Screaming Mimi (film)
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Screaming Mimi (1958) is a film noir directed by Gerd Oswald, and based on the novel by pulp novelist Fredric Brown. The film features Anita Ekberg, Philip Carey, Gypsy Rose Lee, among others. It has never received an official video release in the U.S.
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Plot
In the opening scene set in Southern California, while Virginia Wilson (Anita Ekberg) is taking an outside beach shower, an escaped madman from the sanitarium shows up. He stabs her dog, Rusty [Devil was the name of her second dog], attacks her and is then shot to death by her stepbrother, Charlie, with a rifle.
After the attack, Virginia is committed to a sanitarium. The psychiatrist falls in love with her. He fakes her death, and they go on the lam. Virginia ends up dancing at the El Madhouse night club run by Gypsy Rose Lee. Lee performs "Put the Blame on Mame," the classic noir theme from the film Gilda.
All the while Virginia is being stalked by a serial killer.
Cast
- Anita Ekberg as Virginia Wilson aka Yolanda Lange
- Philip Carey as Bill Sweeney
- Gypsy Rose Lee as Joann "Gypsy" Mapes
- Harry Townes as Dr. Greenwood aka Green
- Linda Cherney as Ketti
- Romney Brent as Charlie Weston
- Alan Gifford as Captain Bline
- Oliver McGowan as Walter Krieg
- Red Norvo as Red Yost
- Red Norvo Trio as Musical Ensemble
Critical reception
Richard W. Nason, film critic for The New York Times, wrote, "It is a modern case of an artist's unintended voodoo over a girl who undergoes a traumatic experience. It is an effective film of its kind, thanks to some reflective dialogue by Robert Blees and a sense of suspense on the part of Gerd Oswald, the director. Anita Ekberg, who does more acting here than before, is the star. Gypsy Rose Lee and Phil Carey are also on the ball."
Adaptations
A film, based on Fredric Brown's novel, was remade in 1970 as The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, directed by Dario Argento.
