Written and directed by Terence Fisher, co-written by Paul Tabori, based on the novel of the same name by William F. Temple. A young man, in love with a woman who can never be his, discovers a way to fulfil his dreams. Having discovered a method of duplication, he decides to make an exact replica of the woman he cannot have. Starring: Barbara Payton, James Hayter, Stephen Murray, John Van Eyssen, Percy Marmont, Kynaston Reeves, Edith Saville and John Stuart.
Unquestionably, anyone with a lick of common sense will know that duplicating the woman of your dreams because you can’t have the original, is never going to end well. So, Four Sided Triangle is asking you to suspend quite a lot of disbelief to let this story play out. Part of why it’s asking so much is because the progression is unbalanced. It spends far too much time building up to the crux of its plot and not enough time letting the consequences and chaos take hold. It’s a very British way of approaching this story by basically removing almost all of the conflict.
While it does feel as though it shoots itself in the foot with the writing side of things, it does still put together a great film visually. It has all the old-school, mad scientist vibes and they make some great sets which is so often missing in cinema today. It’s less sci-fi and more romance, or anti-romance might be more appropriate as this is basically the definition of an unhealthy attachment. Despite that, a touch of sexism and a patronising tone when repeatedly saying they won’t explain the science because it’s far too complicated for others to understand. Which is the classic film cheat code for not having to make up jargon or research scientific principles. It does still manage to build up a decent amount of charm.
A big part of that is the cast, the characters may be highly questionable, but the performances are solid throughout. James Hayter is a particular highlight, he has a father-like presence and an unwavering dedication to these young men and their cause. He absolutely should not be encouraging them at all but he has such a warmth, you forgive him for his short-sightedness. Stephen Murray also gets a lot of credit for not making his character dislikable despite his gigantic ego, he presents Bill in a way that’s not malicious, which he easily could have been interpreted as. While Barbara Payton adds a sweetness and generosity.
Four Sided Triangle is worth the watch if you’re a fan of classic and Hammer films but it’s asking you to look past a few too many details. The plot is a foregone conclusion with a fair number of holes in it, although it is still enjoyable. There’s a strong cast at work who feel utterly British and the visual doesn’t disappoint. It’s just a shame it spent so much time building up to the key plot point instead of delving into the mayhem that could have ensued. It surprisingly spends more time on mental health than anything sci-fi related.
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