SpuffyWeb Sadly Over-hyped

Erica Derrick By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Lachlan Coulson This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

Guillelmina The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Dalbert Pringle Favorite Movie Quote: (The sniper's anonymous note sent to the police) - "Stop me - Find me and stop me - I'm going to do it again!" Released in 1952 - The Sniper stars actor Arthur Franz as Eddy Miller, the title character. Franz gives a sensitive & insightful performance as this sadly troubled man who out of a deep-rooted hatred towards women begins to stalk them down in the San Francisco area, randomly annihilating them, using a powerful M-1, carbine rifle.The Sniper is a very intense Suspense/Thriller that (even though the Eddie Miller character is deemed a dangerous killer) has you actually caring about this unstable, young man who can't seem to control the overwhelming urges he has to use his rifle in the murder of several women.This fine production, which treats its serial-killer with insight and compassion, is one of the earliest studies of a murderous psychopath who kills randomly and without apparent motive, making it almost impossible for the police to track him down.Filmed in stark b&w, The Sniper proves itself to be a really first-rate picture from the 1950s. It was masterfully directed by Edward Dmytryk, who is also credited for directing such other top-notch films as - Murder My Sweet, Crossfire, Raintree Country, and The Caine Mutiny.

LeonLouisRicci Sharply Photographed and at Times Brutal Study of a Psycho-Sexual Serial Killer with Freudian Aspects and Authoritarial Misunderstandings. Police and Politicians See it Through the Scope of Nothing More than a Criminal Needing Killed or Captured. The Psychiatrist sees it as Cure or Institutionalise and that is the Gist of this Fifties Attempt at a New Take, a Liberal Take, on Understanding Societies Misfits.This is a Stunning Movie in a lot of Ways. The Sprawling On Location City Landscapes, the Phallus Sexual Symbolism, the Powerful Murder Scenes, and in its Short 88 Minutes is a Mini-Masterpiece of Condensed Ideas and Contemplations.Arthur Franz is Outstanding as a Highly Disturbed Killer of Women, a Self Mutilator, and is so Mentally Disturbed He does Everything but Turn Himself In to Draw Attention to His Pain and Suffering. The Actresses in this Prescient Picture are Much Better than the Men.Adolphe Menjou is Miscast, Gerald Mohr is His Usual Forgettable Self, and Richard Kiley as the Doctor, again, Miscast. The Only Male Actor who is more than OK is the Title Role.Overall, a Movie Way Ahead of its Time, the Cinematography is Excellent, and the Script is Remarkable. A Must See for Fans of Film-Noir, Crime Dramas, and Psychological Studies. It is a Gripping Fifties Movie that is One of the Best Noirs of that Decade.Note...In the 1950's Film-Noir was changing and Police procedural and brightly lit daylight scenes were changing the look of Noir. It looked more luminous and illustrated a more conventional delivery for the Genre. But occasionally this did not hamper the Film-Noir aesthetic, but it undeniably made them look and seem different than their forties forerunners.

Jay Harris Stanley Kramer was in the beginning of his career, when his company made this film for Columbia. In 1952 Columbia was not yet, nor near the powerhouse movie studio they eventually became.The writers Edwin & Edna Anhalt were at the beginning of their noted writing careers.Edward Dymtryk was resuming his career after being involved with the Hollywood 10, blacklist & the HUAC.The cast includes many known performers of the era. Only a few stand out. The acting is just routine.The plot today is contrived, with scenes telegraphed in advance,cued by camera angles or music.It could have been shocking then. I doubt it though.It was filmed in San Francisco. To be blunt I was very disappointed since I have recently read some good reviews of this.I cannot remember what I thought of this film in 1952. I more than likely saw it as part of a double bill. I doubt it was the main feature.Ratings: **1/2 (out of 4) 68 points (out of 100) IMDb 6 (out of 10)

johno-21 The prologue of this film tells us that this is the story of a man whose enemy was womankind. I just recently have seen this 1952 film. I guess with the current film Zodiac in theaters about a real serial killer frightening San Francisco in the 1960's, Turner Classics dug this out of vaults. This is a fictionalized story of a serial killer frightening San Francisco in the 1950's. I had heard of this film and was happy to have finally seen it. This is an early 1950's b-movie crime drama that would in later years fall into the Film Noir category. This is shot on location in San Francisco and uses actual outdoor settings that give this a documentary feeling to it's look. Because so much filming utilized actual city locations it also makes for a wonderful photo album of what San Francisco looked like in the mid 20th century. Eddie Miller (Arthur Franz) is a seemingly meek and mild delivery driver for a dry cleaning service. He has some unresolved issues with his mother that are not fully explained to us but it has led him on path of abusing and hating women that has led to several arrests including a recent 18 month stay in a psycho ward for assault with a baseball bat. His immediate boss at the dry cleaners (Geraldine Carr) is constantly riding his case for tardiness and inferior work and this probably sends him to the ultimate next step in his hatred of women and that is killing them. Miller lives in a boarding house run by a kindly elderly landlady (Mabel Paige) who is probably the only woman he likes. A client of the cleaners befriends him when he delivers to her house. Joan Darr (Marie Windsor) is a lovely piano player in a neighborhood tavern and has a tough street-wise edge to her. Darr's innocent and friendly brush off of Miller is the last straw that sets off his murder spree. Armed with a M1 carbine and scope that he had stolen and that can be broke down and carried in a briefcase he goes hunting in the city. Lt. Frank Kafka (Adolphe Menjou), Sgt. Joe Ferris (Gerald Mohr) and Insp. Anderson (Frank Faylen) are the police team assigned to capture him with the help of psychologist Dr. James Kent (Richard Kiley) who gives an early version of police profiling to the story and is sympathetic to the killer as suffering from mental illness and not as someone evil. Miller sends notes to the police urging them to stop him but he makes no effort to turn himself in and can't control his murderous thoughts and actions. For a low budget B-movie there are some talented filmmakers involved. Stanley Kramer who as a director/producer earned nine Academy Award nominations for such films as High Noon, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner and The Defiant Ones is the film's producer. Edward Dmytryk, one of the Hollywood 10 blacklisted by the House Committee on Un-American Activities and who received an Oscar nomination for Crossfire and also directed such films as Murder My Sweet and The Blue Angel is the film's director. Burnett Guffey who won Oscars for Bonnie and Clyde and From Here to Eternity and who was nominated for three more in his long career is the film's cinematographer. Edward Anhalt who won two Oscars for Beckett and Panic in the Streets, was nominated for an Oscar for this film for Best Writing along with his former wife Edna Anhalt. Scriptwriter Harry Brown also worked on this film. Aaron Stell who edited such films as To Kill a Mockingbird, Fear Strikes Out and Baby the Rain Must Fall is the film's editor. Look for Wally Cox in a small role. If you are a seasoned follower of the Zodiac Killer story you will find several interesting references and similarities throughout this film. Despite the talented filmmakers and cast this isn't the greatest example of Film Noir but it has it's merits and is a very unusual film. I would give this an 8.0 out of 10 and recommend looking for it.