All language subtitles for The Glass Cage 1955

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

"Pel Palam," opening soon

with "Storfing Man Act."

Peter, you haven't eaten

one mouthful of breakfast.

Now drink up your milk

before you're late for school.

But I just started training.

Bet I could go longer than him without

eating, especially milk.

Don't argue with your mother, Peter.

Suppose you start training on getting

better marks at school.

Yes, sir.

Morning, darling.

Beautiful as ever.

Good.

Now, no nonsense if you

want your best pants pressed.

Yes, mother dear.

There's a boy at school eats goldfish.

He does?

Well, never you mind.

But he does.

I thought I told you to

stick to your school books.

Here, run on now.

You'll be late.

And kiss your mother goodbye.

Oh, all right.

I wish I was a starving man.

Peter.

What harm is there to let

him look through it, pal?

Maybe you don't know, but

he's pretty proud of you.

I know.

I'm happy that he is.

But I want him to live on what he learns

from books, not his wits.

I don't want him outside

the world always looking in.

I don't want him to be an outsider.

Well, if you have to go

around feeling sorry for yourself,

at least put your best pants on.

And don't you ever forget one thing.

We both love you.

You both think you're

something pretty special.

Jenny.

Now get dressed and find out what Tony

Lewis wants to see you about.

It's not everybody who has a

bookmaker for an old friend.

He might even give you

a tip for a sure winner.

Then you could rent that place you found

for your starving man to starve in.

I know.

And he'd tell me he was

tired of his bookmaking business

and turned the whole thing over to me.

Better pack your clothes, honey.

We're going on a trip around the world.

Pal, I'm serious.

Your luck is going to change.

It will.

I know it will.

Why am I such a lucky guy?

I don't care if you've

got 10x watch to support.

That's your headache.

If you're also one, you'd have been up

here like a streak of

lightning to collect.

Happy Johnson wants to

know about your recovery.

The house has been on wait.

3.30 yet.

Governor said you're unhappy.

You made a bet and lost

and I expect to get paid.

Fix a couple of drinks, pal.

Sure, Tony.

Whiskey.

[INTERPOSING VOICES]

We'll borrow it from one of your

ex-wives, your future wife.

Whoever's stuck with

you now, I don't care.

Get that money up here, but tonight.

Tomorrow, tomorrow.

Well, happy high income tax.

Treasury loves me with all the loyalty of

an out of work relative.

Not that I'm complaining, mind you.

It takes very little to make people happy

these days, only money.

How's Jenny?

Fine.

Boy?

Fine.

I'm fine, too.

So is the weather.

Look, Tony, you didn't call me

over here to ask me all this.

What's really on your mind?

Harry, close him.

I'll carry you around.

I got troubles, pal.

You're still the only one I can trust.

Tony Lewis, Esquire.

Darling Tony, I must see you.

It's very important.

Believe me, it's for your own good.

Dolores.

It's a pretty name.

Smells pretty, too.

Mm, like poison.

That one's meek and mild, but the others

put the bite on and bit so

hard, I need a transfusion.

[CRUNCHING] [CRUNCHING] [CRUNCHING] [CRUNCHING] [CRUNCHING] Why don't you send her

off to some nice quiet place

in the country for a long vacation?

Because good old Tony is the softest

touch in the business.

A regular charity institution.

And sweet little Dolores has got me right

by the bank account.

And does she know it?

Boy, I used to think she was a nice kid.

I even liked her.

I could stop it.

I've handled that kind before. But I'm going to get married, pal.

What?

Tony Lewis getting married?

Good.

I didn't know.

Perhaps I'm climbing

into a class over my head

marrying Susan.

I don't know.

I never thought I'd ever

get to meet a girl like her,

much less marry her.

I dare not go to the

police and yell blackmail.

I might lose her.

Maybe you're right.

To think that I was

mugging enough to fall

for the oldest gag in the world. I'm not going
to get married. I'm going to go to the police and yell

for the oldest gag in the world.

You're a big business now, Tony.

Lots of people may want to get their

hands in your pockets.

For Victoria Court.

She must have just moved.

I go there a lot.

I have a friend that lives there.

Maybe he knows this Dolores girl.

Look, I'll go there

and have a talk with her.

If she really needs the money, pal.

I'll let you know.

Okay.

That's what friends are for.

What are you doing now?

I've got the greatest act I ever had.

Found the best spot in London to open in.

Only no money to open with.

Relax, pal.

I know the signs.

Is it a good bet?

If I had 300 of my

own, I'd risk 200 of it.

That's good enough for me.

I got a check.

Bill Pelham, 250.

250?

50 extra working expenses.

Gives me a better chance of getting my money back. Why don't you give up the freaks on

one-night stands and come in with me?

We had some good

years together, remember?

Fresh haircut every week.

Suits pressed all the time.

I like being my own boss, Tony.

I like freaks.

I'll pay you back for this, Tony.

Sure, pal.

Thanks.

I'll pay you
back for this, Tony.

Sure, pal. Thanks. Thanks again, Tony.

Paid in the order of

Pel Pelham, 250 pounds.

Signed, sealed, and delivered.

Tony Lewis.

Not bad.

Good old Pearl fell in and came out

smelling just like money.

Why is it this time?

Alone?

Pay off?

Brock, you're so used to your nose being

buried in dirt, fresh air, it killed you.

Quite a sense of humor.

You will not find anywhere that has the

character, the tradition.

But what fantastic beggars

figure all this can be had.

No.

No?

I don't want to buy.

You don't want to buy?

No, I want to rent.

You want to rent?

And then I want to build.

Build?

Exactly.

Exactly what?

A tent.

A tent?

Yes, and inside that tent,

a tomb, a huge glass tomb.

Don't say it, friend. I

know what you're thinking.

But inside that tomb is a man, a man of

flesh and blood like you and me.

But that man is going to starve.

Why?

Right here on this very spot.

He will begin an attempt to smash his own

mighty world record for starvation.

Henri Sapolio, world

champion starving man.

Fifty days in Paris, fifty-five days in

Berlin, sixty days in Copenhagen,

sixty-five days in Los Angeles.

And right here on this very spot, he will

attempt to starve for seventy whole days.

Think of it, my friend.

One thousand six hundred and eighty

hours, day and night.

Why there'll be such a path beat across

these stones and rubble,

the weeds will be trampled flat and no

price will be too

great for its possession.

Yes, I...

Friend, I tell you what I'm going to do.

I'm going to cut you in on

this little deal with me.

I'm going to make you my partner.

Oh, I...

Of course, I could

offer you the money, but...

Well, that would only insult you.

Partner, how does this sound?

This land donated through the generosity

and great humanitarian heart of...

...Rutland and company.

Well, I...

No, I insist the honor be yours.

Why, I might even let you help me clear

away some of the rubble.

Oh, but that would be overstepping the

bounds of partnership.

But then there's a

matter of putting up the tent.

We have a big tent up

there with a huge sign reading,

"Pell Tellum Presents Henry Sepolio,

World Champion Starving Man."

Soup! Soup! Not every soup!

Oh, what is so wrong with soup?

Well, it's not the around-the-shoop.

But soup and Monday, soup and Tuesday,

soup and Wednesday, soup

and every day, that's what...

...the answer on the soup!

It's all right when I'm working that I

starve to make a living.

But when I'm not working, how do you

expect me to live when

you make me starve, huh?

Do you think she'd put any money away to

rent a place, any place, so

that I could go back to work?

No, no.

Save, save. Who can save when always the

stomach comes first?

And who spends all the money on food?

Food, and who drinks

all the money on wine?

Wine he must drink, and

always the best he is.

And while I'm locked away inside my tomb

fighting off the pangs of hunger,

where do you think my wife is? In the

kitchen, what do you think she's doing?

Then I tell you, she's cooking!

Boiling away all my heart and money to

feed the empty stomachs of

some empty bucketed people...

...who have been known

while I starve to death!

You see! You see what I am

married to! I am a nervous wreck!

You are a nervous wreck! I am a nervous

wreck! What do you think I

am a nervous wreck? I'm a...

Is this real? Is this good?

It's good anywhere in the world.

Oh, Mama!

Papa!

We are starving again, eh?

Oh, but in luxury!

And dignity!

Pearl, beautiful Pearl, we love you.

How did you do it?

I just have to know the right friend.

Oh, Mrs. Marvelous!

We start right away. I'll get everything

ready. The tomb, advanced publicity, the

posters, everything.

We open as soon as we can. This will keep

the wolf happy until then.

We'll have a party. We'll

celebrate tomorrow night!

I will take care of the money!

Miss Lamar?

Rina. Rina Maroney.

Hello, Belle. How did you find me?

You write a very convincing letter.

Tony's an old friend of mine.

I like your own name better.

When you try to hide, you change a lot of things. I'm not a man. I'm a man. I'm a man. Rina, this isn't like you?

What's the trouble?

And blackmail. Why are you doing this?

Why? Why anything?

Why fall in love? Why do you do that? Why do you do that? Why do you do that? Why do you do that? Why do you do that? Why do you? Why anything?

Why fall in love?

Why get hurt?

Why run away when you

know running doesn't help?

And when you do stop running...

You're so tired.

You're so beat.

You stop thinking.

You don't care.

You find yourself doing

things you can't stop.

Like Tony Lewis, maybe?

Like Tony Lewis, maybe.

I didn't want to write

those letters to spell.

I couldn't help myself.

Somebody make you write this?

Just tell Tony he

shouldn't worry anymore.

That's why I wanted to

see him, to tell him myself.

I'll phone him. It'll

give him a good night's rest.

Does your father know about all this?

No. He's up north with the show.

How's he doing?

I haven't heard.

It's a great show, Maroney Circus.

Your dad gave me my first job.

Why don't you two have

a fight and run away?

I've been crazy, pal.

Listen, Rina.

I'm starting a new show in a few days

with Sepolio, a starving man act.

After it gets going, I'll go up north and

talk to your father.

Soften things up a bit.

The Sepolios live in the

flat right under yours.

We're having a little party

tonight to kind of celebrate.

Why don't you come down

after a while, then I'll...

What do you say?

All right.

Good.

I'll see you later.

Henri, haven't you gone yet?

Hurry any minute. They will be here.

Always here's for getting something.

Always.

No, go get them.

Hello, Rina.

Marie.

Yes, pal?

Marie, I invited someone down to join us,

an old friend of mine.

She lives upstairs, I

hope you don't mind.

It's Papa Maroney's daughter.

She is Papa Maroney's daughter?

Yeah.

It's a long story.

I'm through with you and everything,

everything about you.

Don't try and stop me,

Harry. It won't do any good.

You try and stop me and I'll tell them.

That wouldn't be very grateful of you.

No, I...

I'll tell them, Harry. I'll...

Oh, please.

Oh, no.

Oh, have another drink, Cyril.

No, Henri. If he has more

than one, he gets indigestion.

He gets so sick, he can't swallow the

needles and razor blades.

And he can't even look at

broken glass, can you, Cyril?

That's right, dear.

Sorry, Cyril.

You've sippied slowly, little man. You haven't got the fullness of Sir polio.

You've got the fullness of Sir polio. You've got the fullness of Sir polio. You've got the fullness of Sir polio. Four weeks from now, I will tell you.

Eating chocolate bars outside your tomb.

Then we shall see who has the fullness.

(Laughing)

That Ivan, he's the

happiest Russian I've ever met.

Oh, he's a big baby.

Hello, come here.

Hi, everybody. Oh, Bella, darling.

Sorry, well, lady.

Oh, very bad you can't.

Bertie here got carried away carving out

a brand-new stencil for me.

It's exquisite.

And inspiration.

Show them, Bella.

Sure.

Oh, not that one.

Show them the butterfly.

Ooh. Oh, it's a butterfly. Oh, it's a butterfly. Show them the butterfly.

Ooh.

An exact reproduction.

My first impastor.

Show them the wings, Bella.

I spent four hours on just the wings.

Thanks. I ought to know.

He dragged me out to the

country to get closer to nature.

Wouldn't even let me wear gloves.

Why not have Bella tattooed once and for

all and be done with it?

Don't go putting ideas into his head.

It's one thing being married to Bertie.

Tattooed on top of it? Uh-uh. I pass.

If only a trained hand, all in expert eye

could tell the difference.

Like that serpent.

Straight from the Garden of Eden.

Well, well, well. Just in

time for the floor show.

Nice little collection

you've gathered here, pal.

It was.

Just thought I'd drop by

and take a look at things.

See if there isn't any

scandal or anything, you know?

After all, it's what the circus and

carnival owners leave paying me for.

One of you freaks steps out

of line, gets into trouble.

Down for business.

Just doing my job, you know?

Why don't you drop dead?

Oh, forget it, Mick.

Even his own mother

says she's got no children.

Play something hard.

[music]

Why, Mr. Stanton!

What a surprise to see you here.

This is wonderful.

This'll make a party. Come on right in.

Look, look who I've found,

everybody. Come on, come on.

Mr. Stanton!

Oh, that's very odd.

Harry, darling.

All right. You're a lucky chap.

Oh, my contribution.

Oh, Mr. Stanton, thank

you very much. Thank you.

There's nothing, nothing at

all. Good luck, everybody.

Hello, Bella.

Dear Uncle Harry,

great-mike father of show business.

We're so Columbus of talent.

You call me next week, Bella.

There's a part in a

musical you can do. A dancer.

A real part, Harry. Oh, how wonderful.

[humming]

A tattoo dancer.

Hello, Mick. I got a great

spot coming up for you soon, Nick.

[squeaking]

Well, it's upstairs,

little man. Come here.

I'll show you.

Bring her. Here.

Hi, Mr. Stanton. You all right?

Don't tell me they

invited you to this party.

I'm enjoying my job, Mr. Stanton.

Well, Mr. Stanton, I never...

You never what?

Because you didn't invite me to your

party, you never expected me to show up.

Oh, no, Mr. Stanton. It isn't that. It is

just that I thought you would...

You didn't think I'd accept.

You think I'm so important.

Don't worry, these people are my friends.

Anyway, do you think I'd let you in the

pillow open without

coming to wish you luck?

Not Harry Stanton.

We shall drink to that.

Harry, nice of you to come. I'm sorry we

just forgot to ask you.

Oh, that's all right, Pa.

What did you do at this time? You know, I

think you're the best in the business.

I could build a whole show around you.

Keep you working 52 weeks a year.

I hate to have to make you the richest

agent in show business, Harry.

Well, my door's open to you

at any time, you know that.

Don't you ever get tired listening to

other people's troubles?

I got broad shoulders.

Remember that time you woke me up in the

middle of the night at 3

o'clock in the morning?

The loving cup, and you

shall be the first to drink it.

Come on, everybody!

Even you, Mr. Ork?

First, I'd like to drink to my old

friend, Orreus of Purdue.

A man who makes me feel

proud to be one of you.

Proud to be part of this great little

world of show business.

To you, Orreus, I say good health, long

life, and many great stars.

Oh, upstairs!

Don't touch anything up there!

Where is she?

Hey, girl. She lives upstairs.

Murder, murder, murder.

A sad business, but it's a living.

Come on, boys. As soon as you wrap it up,

get everything over to my office.

Let's go.

Got any angles, sir?

Let's see what Mr. Lewis the bookmaker

has to say about that letter.

Maybe she lost a bet.

Maybe it was the other way around.

Somebody paid her off, that's for sure.

One of you might as

well talk now as later.

That dame felt like she'd been dead at

least two hours when

the mission fell over.

With that party going on down here,

any one of these natures wonders could

have gone upstairs and knocked her off.

That's what I think.

Mr. Ork, isn't it?

If you do all the

thinking, I'd be out of a job.

Mr. Stanton, would you mind, please?

Certainly, Sergeant.

Many more to go, Sergeant.

Many, Mr. Stanton and Mr. Sapolio, sir.

You're free to go now, but we

may want to talk to you again.

Seems like it was a nice party. Too bad.

Anybody like a lift?

How about you, Mr. Pelham?

You asking me or telling me?

Well, how would you like it to be?

In that case, I'll just say my goodbyes.

- Marie? - Pelham.

You must not go inspect until you've

tried one of my kicks.

Oh, thank God.

Here.

When I was going for the olives,

I saw someone at her door.

She let him in.

Who was it?

Well, I'm not sure.

I'm not sure it was so dark.

Marie, don't say anything, not just yet.

You saw nobody understand.

Well, you know something about me.

Maybe I do, but I need a little time.

You do it, just don't say anything.

Marie, I didn't do it. I didn't kill her.

All right.

I saw nobody.

Teddy?

Some little cakes for Peter.

Thanks, Marie.

You've put on a little

weight since I saw you last.

Marriage must agree with you.

Everybody at that

party must have known her.

Some a little better

than others, maybe, huh?

Oh, come off it, man.

A coward was murdered tonight.

One of your own kind. You're a good guy. A coward was murdered tonight.

One of your own kind. Your own people.

Doesn't that mean something to you?

You'll have me crying in a minute.

I did cry myself once, about a year ago.

And they broke into a

flat the other side of town

and found another girl like this one.

Nobody even knew who she

was, where she came from.

I almost did.

But I got there too late.

Maybe if I'd got there 30 seconds soon,

Rayna Maroney wouldn't have been carried

away on that stretcher tonight.

Quite a story. When do I applaud?

No, don't applaud. You've got your word,

and you want to be square with it. I

don't condemn you for that.

But you go places I

don't. You hear things I can't.

You get to know a lot of people. They

talk in front of you.

Look, Linda, you do

your job, I'll do mine.

I could never do your job because I

always be for the underdog.

That can be a dangerous dog sometimes.

(DOOR CLOSES)

Pearl?

(DOOR CLOSES)

Did you have a good party?

Wonderful party.

Well, Marie gave me

some cookies for Peter.

Hello, Marie.

Thanks.

You go back to sleep, dear.

Good night, Pearl.

I love you.

(SIGHS)

Hello.

Hello, Tony. Pearl.

I'd like to ask you a question.

Have you been to Victoria

Court since I saw you last?

No. You said you were...

Another question. Where were

you tonight? I've been calling.

I was out to the evening. Why?

Alone.

What's all this about?

You better get

yourself some answers, Tony.

Not from me, for the

police. They'll be around soon.

What's all this got to do with me?

In case you don't know, I'll tell you.

She's dead. She was murdered tonight.

(TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWING)

(HORN HONKING)

Uh, Mr. Pelham, I want to ask you...

Hello, partner.

Mr. Pelham! Mr. Pelham!

Mr. Pelham!

George, you got your suit out of pawn.

Oh, Mr. Pelham, I thought

I'd better get set up now.

You just have no idea how

many people have come by

and wanted to know what was going on.

You told them, of course.

Oh, but of course. The

couple of them were real cute.

Some asset. She ought to

sell plenty of tickets.

How's her husband doing at the hospital?

He's really got

himself chewed up this time.

Nobody's lying there

worrying about... these tigers.

Thinks they'll forget him.

Fancy worrying about tigers.

Hey, George, you know

about the doctor bit.

What time to come on and everything?

Oh, boss. Yeah, and another thing.

Don't say it.

Not a drop. Not a single drop.

They can't wait.

Put a speaker up there and...

Real cursy layout you've got here, pal.

If we don't open till tonight, Rourke,

you can buy yourself a

ticket then if you want to.

Right now, I'm busy.

Well, pal, that's no

way to talk to a friend

who's just dropped by to do you a favor.

I remember your favors

from the old days, Rourke.

You got me wrong, palley boy.

I just wanted to tip you off.

I've been hearing a

few rumbles around town.

The boy's down at the station and mulling

over a few queer ideas.

You know, such as how

your old friend Tony Lewis

was holding hands with Reena Maroney.

Such as how he had a

little trouble brushing her off.

Wasn't it odd the way I

ran into you that day?

You know, when you were

coming out of Tony Lewis's office

with that check in your hand.

It's a lot of rubbish, isn't it?

But when those boys get stuck on a case,

they're liable to dream up anything.

All right. Sleep well?

All right, Rourke. Why

phone me to meet you here?

Oh, say, I'm a cautious man.

Say, I like public

places for private talks.

But now that's settled,

I'll come to the point.

I'm worried, Harry.

Had a bad case of insomnia last night.

Up all night worrying.

About you.

You made a bad mistake, Harry.

I can't understand how you could do it.

I could cover for you

when it was something simple

like the time with that girl who...

Oh, what do you remember about the girl?

What are you trying to say, Rourke?

There's just some fun

that can't be covered, Harry.

That can't be fixed.

You've got an evil mind, Rourke.

Now, be realistic, Harry.

At your age, the rates

for life insurance go up.

Meaning what?

Meaning last night and Rena Maroney.

Meaning I'm not getting any younger

and I'm thinking of retiring.

You'd better get some

sleep tonight, Rourke.

Of course. Nobody can prove anything.

You've even got a beautiful alibi.

She was dead at least two hours before

you joined the party.

Doesn't make you as very

likely as I suspect, does it?

How lucky can you get?

Of course, I'm only guessing.

But I think it must have

been very lonely for you

sitting up in that room all that time.

With her so cold.

And so dead.

But some things I

don't have to guess about.

Like how a man plays Santa

Claus to a pretty young girl.

And then someone else comes along.

And a girl falls for you.

And a girl lies behind her eyes.

And who finds her?

And who always helps Santa

Claus when he's in trouble?

Me.

Good old Rourke.

All right, Rourke. How much?

I'll let you know.

I thought you'd understand.

Relax, Harry.

The way I figured you're

right at the bottom of the list.

Last.

Now if it had been you,

Harry, standing where I was,

I would have pushed.

Bye, Harry.

Opening tonight, R.E. Sapolio.

The world's greatest starving man.

He will not eat for 70 whole days.

Sapolio, world's champion fasting man.

Locked up in a glass tomb.

Opening tonight, R.E. Sapolio.

Common C.R. is the most dramatic, the

most startling event ever to take place.

It will be my privilege

to bring you face to face

with the greatest attraction in the

history of show business.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen,

nailed up in a glass tomb.

The sinister of all eyes.

You all know Webster

says that sinister means

the center of attraction.

The main event, the thing watched.

In this case, that means Sapolio.

Unable to escape, unable to make a single

move without being watched.

Making each and every

one of you the sole judge

of whether or not he'll carry out his

grim task to the final end.

And I advise you not to

wait, ladies and gentlemen.

Get your tickets now.

Be among the lucky ones

who will have the privilege

and the thrill of meeting Sapolio.

Talking to him, shaking hands with him

before he steps into his living tomb.

Step right up, ladies and gentlemen, have

the thrill of a lifetime.

Oh, madam, you and your

little boy will be my guests.

Though I will be dust someday,

he will have the privilege of telling his

grandchildren that he's slaughtered.

Louis, step aside. Let the

lady and the little boy in.

Yes, sir.

Think of it, my friends.

Imagine yourselves without food for one

day, two days, three days.

Imagine yourselves struggling against the

first terrible pangs of hunger.

Telegram's come in

from all over the world.

Berlin, Rome, New

York, Paris, Los Angeles.

Teaching you of this great attraction,

which we're about to see,

with a small sum of...

Here he comes now, ladies and

gentlemen, the great Sapolio.

(CROWD CHEERING)

He's brought this man

into a self-sought prison.

So hurry, hurry, hurry.

Get your tickets and step inside.

The greatest fast of the

century is about to begin.

Chance of a lifetime.

So hurry, folks, hurry.

Get your tickets.

See Sapolio, world's

champion starving man.

Harry, how nice of you to come.

- The man's attached to class. - Well,

we're just on our way to a theater,

but we couldn't go on without

stopping by to see you open.

Yeah, even more tickets.

Besides, the girls were curious to see

what a starving man looked like.

They never saw one before.

No, I don't imagine they ever have.

Well, I've got to get

on with the show, Harry.

Thanks again for

coming. I'll see you inside.

All right, pal. Good luck.

No tickets, sir.

Thank you.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

I now present to you...

Henri Sapolio, the

greatest enigma of all time.

Now, Henri Sapolio, in the presence of

these ladies and gentlemen,

I ask you to solemnly declare that you

allow yourself to be

imprisoned in this glass tomb

and that you undertake the task of

starving for 70 days at your own peril.

I do so declare.

Doctor, would you

examine Sapolio now, please?

Would you make room

for the doctor, please?

Now, ladies and gentlemen, why don't you come up to the room?

Now, the doctor is giving Sapolio his

final checkup, and to

prove there's no deception,

I'd like to ask several members of the

audience to step up to the tomb, please.

Step right up, please.

You're a YouTube gentleman,

madam. Come right up, please.

I'd like you to examine the bed, examine

Sapolio's dressing chamber, his suitcase.

As a matter of fact, you may even search

Sapolio to see that there's no food of

any kind hidden on his person.

Go right in, please.

Thank you very much.

Now, ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to

tell you about the soda water upon which

Sapolio will subsist.

Swish soda water, ladies and gentlemen,

the finest that money can buy.

The Park Avenue cigarettes, the starving

man's favorite smoke.

And last but not least, the

Sleep-a-Beauty Bed and Mattress upon

which Sapolio will

slumber during his fast.

Thank you.

There, you see?

No deception.

Thank you very much.

No deception, whatever.

As a matter of fact, standing among you

is a gentleman from Scotland Yard.

Evening, Inspector. We've asked them here

to keep a friendly eye on us.

And now, Doctor?

He's in perfect condition.

Thank you.

Now, my friends, the moments

you've all been waiting for.

With your permission, we will seal

Sapolio into his glass tomb.

Are you ready, Henri Sapolio?

Yes.

Goodbye.

Goodbye, Sapolio.

Good luck.

Seal him up.

Now, ladies and gentlemen, the first nail

sealing Sapolio into his glass tomb.

Will be driven by Ivan the Terrible, the

strongest Russian in the world today.

The White Russian, of course.

Ivan and his White Russian Cossacks will

open a week from tonight

at the London Palladium.

Ladies and gentlemen, the star is on.

Do you think he'll make it, do you?

Well, we can only hope for the best.

Want more chocolate?

A clout, that's what you'll get.

Now, turn round and watch

the man starve like a good boy.

Cigarette, Doctor?

Thank you, sir. Thank you.

You still on the wagon, Doctor?

Oh, certainly, sir. Most certainly.

These old lips of mine,

taken to water like a duck.

Good.

Very good show, Pelham.

Now, remember, any time you

want to come into my stable.

Why, Harry, darling, you

never told us you had horses.

May I talk to you for

a moment, Mr. Pelham?

Oh, sure, Inspector, right in my office.

Well, we must be off.

We'll miss the curtain.

I'll drop round again, pal.

Any time, Harry. Right this way.

I hope you didn't mind the free plug.

I just couldn't pass up the opportunity.

Doesn't he really do it?

That's what the man says.

And I believe him.

Well, I don't know too

much about these things.

Must have cost you pretty

penny. Was it your money?

Does it make any difference?

Oh, no, nothing like that.

We don't want to solve

this case in a hurry, do we?

It must be that I've got a curious nature.

Like about that check for a little bit. I'm not sure. I'm not sure. It must be that I've

got a curious nature.

Like about that check for

250 that Tony Lewis gave you.

Like about that letter we

found of Raina Maroney's.

You know, the one to Lewis.

And while it crosses my mind,

why you really went to see Raina Maroney?

You read all the statements.

We were old friends.

I'd known her a long time.

That's a quaint coincidence.

Rorke says the same thing

about you and Tony Lewis.

It sure is a small war.

(DOOR CLOSES)

Marvelous, boss, marvelous.

You begin to crowd up again outside.

You'd better go.

Great, boss, just great.

Yeah, great.

Step inside, ladies and gentlemen.

See the starving man.

See the starving man shave.

He is now shaving.

Come right in.

Meet Henry Sapolio, the

most fabulous man of the day.

There's plenty of room

inside, ladies and gentlemen.

See the starving man shave.

What do people write to him about?

Food, mostly from cranks, telling him

he's got no right to do it.

No.

You know something, Governor?

Sapolio starves to keep himself alive.

He thinks if he didn't starve

of him now and then, he'd die.

Why, dear sir?

He's got an eccentric inside.

An eccentric?

How'd it go last night, Terrell?

Fine, Harry, fine.

Look, I'll wait

outside till you're finished.

Nonsense. Just throw me

the sponge over, will you?

Well, pal, what can I do for you?

Well, have a good day. Thank you.

Harry, did you ever run

into Reena Maroney around town

or hear anything about

her before the other night?

Did you, Harry?

There's no secret, yes.

She came out to my office one day.

Said she'd left the

old man. She was broke.

She needed a job. Would I help her?

Well, what can I do?

No, no, since she was a kid.

I didn't ask any questions.

I got her a job in one

of the clubs, chorus.

She gave herself a glamour

name to Laurie something.

Next thing I hear, she's

running around with Tony Lewis.

And they dropped out of circulation.

Poor Maroney.

He worshipped her.

Yeah.

Harry, I'm going to tell you something.

I've known you a long time,

and I think you'll understand.

Yes, pal.

The other night at the party,

Sapolio saw someone

going up to her apartment.

Whoever it was killed her.

Couldn't have been anyone else.

And I know Sapolio.

He'll worry and fret and

rack his brain until...

until the flash of that

face he saw comes back to him.

But I know who it was.

That's what's bothering me.

Who, pal?

I think it was Tony Lewis.

Ah, throw it, pal.

You going to do anything about it?

I don't know.

And that bothers me, too.

He didn't waste much time, did he?

Thanks, Harry.

Anytime, Cone.

All right, friend.

You want your honeymoon to

last, you keep playing it my way.

Oh, and I shall be needing a little money.

A lot of little money. Tonight.

How much?

Five hundred.

All right. Give it to me.

Give it to me, you little...

A man's man. Absolutely mad, I tell you.

He ought to be locked up and put away.

Hello, Dad.

Hi, Peter.

Quite a spread.

Where's your mother?

I don't know.

But came home from

school, and she wasn't here.

I got hungry.

Have some. Tastes good.

No, thanks.

I don't think I feel very well.

Well, I shouldn't think

so. Look what you've eaten.

Come on, now. Off to bed.

But my friend at

school, he eats goldfish.

Help!

Jenny!

Oh, pal.

He kept driving me around and around, and

he kept saying the most awful things.

Who was he?

I don't know. I never saw him before.

He made me sit in the

back. He wore a heavy overcoat.

What did he look like?

I wouldn't know him if he walked in this minute.

I was so frightened, I thought I'd die,

and then I knew I couldn't

stand it any longer, so...

So I just opened the door and jumped out

and kept running and running and running.

It's all right. It's all

right, Jenny. It's all right.

Oh, pal, hold me. Hold me tight.

He talked crazy.

He kept saying what would happen to Peter

if you didn't stay out of things.

Oh, pal, you can't let

anything happen. You can't.

I don't care what you
have to do, where we have to go.

Even if we have to leave now, just a

minute, but don't let

anything happen to Peter.

Tony.

How come you called me?

How come after what happened you didn't

go and see Tony Lewis yourself?

Because if I had after what happened to

my wife, I would have killed him.

I see.

Look, pal, I was

coming over to see anyway.

We picked up Tony Lewis early this morning. He was very dead.

Somebody had made him a present of a

couple of bullets from his own gun.

Tony.

And I thought that...

Yeah, I know.

Seems like we both get strong.

Seems we did.

I admit I needled you. I

deliberately put you on the spot.

I figured it was the only way you'd ever

go trying to dig things up,

and I'd be there at the

right time, and you did.

That puts us right back at the start.

More questions, no answers. Don't worry, pal.

We've made our mistakes.

Now it's his turn.

I couldn't help it.

I didn't know he'd pull a gun. I tried to

get it away from him.

Next thing he forwards against me.

Not all over.

I tried it all right.

The wife picked up the girl.

I thought it was the

only way to stop Pelham.

He'd do anything for

that wife and kid of his.

That's right. He will do anything.

He'll do anything to find out who took his wife for a ride.

He'll do anything to find out who took his wife for a ride. I hope you have a good

night's sleep tonight, Rourke.

One thing.

I don't have to worry about you talking anymore. I'm sorry, Rourke.

I'm sorry. It's not so full, Miss Pelham.

He's not here tonight. I'll take it.

Okay.

[music]

[indistinct chatter]

Four tickets, please.

He's feeling no pain.

Come on.

[phone rings]

Hello?

When?

I'll be right there.

Can you tell me the exact

time you came into the tent?

I wish it was me and not him, Murray.

Yes, but to warn us...

It's all my fault.

If I hadn't taken that one drink, I'd

have heard him breaking out.

I could have stopped him.

Things happen, George. Things happen.

I don't understand.

He was acting up today, sure, but...

Well, that was all part of the show.

Actual cause of death was loss of blood

due to the penetration and severance of the jugular vein by fragrance of blood.

But at the very time he injured himself,

he was already dying of...

Strychnine poisoning.

What are you sure, doctor?

No mistake about it.

The clinical picture is perfect.

Every symptom there.

I wonder...

Could he have starved for 70 days?

Very interesting.

Good night. Boss, if only I hadn't taken that...

Wait a minute, George.

Murray, the doctor

says Henri was poisoned.

But...

Tell me the truth, Mr. Sapolio.

Do you know any way he

could have got some food?

But why? Why should

anyone want to kill my Sapolio?

At the moment the

question isn't why, but how.

Well, once, twice, maybe.

Henri made a tiny little cheat.

A little cheat. A little piece of ham fat

pushed through the letterbox.

No bigger than this.

But, Pearl, I swear it to you.

Henri did not cheat on this stuff.

I swear it to him.

Of course, Murray.

George, take her home.

It had to be someone

who knew about the act.

Someone Sapolio knew well

enough to take food from.

A piece of ham fat, all nice with poison,

passed through the letter slot.

But what if he wasn't dead?

What if we planted a story in the papers

that Sapolio tried to crash

his way out of the glass tomb,

that he's sick in a

coma and can't be moved?

And there's going to

be one worried killer.

He's got to come back to make sure

Sapolio doesn't ever

come out of that coma.

He's got to come back.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the doctors

have examined Sapolio.

They say it may be only a matter of a

short time before he

emerges from his coma.

Then and only then will he be able to tell us what happened, why he did it.

Be there when the starving man opens his

eyes and speaks for the first time.

Hurry, get your tickets

now. Here's Sapolio's speak.

Here's Sapolio's speak.

I want new men in the crowd every day.

Never the same ones twice.

Make them look like part of the crowd.

I don't want them scared off. I don't

want anything to look phony.

Thanks.

Did you...

Did you get anything from Rorkit?

Huh? Cheers.

Have a wonderful day.

What's the matter? You're getting hungry?

Now keep coming.

You'll get a nice new nurse now.

See you on the next shift.

I'm still alive.

If there's anything I can

do, be sure to let me know.

Thanks, Harry. There's nothing.

You sure know. My doctor's one of the

finest specialists.

I'd be glad to call him.

We have the best working on

him. They say he'll pull through.

It's quiet as a hospital out there.

He's earning money, too.

I wouldn't be

surprised if you fixed this.

You know me, Harry.

Anything to bait a sucker.

Oh, Bertie and Bella were

in. They asked me to say hello.

Good. Thanks for coming

around the way you have, Harry.

Makes a guy feel good

when things like this happen.

Well, I'm as anxious

about him as you are.

I wonder what made him do it.

Hunger, probably.

He opened his eyes for a

few seconds this morning.

Looked as if he was going to speak.

He sank back into his coma again.

Mm. It's too bad.

Sandwiches? Remember it may be an on-town

full of starving man who speaks again.

What do you think?

Please move quietly about

the tomb of the starving man.

Keep your voices low when you talk.

As you know, we issue a bulletin on

Sepolio's progress every four hours.

Latest doctor's reports are favorable,

and show the starving man is

holding his own quite well.

And on Sepolio's night,

nurses entering the tomb,

and will be on duty until

6 o'clock tomorrow morning.

And we'd appreciate you telling your

friends who wish to come and see Sepolio,

not to bring their children until after

the starving man has

regained consciousness.

Spared no expense, ladies and gentlemen,

to bring Sepolio the finest

medical care in the world.

That's the modern science.

Terry, stand.

(GUNSHOT)

Harry Stanton.

Greatest heart in show business.

Uncle Harry.

Everybody loved him.

Good luck, pal.

Thanks, Lendley.

I know a lot of people

may not understand, but...

Marie has to eat, and...

Besides, that's the way

Sepolio would have wanted it.

Sure, I understand, sir.

Ladies and gentlemen,

the inside lieutenant.