Zig Zag (1970)

Wow! Such a good movie.

Fantastic!

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

U.K. release title: False Witness.SYNOPSIS: When he discovers he is dying from an incurable brain tumor, an insurance investigator decides to frame himself for an unsolved murder.COMMENT: Probably the most successful example of a TV style transferred to the cinema, Richard A. Colla's "Zigzag" is unrelentingly shot throughout in extreme close-ups, yet, because of its strong story- line and forceful performances (particularly by George Kennedy and Eli Wallach), it manages to come across with an impact that the use of wider long shots often dissipates. Admittedly, the plot is full of holes, but the method adopted by the screenwriter to expose the mystery is clever and ingenious enough to keep interest at a high pitch.Despite her billing, Anne Jackson has a small, unrewarding, unmemorable role — catalytic but peripheral. It's a wonder (and a cause for joy) that the writer wasn't asked to expand her part by adding a few tedious domestic scenes for her! As it is, the script rightly focuses on the Kennedy character.As might be expected, the budget is tight, but production values benefit from some on-location lensing.

It seems that none of the reviewers to date have realized that the "twist" ending was the cleverest and best denouement possible. By occurring as it did, his wife got all he originally wanted her to get, and much more!! If it had not happened, although he would have been entitled to the reward money for discovering who the real murderer was, the latter paying for his crime, he would still have ended up in jail for serious public mischief by causing a false accusation to be laid and an expensive police investigation and jury trial to occur. It makes no difference that it was self-directed or directed against anyone else as far as the difficulties he caused may be concerned. In addition, the court might have fined him in an amount equal to or even more than the needless cost to the state. This would have eaten up most, if not all, of the reward money.However, because of the unexpected ending, his wife would be entitled to collect both on the double indemnity provision in his insurance policy and, as his heir, the full reward money as belonging to his estate. That's more than he had schemed for her.Beautiful!

This thriller had all but been forgotten until it was recently resurrected on Turner Classic Movies, where I finally got to watch it. It has a neat premise - a dying man decides to frame himself for a kidnapping/murder so that his wife will get the reward money... but complications happen. The movie is never boring, and George Kennedy and Eli Wallach both give solid performances. Also, there is an ending that you probably couldn't get away with in a Hollywood movie today. It's a good movie, though there are a few things holding it back from greatness. The direction and feel of the movie come across more like what you'd expect for a television show of the era. Also, the movie is a little slow. I am not demanding breakneck speed, but I think the movie could have been tightened a little. It's still worth seeing, and women may get some extra enjoyment out of it because Kennedy appears nude in one scene.

George Kennedy plays what may well be his best performance as a man who frames himself for a crime he didn't commit so his wife can benefit from the reward money, and then becomes enmeshed in a complex and gripping spiral of events after he discovers he is not going to die after all. Anyone who enjoys thrillers will enjoy this film, and it is a mystery to me why it is not available in video.