Allied Artists Puts Modest Foot Forward

Would We Pay To See Twenty Plus Two 1961 Mystery Unfold?

I still don't understand the title, nor much of the picture after watching, though it fascinates at level of a TV mystery blown up to theatre scale. Was it intended, or produced, for the tube, then rerouted by Allied Artists to cinemas? David Janssen was fresh off one series (Richard Diamond), bound for another (The Fugitive). His was unique enunciation that made line readings fresh; we could regret he didn't do more in features, or at least live longer so as to have that opportunity. Twenty Plus Two installs Janssen as man (and in this case) woman hunter in one hotel room after another, forever on telephones tracking witnesses and clues, little of this stimulus toward interest for us. There is something approaching an "all-star" cast, most of them in for a day's shoot, with probably an early quit-time. You'd think this was a Burke's Law episode but for Twenty Plus Two predating that series. Longest arm of coincidence is summoned to tie ends together for a finish, the tale lagging from convoluted to unbelievable. Gerald Fried jazzes up a score to put you right at 60's "Bachelor Pad" address --- I wish there were a CD of it. He had composed for Stanley Kubrick's first three as director, and television since. Twenty Plus Two was notably a last venture for Scott R. Dunlap, directing/producing since the teens and signer-off on more westerns than he likely could count. His was executive producer credit here --- was it Dunlap who talked AA into backing and distribution? Directing Joseph M. Newman had been competently at 20th Fox through much of the 50's, and did legendary This Island Earth as well for U-I. He'd live long enough (age 96) to give enlightening interviews.