Inquisitive journalist Grace Collier is horrified when she witnesses her neighbor, fashion model Danielle Breton, violently murder a man. Panicking, she calls the police. But when the detective arrives at the scene and finds nothing amiss, Grace is forced to take matters into her own hands. Her first move is to recruit private investigator Joseph Larch, who helps her to uncover a secret about Danielle's past that has them both seeing double.
Direction
De Palma's split-screen climax is pure cinematic showmanship.
Score
Herrmann's shrieking strings—his last, and possibly wildest.
Acting
Margot Kidder's dual performance: innocent and terrifying.
Director
Brian De Palma
Margot Kidder
Danielle Breton / Dominique Blanchion
Jennifer Salt
Grace Collier
Charles Durning
Joseph Larch
William Finley
Emil Breton
Lisle Wilson
Phillip Woode
Barnard Hughes
Arthur McLennen
Mary Davenport
Mrs. Collier
Dolph Sweet
Detective Kelly
Olympia Dukakis
Louise Wilanski
Art Evans
African Room Waiter (uncredited)
Justine Johnston
Elaine D'Anna (uncredited)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Bernard Herrmann composed the score for $5,000—his final before dying two months after recording. De Palma personally financed it when the studio refused.
The 'fictional' game show 'Peeping Toms' parodies Candid Camera, which De Palma had actually worked on. The film's voyeurism theme? Autobiographical.
US
