You don't die underwater

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Movie
German title You don't die underwater
Original title The Drowning Pool
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1975
length 109 minutes
Age rating FSK 16
Rod
Director Stuart Rosenberg
script Tracy Keenan Wynn
Lorenzo Semple junior
Walter Hill
production Lawrence Turman
David Foster
music Michael Small
Charles Fox
camera Gordon Willis
cut John C. Howard
occupation

Also: Andrew Robinson

You don't die under water (Original title: The Drowning Pool ) is an American crime film by Stuart Rosenberg from 1975, the script of which is based on the fifth novel of the same name by Ross Macdonald from 1950. Part of the film is set in a hydrotherapy clinic, where Lew Harper, played by Paul Newman , barely escapes death underwater. Other leading roles include Joanne Woodward and Tony Franciosa .

Macdonald's second novel, The Moving Target, about the private detective, who is called Lew Archer in the books, was made into a film and ran in Germany under the title A Case for Harper .

action

The film is characterized by a rather complex and well thought-out storyline in which private detective Lew Harper investigates a case of blackmail in the bayous of Louisiana . The nymphomaniac daughter Schuyler of his former lover Iris Devereaux is involved. Iris' mother-in-law is under pressure, she refuses to sell land to the oil baron Kilbourne. In the course of the investigation, Harper becomes more and more embroiled in a power struggle between Iris and the oil tycoon Kilbourne. Broussard's local police department seems to have a personal interest in the family and the case and is working against the private detective. When the mother-in-law is murdered in the swimming pool, Harper is arrested but has to be released. The climax and eponymous scene is when Harper and Kilbournes wife Mavis are locked in a hydrotherapy room and the water slowly but steadily rises higher and higher to the ceiling. Harper escapes, but Iris has already killed herself. Kilbourne is killed by his vengeful wife and Harper discovers Kilbourne's secret bank account. The anonymous letters were from Iris' daughter Schuyler.

Production and Background

It is a film from the Warner Bros. Pictures studio and was produced in 1974. Much of the film was shot in New Orleans , although the storyline of the novel is set in Southern California . The film premiered on June 25, 1975 in New York , and in July 1975 it was generally shown in US cinemas. It was released in cinemas in the Federal Republic of Germany on April 30, 1976.

The Drowning Pool from 1950 was the fifth novel by Ross Macdonald and the second about the private detective Lew Archer. He pointed out the burden of a shameful past and anticipated the vile family history of the later television series Dallas . Paul Newman played Harper for the first time in 1965 in Jack Smight's A Case for Harper . The role of Iris is played by Newman's wife Joanne Woodward . The film was an opportunity for the Newman / Woodward couple to shoot together and spend more time together. Stuart Rosenberg and Paul Newman worked together for the fourth time in this film. Outside of filming, the racing-loving actor suffered an accident that could have turned out badly. This second film adaptation about the private detective could not repeat the success of the 1966 film and was a disappointment at the box office. However, Gordon Willis was able to impress with his atmospheric camera. The film is also interesting and a contemporary witness because of the recordings that capture New Orleans at that time. There are scenes that were shot in the historic old town of New Orleans, in the French Carter, and shots along the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway , as well as shots of Lake Charles and Lafayette . The film also contains a scene that touches the New Orleans Mardi Gras. The prominent cast was seen as a big plus of the film.

DVD

The film was released in German synchronization on December 1, 2006 on DVD, publisher: Warner Home Video.

criticism

In contrast to the novel, the film received rather restrained and moderate reviews.

Jeff Stafford found the scenes between Newman and Woodward were the weakest in the film and lacked the irresistible appeal of their shared scenes from The Long Hot Summer . The film is bumpy and more of a mystery thriller than a character study.

The criticism from Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times was typical of the ratings the film received at the time. Ebert felt that if this movie had been classified as a B-movie, it would have been simple, decent thriller fare. But since Paul Newman is playing in the A-Class, this will be the film's undoing, as he cannot keep this promise.

Award

The film was nominated for the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Picture of the Year .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Certificate of release for underwater one does not die . Voluntary self-regulation of the film industry , October 2006 (PDF; test number: 47 951 V).
  2. ^ A b c d Jeff Stafford: The Drowning Pool (1975) - Articles. In: Turner Classic Movies . Retrieved June 22, 2019 .
  3. You don't die underwater. Film review on Kino.de. Retrieved March 22, 2015 .
  4. You don't die under water at der-film-noir.de
  5. ^ A film review by AH Weiler. New York Times, June 26, 1975. Retrieved March 22, 2015 .