Who Killed Teddy Bear? (1965)

A very bold movie for 1965 that has today become a cult classic. Like a lot of these social films they are dated, but to me that is part of what makes them often times great. If I watch a film made in 1965, I want it to reflect the time it was made, not today. "Who Killed Teddy Bear" was one of the first U.S. films to be at the head of the new, changing cinema values of the 1960's. The subject matter was difficult for mainstream audiences. Rape, incest, lesbianism, sexual addiction were just some of the topics touched on in the picture directed by Joseph Cates. A young waitress (Juliet Prowse) at a cool New York City disco is being stalked. She has been receiving threatening phone calls and is scared. The police, headed by Jan Murray, have little leads. The film argues that everyone has some kind of sexual perversion. Some people are just better at covering it up. Though not a hit at the time, it seems very influential. Martin Scorsese's "Taxi Driver" is very similar with its bleak view of a rotting New York and the freaks that roam the streets. Scorsese's version of "Cape Fear" has several shots that are familiar. I think even Quentin Tarantino borrowed heavily with his dance number between John Travolta and Uma Thurman in "Pulp Fiction." It is very reminiscent of the sexual tension between Juliet Prowse and Sal Mineo when she tries to teach him to dance. It does start out a bit rocky, but gathers steam as it goes. There are some great performances, especially from Sal Mineo and Elaine Stritch. The film is mostly lost today, but hopefully its cult status will help it come back to life on DVD and Blue-Ray soon.