Two "Mystery" Films

Thanks for your kind words!

I love a good murder-mystery puzzle plot any day, so I'm very impressed by that element in the movie (bloody ingenious on the part of Messrs. Sondheim and Perkins, I think!), but I think what sets it apart are the actors' performances. With the exception of Raquel Welch (who looks good enough in a bikini that I, as a red-blooded American male, can't really criticize), the acting is brilliantly done, especially from Joan Hackett (is that whom you meant by "Lee Marvin"?--her character's name was Lee, but Lee Marvin the [male] actor wasn't in this movie) and James Mason. Mason gives a grand, fully-rounded performance, which is an absolute joy because at this stage in his career he could have easily phoned it in, but instead he chose to invest fully in his character. (Sondheim later reported he was the only person in the cast to understand the movie as a whodunit!) Sheila is definitely one of my favorite movies--and so little seen and unavailable, more's the pity!