1958SOCIAL ISSUES
DEVELOPS THE THEME THAT NO TWO PEOPLE SEE THE SAME THING OR SITUATION IN THE SAME WAY. DEMONSTRATES THIS CONCEPT BY SHOWING HOW A NUMBER OF PEOPLE VIEW MICHAEL GERARD, AN ARTIST DURING A PROGRESSION OF DRAMATIC EVENTS WHICH CULMINATES WITH A BEAUTIFUL GIRL LYING ON THE COUCH IN HIS STUDIO AND A RED STAINED KNIFE AT HER SIDE. SHOWS HOW PEOPLE REACT DIFFERENTLY TO THE ARTIST IN TERMS OF HOW THEY HAVE BEEN CONDITIONED TO VIEW HIS ACTIONS. CONCLUDES WITH THE ARTIST PRESENTING HIS OWN INTERPRETATION OF HIS BEHAVIOR. FEATURES RICHARD CONTE AND MARTHA VICKERS IN THE LEADING ROLES. COMMUNICATION. PERCEPTION. THE OLD SHELL GAME SCAM. CU OF PEA HIDDEN UNDER WALNUT SHELLS. WHERE IS THE PEA. OPTICAL ILLUSIONS. MEASURING DRAWING OF TOP HAT. SILHOUETTE. IS IT AN ANIMAL? MOVES SHELLS AROUND. ESCHER-ESQUE CUBE DRAWING. DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW. SPILLED INK FROM TIPPED OVER INK BOTTLE. MAN LOOKS AT WOMAN ON COUCH. ARTISTS STUDIO IS A MESS. DO WE ALL SEE THE SAME THING. PEOPLE TALK TO CAMERA. ALL HAVE A DIFFERENT VIEW OF SAME MAN. A LADIES MAN. IN THE CRYSTAL BALLROOM CHECKING OUT OTHER WOMEN WHILE WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND. LUSTS AFTER BEAUTIFUL, RICH WOMAN. CLEANING LADY SCRUBS FLOOR. MOTHER COMES OUT OF KITCHEN WITH BISCUITS. MAN LEAVES HIS DATE TO PICK UP ANOTHER WOMAN. SMOOTH, SUAVE. FRENCH WORKER GIVES HIS OPINION OF MAN. MOTHER SETS UP BREAKFAST TABLE, BUT ADULT SON ARGUES WITH MOTHER ABOUT CORN MUFFINS. CABBIE. CAB DRIVER AT TAXI STOP. MAN RUDE, IN A RUSH. TAXI DRIVER TRIES SOME SMALL TALK. FARE IS UNINTERESTED. TALKS ABOUT THE RACES. SOUND BYTE CLICHE - "SHUT UP" AND "I'D GIVE MY RIGHT ARM". TALKS ABOUT POLITICIANS BEING CROOKS. SHOWS HIS GUN UNDER HIS COAT. CALLS MAN A HOOD. MAN LIGHTS CIGAR. MAN SAYS "GOOD MORNING" AND MAN TOTALLY FREAKS OUT. GRABS MAN BY HIS JACKET. HE ASKS "WHAT IS REALITY". LUNATIC. I DO NOT EXIST. FRIGHTENS LANDLORD. WASHER WOMAN. CLEANING LADY. MAN SLINKS UP THE STAIRS. BEAUTIFUL WOMAN GOES UPSTAIRS. ASKS WHERE ARTIST'S STUDIO IS. WOMAN SCRUBS FLOOR. HEARS WOMAN FIGHTING WITH MAN. HEARS SCUFFLE. SOUND BYTE "LET GO OF ME". CLEANING LADY COMES IN. SCREAMS FOR POLICE. LADY KILLER. CU OF PEOPLE'S EYES. LAUGHS LIKE A MAD MAN. MAN SKETCHES. DRAWING. HE WANTS TO PAINT A TWENTIETH CENTURY MADONNA. NEEDS THE RIGHT FACE. WOMAN AT PAY TELEPHONE. WE HEAR THE STORY FROM THE ARTIST'S POINT OF VIEW. MAN WATCHES WOMAN. SIT DOWN. IN AWE. SHE'S PERFECT. MAN CALLS OVER WAITER. ASKS WOMAN TO POSE FOR HIS PAINTING. MAN GIVES HIS BUSINESS CARD. I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK WITH THE YOUNG LADY A MOMENT. MAN MANIAC, WANTS TO START HIS PAINTING RIGHT AWAY. RUSHES OUT OF THE HOUSE. MOTHER DOESN'T LISTEN TO HIM. CLICHE DIALOGUE. SMALL TALK. MAN SKETCHES IN SMALL DRAWING PAD. THINKS OUT HIS PAINTING. MAN NOT ACTUALLY AS RUDE AS THE CABBIE PERCEIVED HIM. TRYING TO CONCENTRATE. PAYS CABBIE. GETS OUT. MAN HAPPY. BABBLES. IMAGINATION. CU FEET GO UP STAIRS. SKIPPING STEPS. ENTHUSIASM. MAN ROLLS UP HIS SLEEVES GETS READY FOR PAINTING. SCRAPES PALETTE. MODEL COMES IN. SOUND BYTE CLICHE. "MAKE YOURSELF COMFORTABLE". MAN SETS UP EASEL. CANVAS. WOMAN IS TIPSY. COMING ON TO MAN. FLIRTATIOUS. GRABS HIS TIE. SHE WANTS HIM. HE LOOKS AT HER WITH DISAPPOINTMENT. STRUGGLES WITH HER. SHE FALLS ON COUCH. PEOPLE SEE WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE. SOUND BYTE, "A SQUARE".