Writer-directorMark Reichert adapted Cornell Woorich’s short story,The Corpse Next Door, for the screen and, as noted in the 22-29 Nov 1980Screen International, Reichert choseDeborah Harry, lead singer of “Blondie,” to make her screen debut in the film. Although Harry’s role is a non-singing part, Reichert felt that her “exciting stage presence” would transfer to film. The film also marked the feature film debut of female singerPat Benatar. Credits cite the film as “Introducing” actorTony Azito. However, Azito appeared in the 1975 filmApple Pie (see entry).
       ProducersRon Mutz andGraham Belin, through their American company Kinesis, Ltd., initially found it difficult to find backers for the film.Deborah Harry’s role was non-singing and although her band, “Blondie,” was popular in England at the time the film was being planned, the group was “still relatively unknown” in the United States. However, the producers secured financing through “private sources.” The 20 Oct 1980Time magazine noted the film’s budget was $500,000. According to the Oct 1980Film Journal, principal photography began in early 1979.
       An item in the 11 Aug 1980Box reported that Daltyn Film Works Inc. acquired worldwide distribution rights toUnion City and planned to release the film in New York in early Oct 1980. The 6 Aug 1980Var announced that Daltyn Film Works Inc. had scheduled the film’s world premiere at the Eighth Street Playhouse in New York City on 26 Sep 1980.
       An item in the 3 Apr 1981DV noted ...

Writer-directorMark Reichert adapted Cornell Woorich’s short story,The Corpse Next Door, for the screen and, as noted in the 22-29 Nov 1980Screen International, Reichert choseDeborah Harry, lead singer of “Blondie,” to make her screen debut in the film. Although Harry’s role is a non-singing part, Reichert felt that her “exciting stage presence” would transfer to film. The film also marked the feature film debut of female singerPat Benatar. Credits cite the film as “Introducing” actorTony Azito. However, Azito appeared in the 1975 filmApple Pie (see entry).
       ProducersRon Mutz andGraham Belin, through their American company Kinesis, Ltd., initially found it difficult to find backers for the film.Deborah Harry’s role was non-singing and although her band, “Blondie,” was popular in England at the time the film was being planned, the group was “still relatively unknown” in the United States. However, the producers secured financing through “private sources.” The 20 Oct 1980Time magazine noted the film’s budget was $500,000. According to the Oct 1980Film Journal, principal photography began in early 1979.
       An item in the 11 Aug 1980Box reported that Daltyn Film Works Inc. acquired worldwide distribution rights toUnion City and planned to release the film in New York in early Oct 1980. The 6 Aug 1980Var announced that Daltyn Film Works Inc. had scheduled the film’s world premiere at the Eighth Street Playhouse in New York City on 26 Sep 1980.
       An item in the 3 Apr 1981DV noted that Cantina Blues Films would handle worldwide distribution forUnion City, and the 13 May 1981Var reported thatKodiak Films of Los Angeles, CA, had picked up the film for worldwide sales representation.

In March 1953, Harlan, an accountant, returns to his apartment in the city. Moments later, a drunken couple arrives in a cab, and the husband leaves his hat and a large tip with the cab driver. A vagrant approaches the cab driver and asks for money. The driver refuses, but gives him the husband’s hat and suggests he can sell it back to the husband. Instead, the vagrant dons the hat and strolls down the street. Harlan joins his wife, Lillian, for dinner and is angry that she bought new shoes. When Lillian opens a can of milk for Harlan’s coffee, he is infuriated to learn that someone has been drinking from their milk delivery again. Lillian notified the milkman and Larry Longacre, the building supervisor, and suggests Harlan forget about it. However, Harlan is determined to set a trap for the thief. He ties one end of a line of string to a full milk bottle, places it outside his door next to the empty bottle, and ties the other end of the string to his finger. When the thief moves the bottle, Harlan will catch him. However, in the morning, Harlan discovers that Lillian got up during the night and placed the string under a table leg so she would not trip over it. Harlan argues with Lillian about disrupting his plan, then leaves for work. In the hallway, their next door neighbor, the “Contessa” peers from her apartment when the “super,” Larry, gets off the elevator. As Larry humors the Contessa over her crazy story about royal visitors arriving for the weekend, ...

In March 1953, Harlan, an accountant, returns to his apartment in the city. Moments later, a drunken couple arrives in a cab, and the husband leaves his hat and a large tip with the cab driver. A vagrant approaches the cab driver and asks for money. The driver refuses, but gives him the husband’s hat and suggests he can sell it back to the husband. Instead, the vagrant dons the hat and strolls down the street. Harlan joins his wife, Lillian, for dinner and is angry that she bought new shoes. When Lillian opens a can of milk for Harlan’s coffee, he is infuriated to learn that someone has been drinking from their milk delivery again. Lillian notified the milkman and Larry Longacre, the building supervisor, and suggests Harlan forget about it. However, Harlan is determined to set a trap for the thief. He ties one end of a line of string to a full milk bottle, places it outside his door next to the empty bottle, and ties the other end of the string to his finger. When the thief moves the bottle, Harlan will catch him. However, in the morning, Harlan discovers that Lillian got up during the night and placed the string under a table leg so she would not trip over it. Harlan argues with Lillian about disrupting his plan, then leaves for work. In the hallway, their next door neighbor, the “Contessa” peers from her apartment when the “super,” Larry, gets off the elevator. As Larry humors the Contessa over her crazy story about royal visitors arriving for the weekend, Lillian opens her door and invites them in for coffee. At work, Harlan tells his secretary about his plan to trap the thief by placing a full bottle next to the empty one and capturing the thief after the milkman’s delivery. Harlan becomes flustered when his secretary suggests the thief might take the wrong bottle. That afternoon, Lillian and Larry talk in his car. She complains to the building superintendant that her life is so dull she only cares about flowers and the movie matinees she attends with him on Fridays. She admits she cannot go with Larry next Friday because she purchased new shoes and does not have the money to go to the movies. Larry offers to buy her ticket. Harlan arrives home, and is obsessed with a new plan. When the milkman makes the morning delivery, Harlan crawls out his door, grabs the full milk bottle and replaces it with one tied to the end of his string. Harlan closes the door, wraps the other end of the string around his finger and waits for the thief. His plan works, and when the string moves, Harlan opens his door to find the vagrant drinking from the milk bottle. Harlan grabs the bottle and smashes it onto the floor. The vagrant wonders why Harlan is so upset about milk, but Harlan insists it is more than milk. The situation has troubled Harlan and his wife. The vagrant laughs about Harlan’s wife, insisting Harlan never pays attention to her or takes her out. Furious, Harlan attacks the man, smashing his head against the floor. When Harlan steps back and orders the vagrant to get up, he notices blood seeping from a head wound into the pool of milk. Panicking, Harlan drags the corpse into a vacant apartment across the hallway. He pulls down the Murphy bed, stuffs the body onto the mattress and shuts the closet, forcing the door shut. Meanwhile, the Contessa steps into the hallway and sees her cat licking the spilled milk. She retrieves her animal, noticing the liquid mess before returning to her apartment. Harlan wipes the blood stains off the closet door with his pajama top, and rushes back to his apartment. Lillian is asleep as Harlan takes off his blood-stained pajamas and unsuccessfully attempts to flush them down the toilet. Wearing only boxer shorts, Harlan returns to the hallway and cleans up the bloody mess. He returns to the vacant apartment and tries to open the Murphy bed door, but it is now wedged shut. He runs into the hallway and tosses his blood-stained clothing into the incinerator. After Harlan leaves for work, Larry romances Lillian. That evening, a distraught Harlan informs Lillian they are moving to the suburbs. She reminds him they have two years left on their lease, but he orders her to start packing. Lillian refuses and goes downstairs to speak with Larry about the lease. Alone, Harlan is plagued by paranoia about the hidden corpse. The next day at work, he scolds his secretary for pouring milk into his coffee and insists he never wants milk again. When Harlan returns home, he rides the elevator with Larry. When they reach Harlan’s floor, the Contessa is in the hallway. Larry insists she is infatuated with Harlan, but he does not believe it and insists the Contessa is crazy. Larry steps into the vacant apartment to paint before potential renters arrive. Agitated, Harlan steps into his apartment. Lillian informs him the landlord will soon arrive to discuss the lease but Harlan says he made an appointment for a medical check-up and leaves. He goes to the local bar and gets drunk. As Harlan stumbles home, he hallucinates seeing the vagrant’s corpse hanging inside a store. Lillian is disappointed when Harlan arrives home drunk, but she still wants to make love. He refuses, calling her a whore. She kisses him, but he rejects her again and wishes she could kiss like a lady. Harlan hears a family arrive to look at the vacant apartment and attempts to convince them they are in the wrong building. However, the Contessa peers into the hallway and tells them it is available. The family knocks on the door and Larry lets them inside. That night, Harlan awakens screaming from a nightmare. The Contessa visits Harlan’s office and claims she knows how he suffers. Harlan thinks she knows about the murder and asks if she told anyone. She says she spoke to Larry. He’s horrified, but drinks a shot of whiskey and wonders if the Contessa is interested in a trip to Los Angeles, California. Meanwhile, Lillian assists Larry, the super, in the vacant apartment as he tries to unjam the Murphy bed. However, he becomes distracted as Lillian discusses their burgeoning romance. She plans to dye her hair blonde before they move to the Poconos together. Lillian colors her hair before Harlan returns home. He claims he is converting to Catholicism and asks to be forgiven because Lillian deserves everything. She insists she only wants a man who loves her. That evening, newlyweds Alphonse and Jeannette Florescu rent the vacant apartment and Harlan panics. Later, Lillian meets Larry in his car and they kiss. As the newlyweds move into the apartment, Harlan overhears Alphonse ask his wife to borrow a hammer from the super to open the Murphy bed door. As Jeannette goes downstairs, Harlan arrives with a hammer for Alphonse. Harlan moves toward an open window as Jeannette returns with Larry. Everyone gasps as Alphonse opens the door and lowers the bed. Harlan jumps out the window to his death as the others look at the blood-covered mattress in the otherwise empty closet. Larry rushes to comfort Lillian, and the Contessa cries over Harlan’s body on the sidewalk. The vagrant, wearing the hat over his bandaged head, observes the scene and walks away.