J'Ennui

As someone who works on movie and TV productions, on the set, often in the sound department, I can safely say that the reason "montre-1" saw mics in so many shots was due to the projectionist. He or she failed to position the film correctly, so that the frame was matted properly. During production, there is a "safe" zone outside the intended frame, and it acts as a buffer of sorts, or a warning zone for the camera operator. He or she can see if a microphone (or lights, or other crew people, etc.) is close to the "real" frame.

The fact that you saw mics in the shots of the trailers shown before the movie further illustrates how the projectionist was not doing his/her job properly. Believe me, this is how films have been made and shown for a very long time, so don't blame the technicians.

I, too, saw this on my L.A. ABC station as "A Cold Night's Death", when I was a teenager. I was really caught up in it -- the tension, the atmosphere, the mystery. And the ending was great, at least at that time. All of this was attributable to several factors, including the writing, directing, acting, sets, and sound effects. I wonder how I'd react if I saw if for the first time now?

By chance, I worked with the director, Jerrold Freedman, many years later. At one point during that harried shoot, I managed to tell him how much of an impression this movie had made on me. Obviously so, since his name stuck in my head over the decades between.

Here's another person strongly urging the release of this obscure gem on DVD, perhaps now, while it's still winter!

When I first saw this movie, during its initial release, I was stunned at how powerful and moving it was. Every aspect of it is outstanding, and the score is one of the most haunting, evocative musical works ever done in cinema history. It was composed by the late, great Jack Nitzsche (who worked with a lot of Vietnam era rock'n'roll's best). I took a friend to see it a second time, but he wasn't taken with it. Our friendship didn't last, by the way...

I've often thought back on it over the years, and have mentioned it to numerous people, most of whom haven't seen it, or don't even recognize the title. I saw Lisa Eichhorn on a recent episode of "Law and Order: CI" (she's apparently done a lot of L&O's), and I instantly flashed-back to "Cutter's Way". As others here have written, she gave a phenomenal performance in this film, as did John Heard and Jeff Bridges.

Although I never read the novel it was based on, and can't find it (it's out of print), it's probably just as well. This may be one of those very rare instances where a novel might be a disappointment in comparison to the movie version.

I plan to buy the DVD of this movie ASAP, whether or not it has any "extras".