the character of an unnamed prison psychiatrist who is assigned to treat a racist and hostile inmate, played by Bobby Darin. The inmate is a white supremacist who was incarcerated for his involvement in a notorious hate crime. Through a series of therapy sessions, the psychiatrist tries to understand the inmate's mindset and motive, hoping to uncover his suppressed and traumatic childhood memories.

As the conversations between the two characters intensify, questions of race, identity, and redemption emerge. The psychiatrist, who is black, is forced to confront his own prejudice and anger towards white people, while the inmate's violent and extremist beliefs are exposed to the surface. The scenes between Poitier and Darin are tense and gripping, as they deliver powerful performances that capture the complexities of their characters.

In addition to the two main characters, Peter Falk plays the role of a prison guard who serves as a mediator between the prisoner and the psychiatrist. Falk's character adds a layer of nuance to the story, as he struggles to maintain his own sense of morality while working in a corrupt and violent prison system.

Throughout the movie, themes of social injustice, political unrest, and personal transformation are explored through the lens of psychology. The movie's narrative structure is nonlinear, as it jumps back and forth between the psychiatrist's therapy sessions and his own flashbacks to his childhood and early adulthood. This juxtaposition helps to reveal the parallels between the psychiatrist's own experiences of discrimination and the inmate's radicalization.

The movie's cinematography is evocative, using stark black-and-white visuals to create a sense of claustrophobia and tension in the prison setting. The movie's dialogue is sharp and incisive, with moral dilemmas and ethical questions interwoven seamlessly into the story.

The movie's score, composed by Ernest Gold, is haunting and atmospheric, adding to the film's sense of foreboding and unease. Gold's music features a combination of jazz, classical, and minimalist sounds that perfectly complement the movie's themes and tone.

Overall, Pressure Point is a riveting psychological drama that explores the complexities of race, identity, and trauma. It features outstanding performances by Sidney Poitier, Bobby Darin, and Peter Falk, and offers a thought-provoking commentary on the political turmoil of the 1960s. The movie is a must-see for fans of classic cinema and anyone interested in exploring the psychology of bigotry and hate.

Pressure Point is a 1962 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1.