The Gazebo (1960)

Beneath the dazzling city lights of New York, Elliott Nash, a dedicated writer and occasional director for a fictional crime series on live television, finds himself spiralling into a world of paranoia and escalating tension. Not only does his newest endeavour - writing and directing the same episode - meet with a less than stellar reception, but a far more sinister issue lurks in the shadows of his life. Elliott is haunted by an unseen menace named Shelby who claims to possess scandalous photographs of his wife, Nell Nash, from her youth. With Nell blissfully immersed in her first starring role in a Broadway musical, Elliott grapples with the torment alone, desperate to shield her from the dark cloud of blackmail threatening their happiness. As the demand for a staggering $25,000 ransom hangs over him, Elliott's desperation reaches new heights. He attempts to juggle his professional commitments, even striving for an advance on a script for Alfred Hitchcock despite not having written a single line. To further raise the necessary funds, he considers sacrificing their cherished suburban home. However, Nell's vehement refusal to sell forces Elliott to resort to crafty sabotage, making it seem as though their beloved home is falling into disrepair. An unexpected twist of fate presents itself when Nell brings home an antique gazebo for their backyard. This inspires a dangerous plan in Elliott's mind: to murder the blackmailer and bury him beneath the gazebo's concrete foundation. The plan must be executed with precision and perfect timing, ensuring that only Elliott is present when Shelby arrives, and that the gazebo is installed before any suspicion can be aroused. Despite the meticulous planning, Elliott's gentle nature and utter lack of murderous intent pose significant challenges. His compassionate side is exposed when he nurses a wounded pigeon, named Herman, back to health. However, as the famous saying goes, even the best-laid plans often go awry, and Elliott's plan is no exception. A cascade of unexpected events involving despised shower curtains, torrential rainstorms, a swimming pool, and Herman's peculiar affinity for stale peanuts, all conspire against him, weaving a tale of suspense, comedy, and unexpected twists that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

The Gazebo is a comedy movie featuring Glenn Ford.

The Gazebo is currently streaming on TCM.

It is also possible to buy The Gazebo on Amazon Video, Apple TV and DIRECTV.