With a bit more directorial restraint, the film could have been a classic -- as is, the uniformly excellent performances make it a case history of four strange persons.

It is very well done.

Wallach as the vengeful Vacarro plays it to the hilt. Malden is cast to perfection and turns in a socko performance.

A movie so contentious that it was banned in a few countries, pulled in several U.S. cities, and denounced by the Archbishop of New York, who forbade his flock from seeing it "under pain of sin" (now there’s a pull quote for the ads!).