A psychotic socialite attempts to force a professional tennis star to prove a theory that two complete strangers can get away with murder.
Director: Alfred Hitchcock.
Writers: Raymond Chandler (screen play), Czenzi Ormonde (screen play).
Stars: Farley Granger, Robert Walker, Ruth Roman.
Plot
Amateur tennis star Guy Haines (Farley Granger) wants to divorce his vulgar, promiscuous wife Miriam (Laura Elliott) so he can marry the elegant Anne Morton (Ruth Roman), the daughter of a senator, and hopefully have a career in politics. On a train, Haines accidentally meets Bruno Antony (Robert Walker), who recognizes Guy from the sports pages and knows about his situation from the gossip pages. Bruno tells Guy about his idea for the perfect murder scheme: the two should "swap murders". Bruno will kill Miriam; in exchange, Guy will kill Bruno's hated father. Each murderer will kill a total stranger with no identifiable motive, so neither will be suspected. Guy does not take Bruno's suggestion seriously; he humors Bruno by pretending to find it amusing, but Bruno interprets Guy's response as agreement to the scheme. Guy lets Bruno light a cigarette with his (Guy's) monogrammed lighter; eager to get away from Bruno, Guy forgets to take the lighter when he leaves the train, and Bruno keeps it.
Guy meets with Miriam, who is pregnant by someone else, at her workplace. She tells him that she is no longer willing to agree to a divorce. She threatens to follow Guy to Washington, D.C. and cause a scandal, saying that the baby is his. They argue loudly in front of Miriam's co-workers before Guy leaves. Guy calls Anne with the bad news and, speaking figuratively, tells her he would like to "break [Miriam's] neck" … that he could "strangle her." Meanwhile, Bruno follows Miriam and her new beau to an amusement park, stalks her through various rides, and strangles her to death on the "Magic Isle". While this is happening, Guy is on a train; the only other person in his car is an inebriated university professor. When Guy arrives home, Bruno arrives and they talk across the street in the shadows. Bruno tells a horrified Guy that Miriam is dead and that Guy must honor his part of the deal and kill Bruno's father. During this conversation the police arrive to talk to Guy, but they leave when he doesn't answer his door.
Clasificación [ CM DVD 00378 ] Disponible en DVD, 4 Piso BJB)