



Who Killed Teddy Bear is a gritty and dark 1965 crime thriller directed by Joseph Cates, which stars Sal Mineo and Juliet Prowse in lead roles. The movie is set in the seedy underbelly of Manhattan in the early 1960s and tells the story of a nightclub busboy, Lawrence, who is being stalked by an unknown pervert who bombards him with obscene phone calls day and night.
The movie opens with a disturbing scene of a woman dancing alone in a dimly lit nightclub while an unseen camera zooms in on her legs and torso, accompanied by sleazy jazz music, creating a foreboding atmosphere. It is soon revealed that the woman is Norma, a bartender and a friend of Lawrence, who is also being harassed by the same man.
The audience then meets Lawrence, played by Sal Mineo, who delivers a powerful performance throughout the film. Lawrence is a troubled young man who is haunted by memories of his abusive childhood and who struggles with a pervading sense of loneliness. He lives alone in a small apartment and spends his nights jogging through the empty streets of New York City. When he is not working in the nightclub or jogging, he spends his time recording his thoughts and feelings on a reel-to-reel tape recorder.
The main storyline picks up when Lawrence starts receiving the obscene phone calls while he is at work, forcing him to quit his job. Determined to find out who is responsible for harassing him, he starts his own investigations, which lead him to Norma, who has also been receiving the calls. Together, they try to uncover the identity of the anonymous caller.
The audience is then introduced to Detective Madden, played by Jan Murray, who is leading the investigation. He is a veteran cop who is frustrated with the lack of progress in the investigation and who is also dealing with his own marital problems. Through his investigation, he discovers a network of pimps, prostitutes, and other shady characters who operate in the seedy world of New York City's nightlife.
Throughout the movie, the tension builds as Lawrence becomes more and more obsessed with finding the caller's identity. He starts to suspect everyone around him, including his coworker, Dominick, who he believes is involved with a criminal gang. Meanwhile, Norma tries to protect Lawrence and herself from the relentless caller, who escalates his harassment and becomes more violent.
The movie features several memorable scenes, including Lawrence's disturbing flashback of his father abusing him, the lengthy and tense chase scene through the city's streets, and the climactic confrontation between Lawrence and the caller. The film's moody cinematography and the jazzy soundtrack add to the atmosphere of paranoia and danger.
Overall, Who Killed Teddy Bear is a haunting and compelling movie that explores themes of loneliness, obsession, and the dark side of human desire. The stellar performances by Sal Mineo and Juliet Prowse, along with the well-crafted script and direction, make it a must-watch for fans of crime thrillers and classic cinema.
Who Killed Teddy Bear is a 1975 thriller with a runtime of 90 hours.
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Genres
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CastSAL MINEOJULIET PROWSE
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DirectorJOSEPH CATES
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Release Date1975
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Runtime90 hr

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