The Reincarnation Of Peter Proud (1975)

A young wife (Margot Kidder) murders her husband (Tony Stephano) because of his multiple infidelities and cruelty. Almost 30 years later, a college professor (Michael Sarrazin) has nightmares about a man being murdered by his wife. Slowly, he begins to suspect that he may have been that man in a prior life and he attempts to track down the woman. Based on the novel by Max Ehrlich (who adapted his novel for the screen) and directed by J. Lee Thompson (GUNS OF NAVARONE). Thompson is responsible for one of the best thrillers of the 1960s, CAPE FEAR. Unfortunately, he doesn't bring the feverish intensity from that film here and this could have used it. The premise is compelling enough to keep us watching to see how it will play out but this could have been a much better film. As it is, it's eminently watchable but this could have been a classic thriller. There is one genuine great thing in the film and that's Margot Kidder's performance. Kidder plays both the young wife and the older widow and her performance is seamless. There's a nice Jerry Goldsmith score that helps. With Jennifer O'Neill as the murdered man's daughter, Cornelia Sharpe and Steve Franken.