Trick of the Eye explained

Based On:Trick of the Eye (novel) by Jane Stanton Hitchcock
Director:Ed Kaplan
Starring:Ellen Burstyn
Meg Tilly
Barnard Hughes
Paxton Whitehead
Alastair Duncan
Music:Allyn Ferguson
Country:United States
Language:English
Producer:David A. Rosemont
Brent Shields
Executive Producer:Richard Welsh
Location:Pasadena, California
Editor:Sabrina Plisco-Morris
Cinematography:Shelly Johnson
Runtime:95 minutes
Company:Signboard Hill Productions
Hallmark Entertainment
Network:CBS

Trick of the Eye (also known as Primal Secrets) is a 1994 American made-for-television psychological thriller film starring Ellen Burstyn and Meg Tilly. Directed by Ed Kaplan, it is based on the 1992 novel of the same name by Jane Stanton Hitchcock. The film originally premiered on CBS as a presentation of CBS Sunday Afternoon Showcase on October 23, 1994.

Plot

Faith Crowell (Meg Tilly) is a struggling bohemian artist who is commissioned to paint a mural for wealthy, reclusive socialite widow Frances Griffin (Ellen Burstyn). Frances wants Faith to paint murals all over the ornate walls of the abandoned ballroom of her ostentatious 211-acre estate. The theme of the mural is to be the grand entrance of Frances' daughter Cassandra at her debutante ball, which also happens to be the night Cassandra mysteriously died.

Faith soon begins receiving expensive gifts from Frances, which she enjoys but doesn't understand why. Before long, Faith starts picking up on several uncanny resemblances between herself and the dead Cassandra. Eventually, she is invited to live in Frances' mansion until the mural is complete, and she discovers a painting of Cassandra and sees the haunting resemblance.

Cast

Production

Trick of the Eye was shot from August 8 to August 31, 1994 at Huntington Library in Pasadena, California.

Home video releases

In July 1995, the film was released under the alternative title Primal Secrets on VHS and LaserDisc by Hallmark Home Entertainment and Image Entertainment.

On January 25, 2010, it was released as Primal Secrets on DVD by Echo Bridge Home Entertainment.

References

  1. Trick of the Eye: Miscellaneous Notes at TCM (1994).
  2. Picks and Pans Review: Trick of the Eye by People magazine (October 24, 1994).
  3. Trick of the Eye/Primal Secrets at LaserDisc Database (1995)
  4. Trick of the Eye/Primal Secrets at Amazon