Cul-de-Sac
Encyclopedia : C : CU : CUL : Cul-de-Sac
- For a dead end street, see cul-de-sac.
The cast includes Donald Pleasence, Françoise Dorléac, Lionel Stander, Jack MacGowran, Iain Quarrier, Geoffrey Sumner, Renee Houston, William Franklyn, Trevor Delaney, Marie Kean, and Jacqueline Bisset.
Plot summary
The film begins with gangster Dickie (Stander) pushing his broken-down car through rising seawaters while his companion Albie (MacGowran) lies inside, bleeding from a gunshot wound after a bungled robbery. Cut off by the unexpected rising tide, they are on the only road to a bleak and remote tidal island where, in a dark castle on a hilltop, the effeminate and neurotic George (Pleasence) lives with his luscious young wife Teresa (Dorléac). Dickie then proceeds to hold the two hostage as he awaits rescue from his boss, the mysterious Katelbach, even throughout an unexpected visit from one of George's old work colleagues.Themes and critical reception
Like his previous film Repulsion, it explores themes of horror, frustrated sexuality, and alienation, which have become characteristic of most of Polański's films, notably Rosemary's Baby and The Tenant. Stylishly filmed in black and white by Gil Taylor with superb locations and an excellent cast, Cul-de-Sac was awarded the 1966 Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival.Trivia
- The film was shot on location on the island of Lindisfarne, off the coast of Northumberland, England. The small castle is now a National Trust property and can be toured by the public. Despite forty years having elapsed, the building and surroundings are largely unchanged.
- Cul-de-Sac has been compared in tone and theme to the works of Samuel Beckett, and it is interesting to note that actor Jack MacGowran was renowned for his knowing interpretations of the works of Beckett.
- It features Jacqueline Bisset in a small part, her second film appearance.
External links
References
- Katz et al (1994), "The Macmillan International Film Encyclopedia". HarperCollins. ISBN 0333616014
- Polanski, Roman. (1984). "Roman". New York: Morrow. ISBN 0688026214
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