The Fun Couple

"Sue Ann," says the clean-cut lad to his pretty blonde companion, "it's been quite a week. I met you on Monday, I fell in love with you on Tuesday, I was unfaithful on Wednesday, we killed a guy on Thursday--and the week isn't even over yet." By the time the week, and Pretty Poison ends, the young man is in stir, Sue Ann is answering some rather pointed questions from the police, and the viewer will have seen one of the nicest, nastiest little crime films to come out of Hollywood in years.

The plot is a strangely appealing blend of whimsy and nightshade. Dennis Pitt (Anthony Perkins) is a paranoid, intrigue-minded young wanderer who has convinced himself that a local factory is polluting the river and poisoning the entire population. With the help of a naive drum majorette (Tuesday Weld), he grandiosely plots to foil the sinister scheme. Their plans, of course, go haywire; so do they. The girl carelessly murders a nightwatchman at the factory, and discovers that killing is not only much less strenuous than high school band practice, it is--for her--much more fun besides. Perkins initially has his doubts that homicide can be just a joyride, but Tuesday leads him on to even more glorious heights: together, they gun down her henna-rinsed virago of a mother (Beverly Garland) and light out for Mexico.

Far better than the average crime film, Pretty Poison takes a sly, jaundiced look at swinging youth and the pervasive American climate of violence.

Tony Perkins gives his best film performance since Hitchcock's Psycho (1960), while Tuesday Weld again demonstrates that, with good material and good directing, she has an uncommon flair for roles of curdled innocence.

Like the film itself, which was co-produced by the youthful duo of Marshal Backlar, 32, and Director Noel Black, 31, Tuesday's performance is a modest but pleasant surprise.

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