The Snorkel (1958)

Just perfect...

Excellent but underrated film

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Poor Candy Brown (Mandy Miller). She cannot get anybody to believe her. She's 100% certain that her cold blooded stepfather Paul Decker (Peter van Eyck) has murdered her mother, despite the evidence seeming to indicate that the woman committed suicide. Mandy, who also believes in her heart that Paul had similarly murdered her father once upon a time, sticks to her guns. But the adults around her keep stubbornly insisting that she *must* be making all of this up.It's easy to be on Candy's side here. With so many thick headed adult characters, you truly feel her frustration and desperation. Will she ever obtain the proof she needs that Paul is a creep? People like her chaperone Jean Edwards (Betta St. John, "The City of the Dead"), Mr. Wilson (William Franklyn), or the hearty police inspector (Gregoire Aslan) refuse to take her seriously, even though she doesn't seem to be the sort of girl who'd be prone to flights of fancy.The suspense lies not in a "did he or didn't he" scenario - we see Paul murder Candy's mother in the quiet, ingenious opening set piece. The title object plays a pivotal role. Rather, the tension arises in Candy's predicament, and whether or not she'll be vindicated before the evil Paul strikes again. And we know it's possible. The looks he keeps giving her show that he thinks that he'll have to kill her just to shut her up.Efficient direction by Oscar winning cinematographer Guy Green ("Great Expectations", 1946) and sharp black & white photography make this a fine entertainment, as well as strong performances from all concerned. Miller makes Candy a sympathetic character, and with his facial features van Eyck was obviously a natural for screen villainy.This viewer would suggest that fans of Hammer horror give features like this a try, just to show that the famed British studio wasn't just a one trick pony.Seven out of 10.

Intriguing and pretty bizarre, somewhat grotesque. Young girl character is a heroine par excellence. Evil guy is totally evil. Acting superb. Interesting setting. Was trying to figure out where movie took place (first guessed Mexico, then Spain. Location: Italy).The story unfolds excellently. Had my full attention throughout. Clever. All acting first rate. Dialog couldn't be better. Conclusion--one of best I've ever seen.Looked up young girl actress on this site and found out she only made movies thru her teen years, then retired (became an aux-pair in, I think, New York, then got married and lived a life of domestic bliss). Villain was typecast in other films as coldblooded Nazi.Has gotten me wanting to see more Hammer films.

Guy Green directed this mystery/suspense tale that stars Mandy Miller as Candy Brown, a young woman living in Italy at her stepfather's villa, whom she suspects of murdering her mother and father in an effort to inherit the family wealth, but she doesn't know how, and can't convince either her other relatives or the authorities. Of course, she is right, as the stepfather(Paul Decker, played by Peter van Eyck) has built a trap door in the bedroom where he can conceal himself, and uses a snorkel and a series of tubes to breathe in air. He needed this because he killed her with gas, and is now planning on doing away with Candy. Clever film builds interest in its characters and premise(with an unknown cast) that lead to a most effective, and ironic twist ending.

This terrific thriller is the equal of some of Alfred Hitchcock's work. There is non-stop frustration because an original device is used to commit a murder. No one can see how it has been done. The picture shows everyone watching how it is accomplished in the very beginning except of course, the other characters.Peter van Eyck plays the monster and a true monster he is. This guy is as suave and convincing as Joseph Cotten in Alfred Hitchcock's Shadow of a Doubt which is #169 in IMDb's list of top films. He is much more ruthless, savage and, well, just plain meaner than hell. He has created the most hateful character I think I've ever seen.Of course that's what makes this such an outstanding film. The only person who knows for sure how evil he is would naturally be the most innocent young girl cinema has ever seen. She just doesn't know how he's done it. I will say no more other than to say this: WATCH FOR IT! DON'T MISS IT! DON'T IGNORE IT JUST BECAUSE IT'S A HAMMER PRODUCTION!