Customer Reviews

The Mark - Special Edition

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Stuart Whitman received an Academy Award for his performance as a guilt-ridden child molester. He revealed a sensitivity which was never seen again in his Westerns.

Very fine acting thoughout and well done in that it enables you to empathize with someone who came close to committing an act that would place him in the minds of many people on a lower, more subhuman plane than a cold blooded murderer.
But was this person truly a pedophile? After all, he did not molest the girl child when he easily could have done so, and, if memory serves me correctly, returned her to the place where he abducted her. Moreover, the film suggests that he was moved to commit this act by his feelings of indequacy and inhibition with mature women, not because he really sexually preferred children, or even that he was necessarily attracted that way to children at all. On the other hand, maybe many people in the early sixties thought that men became pedophiles simply because they couldn't cut the mustard with women rather than being fundamentally more attracted to children than adults. One might ask in light of today's knowledge about child molesters whether it is psychologically possible for someone to molest a child primarily out of feelings of inadequacy and inhibition towards mature adults rather than genuine sexual attraction to children? Food for thought.

I have seen this movie once, in a cheap hotel on a business trip, late at night, over ten years ago. I remember it still. The movie covers the offence, treatment and rehabilitation of a paedophile. Be warned, it is not to everyone's taste. I discussed it with friends who were violently opposed to the subject. Me too, but the movie is still riveting - and unique (in my experience). It leaves the final question to answer yourself - can such an offender be cured?

The added bonus of Stuart Whitman's commentary makes this DVD even more enjoyable. He has an easy going style and let's us in on a few tidbits of his life before and after his 7 year contract with Fox. Highly recommended.

Arguably the best performance of Stuart Whitman's career, one wonders why he didn't win the Oscar for his sensitive portrayal. A film that leaves one thinking long after the closing credits.

Here's a little known gem, which every B-movie fan should see!