The Human Voice

There's something peculiar to Bergman's fading beauty and fragile but precise voice that makes this work. I can't imagine any other actress selling it as well. Cocteau's fascination with the contradictions of phone communication makes a captivating antagonist.

Ingrid Bergman is incredible, and her line readings truly extraordinary. When she's not speaking, though, this thing is almost unbearable. The camera work is terrible... couldn't these particular TV folk borrow ANY camera techniques from the movie guys? And the clock-ticking used as mood music is not a happy inspiration.

If you've ever made the claim that you'd watch Ingrid Bergman in anything, even if she were to do solo performance from a script as lifeless as the yellow pages, this TV movie is your chance to validate that statement. Enjoy.