whirlpool be my fourth taste of classic director otto preminger and and the most disappointing . film like laura and where the sidewalk end and anatomy of a murder have give me a lot of confidence in the director and and this film just can not follow it . whirlpool be often pigeon hole with film noir and but actually it more of a character lead melodrama . the title be very apt and however and a preminger spin a web of intrigue around the central character and and although the film never really give you the impression that it create a whirlpool it often try to . the plot take it main basis from the practise of hypnosis and and it do feel a little odd that a completely serious film be take it central plot idea from a rather strange idea . the plot follow a kleptomaniac who fall prey to a hypnotist after she be caught steal from a shop . it not long before she find herself in the same room a a corpse of one of his previous patient and and before she realise it while she the main subject of a murder investigation and she not even sure if she do it . gene tierney and otto preminger work together on a few film and and the relationship seem to have be a mutually beneficial one . however and here she seem to have be cast on the ground that she be gene tierney and a oppose to because she fit the role . tierney be well in strong willed role that allow her to show her impressive screen persona . although she show some range here and the desperate and vulnerable character doesn not suit her very well while and her leading role in whirlpool isn not one of her best . this be make up for by josé ferrer and who be great in the role of the central villain . his performance be understated and sinister and which give his character a lot of believability . the central threesome be top off by richard conte and who spend most his time chew the scenery . the plot let this film down and a after a good opening half hour the film descend into boredom a we try to discover who really be behind the killing and even though there only ever be one suspect . whirlpool pick up again towards the end and but there too much wrong with it for me to give it the same praise a preminger best film .