This should definitely be on Top 250.After forging an illustrious career full of critical acclaim, Liv Ullmann is being bestowed with an honorary Academy Award at the 2022 ceremony. Plus, he did so much for Disney that he didn't deserve to be treated this way. His film career ended way too soon, in a time when he was so young and talented and still had so much to give. It's stupid that he was fired just because of acne and just because he reached the curse of growing up. Bobby Driscoll is so amazing in this film that it makes me feel even more sorry for the disgrace his life became later. The music of the film is marvelous, perfect for it. And I love the look of NY in the 40's and all those details showing the city's daily life, such as the Subway trains. But that is just a minor detail, the movie is perfect the way it is and takes many elements from Alfred Hitchcock's work. The only repair it'd deserve is a wee bit larger ending and not so rushed as it is. The final minutes are also extremely tense and a producer of nerves. And then the Kellersons punch him in the face and put him to sleep with chloroform. A particularly frightening moment is when the criminals take Tommy in a taxicab and the kid screams in despair to the taxidriver (who doesn't hear and is unaware of what's going on) and to a police officer (who is fooled by the murderers - they pretend to be Tommy's parents and make the policeman believe that the kid is paranoid). There are some terrifying moments combined with small but significant details that makes them deliciously more sinister. In fact, the movie is very tense, dark, thrilling, intense and creepy. As for the police, it surprises me how incompetent and ignorant they are. All of this makes his good parents seem almost as evil as the Kellersons. To make matters worse, the poor kid is accused of being a liar and even forced to apologize the murderers, locked and left all alone at home (despite begging many times not to be left alone), punished, every time he tries to do something things only get worse for him and ends up at the mercy of the killers. He knows the truth about the homicide he witnessed (commited by the Kellersons, his upstairs neighbors) and desperately tries to make people believe and no one does, not even the police. Bobby Driscoll's cuteness and charm matches the character he portrays: a lively, nice and adorable kid. His eyes are very expressive, as well as his expressions. Plus, the character he portrays is the perfect example of someone who is being sincere but nobody believes because of his habit of making up fantasious stories (although he doesn't do for bad). all stuff that require not only agility but also good physical shape. He climbs up the building's fire escape, runs entire floors (up and down), runs in New York streets. Bobby Driscoll does incredible things in this film. In fact, Driscoll's extraordinary performance as Tommy Woodry earned him a well deserved special Academy Award as the outstanding juvenile actor. All actors are great in their roles, but Bobby Driscoll steals the show. They don't make movies of this quality anymore. It's a suspense noir film, carefully made even in details. The movie is visually simple yet visually fascinating at the same time. The plot is simple, easy to understand yet unpredictable and there isn't a single boring moment. This film is simple yet masterfully done. Many times the most simple things are the best and this very interesting motion picture is a very good example of this. Plus, a movie in black and white is an art form, no matter how "primitive" it might be. It's an excellent piece of cinema, appreciate it for what it is without thinking about its age. It might be very old and in black and white, but I don't care and that fact doesn't bother me at all - it makes perfect sense, considering the generation it is from. It's one of the best movies of all times.
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