Cheap Cop-Out (Video) (Mason, Chaplin, Bertoya, James Mason) Price

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Customer Reviews of Cop-Out

Psychedelic murder mystery...with Bobby Darin!
This 1967 British mystery (released there as STRANGER IN THE HOUSE, the English title of the Simenon novel on which it's based) is a lesser-known entry in the "swinging London" sub-genre of film, and while it's no BLOW UP, it is a fascinating piece and a riveting mystery, with standout performances by James Mason (as a washed-up, alcoholic attorney, forced to come out of his shell) and especially Bobby Darin (as a mysterious American merchant marine named Barney). Darin's character is reminiscent of and predates Robert DeNiro's character in TAXI DRIVER (to some extent), and one wonders whether Darin's acting career would have gotten a shot in the arm had this film received much attention upon its release. Darin's character keeps repeating a certain phrase at key scenes, a phrase which is echoed in the song by Eric Burdon and the Animals included in the soundtrack (you'll have to see it to find out!). Some of the "hip" frosting on this cake has dated badly (hence the 4 stars rather than 5), but Mason's masterful performance and a distinctive visual style from director Pierre Rouve keep the film interesting, and the murder mystery angle and courtroom scenes keep the film moving at a brisk pace. Both Mason's character and his immature but independent daughter (played by the YOUNG Geraldine Chaplin) grow considerably by the film's offbeat conclusion, and the memory of Darin's unpleasant character stays with one after the film concludes. I'd heard of this film, but knew little about it until this video was released. Highly recommended to fans of sixties obscurities, of murder mysteries, of James Mason, and of the much-underrated Bobby Darin.