I always thought of Roman Polanski as the second incarnation of Alfred Hitchcock. Like Hitchcock, he has the uncanny ability to project flawless and edge-of-your-seat suspense from absolutely nothing. He is a man however that bases much of his films on personal trauma. He was born into the Holocaust in which his mother died. And later with his film career established, was a victim of his Wife's murder by the notorious 1970s cult criminal Charles Manson and his band of supporters. It is following his wife's bloody and traumatizing death that he turned to sadistic, paranoid and frantic style film making. Dark, gloomy, alienated and violent worlds compose his films which have their own recognizable look and feel Polanski is famous for. 'Frantic', I believe was Polanski's heart and soul and definitive film. The whole atmosphere the film ejects feels so personal in contrast with Polanski's real life experience.
It begins with a sad European score composed by the great Ennio Morricone, in a time when it's supposed to be a happy business trip for Dr. Richard Walker and his wife Sondra who have also come to relax and explore Paris, the city they both shared on their honeymoon. They check into an expensive hotel in the early hours of the morning, eager to refresh and rest following a long, difficult flight. Everything seems at ease and subtle until Richard finds that the luggage they picked up at the airport isn't theirs. Proceeding a phone call to the airport regarding the error, Richard decides a shower is most appropriate to loosen him up. What follows is the most devastating experience he'll ever fall victim to. A phone call. Sondra picks up. Sondra says something, but is unheard due the thudding shower. Sondra leaves. A bell rings. "Sondra, can you get that honey?" Richard repeatedly yells. Coming out of the shower and opening the door, he is presented with breakfast and no sign of Sondra. Richard is then awoken a few hours after this in his bed and breakfast again with no sign of his wife. He is informed by a bellhop that his wife sent up a few different things from the lobby. Richard gets dressed and heads down to the lobby, informing staff Sondra has gone and it's unknown of her whereabouts. No messages. No letters. No phone calls. No sign of life. He then frantically heads outside. What follows is the most mentally exhausting search for his wife as he questions ordinary people, contacts bureaucratic French heads of security and police, clashes with American Embassy officials and finally finds the owner of the Luggage he picked up at the airport - a beautiful Parisian girl named Michelle who's involved with drugs and the underground with half the answers - leading him to uncover an international conspiracy. They both must elude stalkers, detectives, the police and the intelligence agencies in order to come closer to the truth behind his wife's disappearance.
The suspense this film manages to emulate is so natural, because the situations are so real. Harrison Ford's portrayal of Richard Walker is a 'tour-de-force' and perhaps one the most realistic performances you'll ever see. The emotion and frustration he encompasses involves the audience to such a level, the audience themselves become as 'Frantic' as the name of the film implies. You empathize with him all the way through. You understand everything he is going through. The feeling of being in a foreign country, of being completely helpless, where absolutely nobody can help you - alienated. Harrison Ford's delivery is what makes him such a unique actor. In my opinion, he is one of few actors in the world we can relate to when watching his films. Seeing this film for the first time, I noticed parallels between Ford's character Richard and Roman Polanski. They have suffered very similar trauma. The longing for the loved one. The loss of his wife. The lengths at which he would go to save her life had he the chance. Clearly Polanski's real life experiences inspired him to make this masterpiece. His brilliant direction suggests he put his heart and soul into its creation. Emmanuelle Seigner, Polanski's late wife, portrays her Parisian girl role to perfection. She is so beautiful, and her presence adds a European authenticity to the film.
The film's music is the most important in creating a sense of place. Ennio Morricone's suspenseful soundtrack accompanies the film with many poignant moments. However, it is Grace Jones' famous song 'Strange' that gives the film its indisputable authenticity in creating a genuine Parisian feel to the gloomy and frustrating atmosphere Polanski so vividly brings to the screen.
'Frantic' is unfortunately one of the most forgotten works in Polanski's long film making career. Upon its release in theaters, the box-office wasn't kind and people quickly forgot about it. However it did find life on Video and Television. I hope more people will discover this true masterpiece which I personally believe to be Polanski's definitive work. No director in the world can so masterfully portray lonely, alienating worlds in which our complete sense of hope is erased. Unfortunately, his unique style and direction are influenced by personal trauma, but he has delivered some of the most influential psychological thrillers in the history of the art - even Alfred Hitchcock would have agreed.
It begins with a sad European score composed by the great Ennio Morricone, in a time when it's supposed to be a happy business trip for Dr. Richard Walker and his wife Sondra who have also come to relax and explore Paris, the city they both shared on their honeymoon. They check into an expensive hotel in the early hours of the morning, eager to refresh and rest following a long, difficult flight. Everything seems at ease and subtle until Richard finds that the luggage they picked up at the airport isn't theirs. Proceeding a phone call to the airport regarding the error, Richard decides a shower is most appropriate to loosen him up. What follows is the most devastating experience he'll ever fall victim to. A phone call. Sondra picks up. Sondra says something, but is unheard due the thudding shower. Sondra leaves. A bell rings. "Sondra, can you get that honey?" Richard repeatedly yells. Coming out of the shower and opening the door, he is presented with breakfast and no sign of Sondra. Richard is then awoken a few hours after this in his bed and breakfast again with no sign of his wife. He is informed by a bellhop that his wife sent up a few different things from the lobby. Richard gets dressed and heads down to the lobby, informing staff Sondra has gone and it's unknown of her whereabouts. No messages. No letters. No phone calls. No sign of life. He then frantically heads outside. What follows is the most mentally exhausting search for his wife as he questions ordinary people, contacts bureaucratic French heads of security and police, clashes with American Embassy officials and finally finds the owner of the Luggage he picked up at the airport - a beautiful Parisian girl named Michelle who's involved with drugs and the underground with half the answers - leading him to uncover an international conspiracy. They both must elude stalkers, detectives, the police and the intelligence agencies in order to come closer to the truth behind his wife's disappearance.
The suspense this film manages to emulate is so natural, because the situations are so real. Harrison Ford's portrayal of Richard Walker is a 'tour-de-force' and perhaps one the most realistic performances you'll ever see. The emotion and frustration he encompasses involves the audience to such a level, the audience themselves become as 'Frantic' as the name of the film implies. You empathize with him all the way through. You understand everything he is going through. The feeling of being in a foreign country, of being completely helpless, where absolutely nobody can help you - alienated. Harrison Ford's delivery is what makes him such a unique actor. In my opinion, he is one of few actors in the world we can relate to when watching his films. Seeing this film for the first time, I noticed parallels between Ford's character Richard and Roman Polanski. They have suffered very similar trauma. The longing for the loved one. The loss of his wife. The lengths at which he would go to save her life had he the chance. Clearly Polanski's real life experiences inspired him to make this masterpiece. His brilliant direction suggests he put his heart and soul into its creation. Emmanuelle Seigner, Polanski's late wife, portrays her Parisian girl role to perfection. She is so beautiful, and her presence adds a European authenticity to the film.
The film's music is the most important in creating a sense of place. Ennio Morricone's suspenseful soundtrack accompanies the film with many poignant moments. However, it is Grace Jones' famous song 'Strange' that gives the film its indisputable authenticity in creating a genuine Parisian feel to the gloomy and frustrating atmosphere Polanski so vividly brings to the screen.
'Frantic' is unfortunately one of the most forgotten works in Polanski's long film making career. Upon its release in theaters, the box-office wasn't kind and people quickly forgot about it. However it did find life on Video and Television. I hope more people will discover this true masterpiece which I personally believe to be Polanski's definitive work. No director in the world can so masterfully portray lonely, alienating worlds in which our complete sense of hope is erased. Unfortunately, his unique style and direction are influenced by personal trauma, but he has delivered some of the most influential psychological thrillers in the history of the art - even Alfred Hitchcock would have agreed.