After an office party, David Stillwell discovers that he has no memory of certain people, people who should be familiar to him, or of anything about his life from more than two years previously. Then he discovers that the same night his boss, the famous businessman and philanthropist Charles Calvin, committed suicide by jumping out of his office window. Now some violent thugs are out to get him. They work for a shadowy figure known simply as The Major.Interesting, but not compelling. The plot has a Hitchcockian feel to it, but the movie lacks a few things to get into Hitchcock's league. The plot isn't watertight and often feels contrived. Things happen rather conveniently and sometimes without much plausibility. Director Edward Dmytryck doesn't really build the suspense well (Hitchcock was superb at this) and the movie seems to just be on auto-pilot at times.This said, it is reasonably intriguing. Gregory Peck puts in a solid performance as Stillwell though at times seems miscast, especially during the tough-guy scenes. Good supporting cast which includes Walter Matthau and George Kennedy.

This movie certainly deserves to be called an action movie, albeit a 1965 action movie.Gregory Peck stars in this hidden gem, other notables such as Kevin McCarthy ("Invasion of the Body Snatchers"), George Kennedy ("Airport", "Cool Hand Luke"), Walter Matthau ("The Taking of Pelham 123", "Hopscotch") and even a small walk-on by Franklin Cover ("The Jeffersons" TV Series). This is one of five movies that George Kennedy and Walter Matthau overlap on. I like both actors, so this movie got instant extra points.The movie has the tone of a Rod Serling Screenplay. Its very reminiscent in style to "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" or the "Twilight Zone", addressing nuclear war, world peace, civil liberties and other humanistic themes. Its not a cowboy movie where a guy gets shot and the main characters just step over the dead guy.The story revolves around a physiochemist who invents a way to eliminate nuclear fallout and radiation. He realizes that big business will use it to make nuclear bombs get used more since the risk of fallout is what makes nuclear weapons unwise. His dedication to world peace and ending war makes him decide to make the formula disappear. Gregory Peck's character Stillwell finds himself caught up in a case of mistaken identity, somewhat like Hitchcock's "North by Northwest" and confusion. He seems to remember some things very clearly, and other things he can't remember at all as if he had his mind wiped by hypnosis or some foul play. He continues to try and unravel how the events surrounding the disappearance of this formula and the death of a noted leader for world peace have in common. He goes to the police, who are uninterested in the case since he can't remember key elements about himself like where he is from. He goes to a psychiatrist who tells him that his story and symptoms are unbelievable. He then contacts a private detective named Caselle played by Walter Matthau who tries to help him, after Caselle decides that Stillwell's incredible story may be true. All the while a mysterious woman named Shela, played by Diane Baker who seems to know more about Stillwell than he does keeps dropping in, seemingly to keep Stillwell out of (or in) even more serious trouble.The acting is excellent, the story excellent. The ending is a little questionable, but obviously somebody's allegorical message about war or not submitting to authority. Well worth watching.

A man suffering from amnesia must elude killers while trying to remember why he is being targeted. This thriller is a little frustrating to watch because, like the protagonist, the viewer has no clue what is going on for much of the movie. While somewhat intriguing initially, it soon becomes tiresome. When the truth is finally revealed, it is not only stupid and underwhelming but also undermines some of the plot points from earlier in the film. Peck is OK if somewhat dull as the amnesia victim. Baker is alluring as the love interest. Mathau is terrific as a private detective but his role is too brief. The cinematography is drab and the direction is uninspired.

A New York cost accountant realizes his entire existence for the past two years may be a sham, and that his "unconscious amnesia" may be connected to the apparent suicide of a World Peace advocate who fell from a window during a power blackout in the accountant's office building. Peter Stone's screenplay is fun at first, looping itself in knots and causing great consternation for our hero, appealingly played by Gregory Peck. The presentation is stylish, and there's some effective editing throughout (blending together the past with the present), but Stone doesn't play fair with the audience. As bodies (and plot-holes) begin to add up, our expectations for an exciting, satisfying wrap-up are increasingly dimmed. When we finally do get to the denouement, it plays like standard television stuff. Well-dressed and designed picture has excellent location work and a solid supporting cast (despite moments of over-acting). A near-miss. ** from ****