In a touring Shakespearean theater group, a backstage hand - the dresser, is devoted to the brilliant but tyrannical head of the company. He struggles to support the deteriorating star as the company struggles to carry on during the London blitz. The pathos of his backstage efforts rival the pathos in the story of Lear and the Fool that is being presented on-stage, as the situation comes to a crisis.
American V.I.P James Burn II finds his son James Burn III (Bob Sherman) leading a giant "sleep-in" that has taken over Windsor Castle. He hires Nancy (Lulu) to get him out of the castle and into work. With the help of her crazy eccentric father, (Wilfred Hyde-White) who believes in working day and night and producing nothing and uses a fantastic astro-telescope for casual bird watching, she does just that !
Shiftless dreamer Michael Rogers fantasizes about a lifestyle above his means and marries a wealthy, young girl who just came of age. They hire a famous architect to build their dream home amidst a series of suspicious incidents. The spouse has dark intentions toward his naive, inexperienced bride. Secrets from his past and sinister ties to their house guest Greta lead to a terrible turn of unexpected events.
While touring abroad in Europe, beautiful American skydiver Fathom Harvill gets wrapped up in international intrigue when Scottish spy Douglas Campbell recruits her to help him on a secret mission. Before long, Fathom realizes that no one around her, including the mysterious Peter Merriweather, can easily be trusted, leading to various adventures that involve bull fighting, beaches and, of course, romance.
로만 폴란스키 감독의 세 번째 장편영화. 갱스터 이야기를 전복적으로 우스꽝스럽게 비튼 작품인 막다른 골목은 처음에 제목을 사무엘 베케트의 부조리극 에서 제목을 따 로 지었을 정도로 초현실주의와 부조리 연극의 영향을 강하게 받았다. 이 영화는 로만 폴란스키 감독이 주로 다루는 모티브 중 하나인 캐릭터 사이의 파워 게임을 다룬다. 이 파워 게임의 특징은 희생자와 가해자의 역할이 끊임없이 바뀐다는 점. 로만 폴란스키 영화답게 사건은 갇힌 공간에서 펼쳐지는데, 배를 배경으로 한 , 아파트가 배경인 , , 만큼 폐쇄적이지는 않다. 그렇지만 도망갈 데가 없다는 점은 매한가지.
