Was this supposed to be set in the present 1976?
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mizhu — 13 years ago(June 17, 2012 11:08 AM)
The first time I saw the movie was on VHS in the early-mid eighties, and there was an on-screen graphic immediately after the opening credits that read, 'Paterson, New Jersey. 1961.' I don't know why that was cut from later prints. I hope it wasn't because the distributors thought no one would notice the time difference.
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jonathanstatsny — 12 years ago(August 20, 2013 06:39 PM)
That big fat landlord with the cats certainly didn't have a style that fit 1961 though. He had sort of a goatee, which no one would have had back then. But yeah, the movie is set in 1961 for sure. Making it all the more rare that there would be a divorced family within the Catholic church at that timeframe.
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zwolf — 11 years ago(February 23, 2015 10:52 AM)
It was set in 1961. Besides some other visual clues (JFK's picture, magazine and comic book covers, cars, etc.) there's also a 1961 calendar hanging on the wall of someone's office. The director based the movie on memories of his childhood, which was very similar other than all the murders, of course.
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urgeking — 10 years ago(January 17, 2016 12:12 AM)
Actually, most of the cars are from the late 1950s. When they bring Alice in for her polygraph they're driving a 1960 Dodge and they stop next to a 1959 Ford. Some of the men's hairstyles, particularly on the younger detectives, seem a
little
bit long for 1961, but not excessively so. -
fadelman — 10 years ago(January 17, 2016 05:06 AM)
It was supposed to take place during the early 60's, but director Albert Sole had a very small budget. I only live a few minutes away from where it was filmed in Paterson, NJ and not much has changed in appearance since 1976. It is still one of the scariest towns to walk alone in. Being in law enforcement (now retired), I had to make appearances in the Paterson Courthouse for testimony. I still consider COMMUNION the best American-made giallo film of all time. Too bad Alfred Sole only directed four films (This was his second; his first film was the X-Rated necrophilia comedy DEEP SLEEP, which has only turned up in edited form, as the full cut may be lost). I still see his name on TV series doing various things behind the camera. Everything but direct. Ever since MGM messed with his kitchen-sink comedy PANDEMONIUM (1982), he quit directing. Still, all four of Sole's films are worth seeing. He had a unique vision. TANYA'S ISLAND (Sole's third film) has to be seen to be believed. As far as I know , he is still alive, so never say never. I would like to see him come back to Paterson and do a sequel to this film.
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roses888 — 10 years ago(January 17, 2016 10:57 AM)
The pill box hats worn in the church scene were from the early 1960's. Alice and Karen were wearing their hair long and parted down the middle in a 1970's style that was popular at that time, along with that yellow rain coat slicker. Wearing mini skirts and knee socks with saddle shoes were from the 1970's.
Seeing a JFK picture isn't necessarily from the early 1960's. I still see his picture around present day from time to time.