The Sniper

A taut psychological police drama has Franz playing a loner who knows that his mental condition makes him a dangerous man. His hostile feelings toward women drive him to kill, but Franz tries to overcome his compulsions by seeking help. He deliberately burns his hand in order to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital. There he finds doctors to be indifferent to his inner turmoil, so he finally gives in to his compulsions. He takes to the rooftops of San Francisco with a rifle, picking off various women with whom he has come in contact. Menjou is a slovenly policeman assigned to find the killer. As he probes into the case Menjou comes to realize these random murders ...