Mirage

Director– Edward Dymtryk

Starring – Gregory Peck, Diane Baker

Country of Origin - U.S.

Distributor - Kino Lorber

Number of Discs - 1

Reviewed by - Tyler Miller

Date- 01/01/2020

A series of strange events occur after a blackout in New York City. Charles Calvin, a popular peace activist, (Walter Abel) is found dead on the street from an accident that may be a suicide. The last person to see Charles alive is a cost accountant named David (Gregory Peck). As he tries to find his way out of the powerless building, he meets a mysterious woman (Diane Baker) who seems to know him. But the mood soon grows sour when she brings up a man named “the major” and flees to the basement.

David soon returns home when he discovers an armed assassin (Jack Weston) who orders him to come meet “the major”. The two men get in a brutal fist fight with David being able to flee the scene. With an unknown number of assassins after him, David must get to the bottom of this mystery before it costs him his life. Aided with only the help of a private investigator (Walter Matthau) and the mysterious woman with a dark key to his past (Baker).

Mirage (1965) is a bleak thriller that joined the company of other Hichcockian films of the time like Stanley Dohen’s Charade (1963) and Arabesque (1966), and the Rock Hudson starring Blindfold (1966). Mirage is an offbeat hybrid of the 1960’s spy influenced thrillers that borrowed elements from the James Bond series with plenty of Hitchcock touches that recalled The Lady Vanishes (1938). The only element really missing is the light hearted comedy. Here the situation is tense and grisly.

Packaged together with superb visual flair, Mirage also happens to be one of the best mid-sixties thrillers. The elements are in the right place with ace direction from Edward Dmytryk (Murder My Sweet, The Mountain), who uses his eye for film noir lighting to make every frame uneasy. Joseph MacDonald’s cinematography showcases the New York of yesteryear with plenty of slime and filth that would only get worse in the 1970’s. The musical score from Quincy Jones also makes the tension going while also adding heart to the human drama.

The casting is also spot on with top notch performances all over the board. Gregory Peck (Cape Fear, To Kill a Mockingbird) could play this type of everyman in his sleep. He gives David an uneasy bite, where any scene can lead to violence. Diane Baker (Marine, William Castle’s Straight Jacket) is an underrated actor and it’s for roles like this That this writer wishes she would gain more praise. She is able to balance a femme fatale look with plenty of vulnerable emotions. In the supporting cast we get the brilliant George Kennedy (The Naked Gun, Wacko) as one the ruthless hitmen. Kevin McCarthy (Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Howling) gets a juicy bit part as a slimy executive, and Robert H. Harris (Valley of the Dolls) gets to play a hammy psychiatrist who tells David about his amnesia. But the all the best scene stealing material comes from the great Walter Matthau (Charade, The Laughing Policeman).

Kino Lorber brings Mirage to Blu-ray with an impressive 1080p HD Transfer. The black levels are sharp with minor print damage. There is some nice natural film grain and spot on focus. The English 2.0 DTS-HD MA Audio is also spotless with no hiss or pops. English subtitles are included.

The main extra is a commentary with film historians Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell, and Mondo Digital’s Nathaniel Thompson. The track is breezy and fun to listen to. Even if it goes off topic way too often. I loved the connections made to other 60’s thrillers and the screenplay by Peter Stone. There is also a lovely interview with actress Diane Baker who remembers the film fondly. Rounding out the extras is a still gallery and the original theatrical trailer.

Mirage is one hell of a tight thriller and essential viewing for cinefiles. Highly Recommended!