Saturday, June 29, 2024

Vanishing Act (1986)

Harry Kenyon (Mike Farrell) wanders the streets of a snowy mountain town, clearly looking for a brunette. Eventually, he makes his way to the police station.  There is only a woman playing a flute, who isn't a cop.  However, she does tell him where he might find the chief, Lt. Rudameyer (Elliot Gould).  He tells Rudameyer that his wife is missing.  They are newlyweds and had a fight.  She ran off with the car and he hasn't seen her for a worrying amount of time.  Rudameyer reassures Harry that he'll get on the case.  The following morning, Rudameyer says he hasn't found her yet but he's still looking.  Then, Harry gets a call from a local priest, Father Macklin (Fred Gwynne), who has news of the missing wife, Chris Prescott Kenyon. Harry goes to the church and Father Macklin presents Chris Kenyon (Margot Kidder). "Is this a joke?" Harry demands. "This isn't my wife."  Somehow, every situation paints Harry as a mentally troubled husband and Chris as an innocent.  Rudameyer is clearly convinced that "Chris" is the genuine article, and every witness confirms her story rather than Harry's.  Why is there a grand conspiracy to foist this impostor on Harry? Who is this woman and why is she pretending to be his wife?

An entertaining mystery that has twists and turns. The conclusion is quite good and surprised me when I saw this movie when it originally aired. Of course, watching it now, I see that all was revealed early on.

Good popcorn fun.

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