The Public Eye

This attempt to make a full-fledged film out of a tiny stage anecdote falls flat. That it was expanded by the play's author, award-winning Peter Shaffer (AMADEUS), produced by the legendary Hal Wallis (CASABLANCA, plus), and directed by one of England's greatest directors, Sir Carol Reed (ODD MAN OUT) sends the imagination reeling. The one-act play had a respectable run in London as a double bill with "The Private Ear," also only one act. "The Public Eye" later opened in New York in 1963 as a three-character sketch starring Geraldine McEwan as the wife, Barry Foster as the private eye, and Moray Watson as the husband. It lasted a bit longer than six months on Broad...