Christopher Gill is a psychotic killer who uses various disguises to trick and strangle his victims. Moe Brummel is a single and harassed New York City police detective who starts to get phone calls from the strangler and builds a strange alliance as a result. Kate Palmer is a swinging, hip tour guide who witnesses the strangler leaving her dead neighbor's apartment and sets her sights on the detective. Moe's live-in mother wishes her son would be a successful Jewish doctor like his big brother.
Rod Steiger
as Christopher Gill
Lee Remick
as Kate Palmer
George Segal
as Morris Brummel
Eileen Heckart
as Mrs. Brummel
Murray Hamilton
as Inspector Haines
Michael Dunn
as Mr. Kupperman
Martine Bartlett
as Alma Mulloy
Barbara Baxley
as Belle Poppie
Irene Dailey
as Mrs. Fitts
Doris Roberts
as Sylvia Poppie
Nutshell
Rod Steiger's performance as a twisted serial strangler is the best thing about this tongue-in-cheek cat and mouse thriller from director Jack Smight. The laughs center mostly around detective Morris Brummel (George Segal) and his domineering mother (Eileen Heckart). Lee Remick is there mostly for s...