The Visit

A diluted but still effective rendering of the Durrenmatt play
A small impoverished town in Eastern Europe is anxiously awaiting the return of their prodigal daughter (Ingrid Bergman), who left the town penniless and pregnant but is returning as the world's wealthiest woman. The town hopes that Bergman will aid them financially and when she returns she agrees to give the town two million dollars ... on one condition. They execute the man (Anthony Quinn) who wronged her! German director Bernhard Wicki (THE BRIDGE) directs this film adaptation of the stage success by Friedrich Durrenmatt but the film, while effective, considerably diminishes the play's impact by eliminating much of the black humor and watering down the play's nihilistic ending. But it still manages to convey the horror of, what on the surfaces appears a decent small town, morphing into a hotbed of fascist justice. Bergman is marvelous. Tightly wound up and ready to jump out of her skin, seems to relish playing the scorned woman avenging her wrong. Bergman's elegant Rene Hubert...

Fox Home Video needs to Re "Visit" this film on DVD
Why go to the trouble of releasing these films in these horrible pan and scan versions? This isn't VHS here. Films starts in a beautiful widescreen then converts to the old 1.33 ratio. Might as well not even release it as you don't see the whole film in pan and scan. Shame on your Fox Home Video. Take a cue from Warner, they don't do this!

Great drama of the effects of greed
This is a very interesting film on the study of the effects of greed. Both stars give excellent performances. Definitely hold your interest. The movie deserves 5 stars, but this CinemaScope production is shown in a pan and scan version. Does the original widescreen version not exist? Still, it is a powerful film.

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