Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Who Killed Teddy Bear 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf January 17, 2025

Director Joseph Cates is primarily known for two things: being the father of actress Phoebe Cates and maintaining a steady career in television, largely focused on game and variety shows. Cates offers a dramatic detour in 1965’s “Who Killed Teddy Bear,” which explores the roughness of a mind destroyed by trauma and the woman caught in the violence of obsession. The screenplay by Leon Tokatyan and Arnold Drake tries to push the material as far as possible for the decade, getting into the burning ways of fixation and the pressures of paranoia. It’s a noir-ish take on all kinds of dangers and troubles, finding Cates trying to bring moments of style and restless energy to the feature, which works best when handling unhinged characters unable to cope with the world around them. “Who Killed Teddy Bear” has its shortcomings when it comes to editorial tightness, and the conclusion of the endeavor is too clunky, but the picture is memorable in the way in handles unsavory material, watching Cates lean into sexuality while still organizing a chiller of sorts.

Norah (Juliet Prowse) is new to New York City, eager to take on the town while living in a small sublet apartment. She’s employed at a dance club, handling disc jockey duties for boss Marian (Elaine Stritch), mingling with fellow employees Lawrence (Sal Mineo) and Carlo (Daniel J. Travanti), the establishment’s deaf bouncer. Newly targeting Norah are obscene phone calls, reaching her when she’s home, sharing sexual details and heavy breathing she initially dismisses as part of the NYC experience. However, the calls gradually become more intense and direct, putting Norah on edge as she’s soon targeted at work as well. Lt. Dave (Jan Murray) is a cop who takes a special interest in Norah’s woes, encouraging her to detail a response to the messages, investigating the motives of a most determined stalker. As the weeks pass, Norah feels unsafe, placing her trust in Lt. Dave to understand what’s going on, also finding some comfort in Lawrence, who’s dealing with his own problems, caring for his younger sister, Edie (Margot Bennett), who suffered a brain injury as a child. And Marian has her own concerns for Norah, accepting any opportunity to get closer to her employee.

Cates is making a film for younger audiences in “Who Killed Teddy Bear,” with this push to hip up the feature most noticeable during visits to Marian’s club. It’s a place devoted to dancing, and the movie is fully prepared to explore as much physical movement as possible, spending a lengthy amount of screen time in observation mode, watching the patrons work out the special dances of the era, herking and jerking their way to ecstasy. Padding is present in “Who Killed Teddy Bear,” but there’s a decent amount of screen tension to enjoy, especially when phone calls start coming for Norah, who connects with an initially unseen stalker sharing dark thoughts on sexual ownership, finding ways to harass the victim anywhere she goes. Cates looks to summon uneasiness while submitting charged imagery, making sure to add bare skin and homoeroticism as possible without completely distracting from the urgent matter at hand.

Mystery is fleeting in “Who Killed Teddy Bear.” The identity of the stalker is revealed about halfway through the picture, robbing the endeavor of prolonged suspense as the calls increase and elements of voyeurism are introduced, adding pressure to the situation. The screenplay doesn’t have much interest in developing into a thriller, making a sharp turn to character exploration after spending time arranging potential suspects. There’s Lt. Dave, who makes secret recordings of his intimate conversations with Norah, adding them to a collection of evidence as he researches sexual predators, often openly around his young daughter. Lawrence is a troubled man imprisoned by his concern for Edie, who’s becoming a woman, triggering pain deep within the man as he’s constantly reminded of past mistakes. Carlo is a tough guy at the club, willing to engage in violence to settle challenges. And there’s Marian, a seasoned boss who softens around Norah, showing unusual concern for her safety. There’s potential in sustaining a whodunit until the last act, but the material breaks away early, revealing illness to all, taking the tale into torment as the stalker deals with sexual urges and unfulfilled fantasies.

Who Killed Teddy Bear 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Screencaps are taken from the Blu-ray.

"Who Killed Teddy Bear" comes to UHD, listed as "newly restored from original 35mm negative materials." The feature delivers on detail, exploring plenty of skin particulars and fibrous costuming, maintaining a good amount of texture when away from softer cinematographic choices. Club and apartment interiors stay dimensional, and exteriors deliver depth, also permitting viewers to explore New York City locations. Black and white imagery remains balanced throughout the viewing experience, preserving style choices, and delineation is steady, preserving shadowy encounters and evening events. Highlights are tasteful. Grain is fine and film-like. Source is in good condition.

Who Killed Teddy Bear 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix handles with some age, but soundtrack selections remain appreciable, securing decently clear vocals and instrumentation. Dialogue exchanges are sharp, preserving emotional responses and more charged encounters.

Who Killed Teddy Bear 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet is included.

• Commentary feature film historians Elizabeth Purchell and KJ Shepherd.

• "From Left Field" (17:59, HD) is an interview with Mike Thomas, who recalls his formative years spent in San Francisco, patronizing the local revival theaters, drawn to screenings of "Who Killed Teddy Bear." Thomas eventually happened upon a print of the feature, secretly taking it for future use during his years as a film booker and theater owner, soon starting his own company in Strand Releasing. Realizing there was a chance to present "Who Killed Teddy Bear" to a larger audience, the interviewee tracked down the rights owner and started distribution, doing steady business with the release. Thomas briefly shares his love for homoeroticism, detailing his fondness for the picture and its special moviemaking vision.

• "Who Filmed Times Square" (12:06, HD) is a featurette from Michael Gingold, who visits various locations from "Who Killed Teddy Bear," comparing moments from the movie to the New York City of today.

• "The Murder of Innocence" (13:02, HD) is a video essay by Chris O'Neill.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:15, HD) is included.

Who Killed Teddy Bear 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Who Killed Teddy Bear" is capably assembled by Cates, who offers a sharper sense of style, looking to inspect violent events and flirtatious encounters that eventually reach dark areas of desire. He has a strong cast as well, as the ensemble contributes interesting takes on distress and observation, pulling compelling misery out of Mineo and Prowse, with the latter working an arc that has Norah slowly succumbing to fear. "Who Killed Teddy Bear" is mostly alert (aside from all the dancing) and interested in the secret lives of people wrestling with private horrors, unable to process all the distortion and guilt they face on a daily basis. It's not exactly taut and exciting, but there's sickness to study and Cates works well around locations, using NYC as another layer of intimidation and temptation for the characters to manage as some battle for sanity.