Friday, 8 June 2012

The Man Who Haunted Himself

   Can a man be in two places at the same time? Can he have slept with an attractive girl in her apartment when he's only ever seen her briefly, and didn't even know her address? It is bewildering questions such as these that torment Harold Pelham when he recovers from a near fatal car accident - an accident which has strange undertones.
   Pelham himself is every inch the city businessman, conservative in dress, staid in manner with a lovely wife and a young family. A man of substance.... a man truly set in his ways. So how does Julie, an attractive girl he has only seen once, claim such an intimate relationship?
   As each day passes the enigma deepens, the mystery becomes more unfathomable, and more terrifying. It is only after his wife, children, and best friend turn from him as from a complete stranger that Pelham discovers the terrifying truth.
  This film is very much like the Prisoner episodes ‘The Schizoid Man’ and ‘Fall Out’ in the way that there are two 6's, and two Pelham's, but who are the alter ego of the same man. Although perhaps not in the case of Curtis, who has simply taken the place of No.6. To all intents and purposes there were two No.6's in the village.

Be seeing you

2 comments:

  1. The book this film was based on seems to have also inspired the script of that Danger Man episode, "The Ubiquitous Mr. Lovegrove", which starts with a car accident too. I must check the credits next time and see if the book is mentioned.

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  2. Hello Moor,

    I hadn't thought of that. Yes they do both start with a car accident. I've never observed the book having been mentioned in the credits. Unless something is utterly and completely original, than it is inspired by something else, so why not.

    Regards
    David
    BCNU

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