Dark Purpose
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
George Marshall
Shirley Jones
Rossano Brazzi
George Sanders
Georgia Moll
Micheline Presle
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Art appraiser Raymond Fontaine and his secretary, Karen Williams, visit the clifftop villa of Count Paolo Barbarelli in Ravello to appraise his art treasures. They meet Cora, a 19-year-old girl who lost her memory in a skiing accident some years before; Paolo claims her as his daughter. Karen and Paolo fall in love, but Cora begs Paolo to send Karen away. Karen, attempting to win Cora's friendship, brings her a gift of a Christmas tree, and, while they talk, Cora's mind clears temporarily. She reveals that she is really Paolo's wife and that he is using her family's money to buy art treasures, but Paolo arrives before she can produce documentation to prove her story. Paolo tells Karen that Cora's story is only a fantasy of her disturbed mind. Next morning, Cora is found dead at the foot of the cliff, and though the police attribute the death to suicide, Karen finds Cora's shawl nearby; moreover, caught in the shawl is a cufflink from a set given Paolo by Karen. Through a secret passage, Karen finds the other link in Cora's bedroom and also discovers the passport and birth certificate that prove the truth of Cora's story. Later, while Karen is struggling with the murderous Paolo in the garden, Paolo's savage watchdog lunges at her back, causing Paolo to fall into the fountain. Though Karen tries to rescue him, the vicious dog prevents her from getting near his master, and she is forced to stand by helplessly while Paolo drowns. Fontaine arrives in time to witness the end of the incident.
Director
George Marshall
Cast
Shirley Jones
Rossano Brazzi
George Sanders
Georgia Moll
Micheline Presle
Charles Fawcett
Crew
Balestra
Steve Barclay
Steve Barclay
Paul Baron
Paul Baron
Italia Cambi
Giancarlo Cappelli
Federico D'avack
Massimo D'avack
Kurt Doubravsky
Franco Ferrara
David P. Harmon
Harvey Hayutin
Angelo Francesco Lavagnino
Frank Marchione
Gabor Pogany
Tommaso Sagone
Vittorio Sala
Euclide Santoli
Massimo Tavazzi
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Opened in Rome in 1964 as L'intrigo. According to some Italian sources, Vittorio Sala directed under George Marshall's supervision; other sources credit Marshall as director of U. S. version and Sala as director of Italian version. An Italian source credits David P. Harmon, Massimo D'Avack, and Steve Barclay as screenwriters and D'Avack with adaptation; elsewhere Harmon is credited as author of screenplay for U. S. version and D'Avack as author of Italian version.
Miscellaneous Notes
Released in United States 1964
Released in United States 1964
