This movie took considerable chances for 1965, and has since gained a dedicated following. Like many films that tackle social issues, it shows its age, but I find that’s frequently what makes them worthwhile. When I watch something made in 1965, I expect it to be a product of its era, not an attempt to speak to modern sensibilities. "Who Killed Teddy Bear" was among the earliest American films to represent the shifting values within cinema during the nineteen sixties. The themes explored were challenging for general audiences. Issues like rape, incest, lesbianism, and sexual compulsion are addressed in Joseph Cates’s film. A young waitress (Juliet Prowse) working at a fashionable New York City disco is being pursued. She's receiving disturbing phone calls and understandably frightened. The police force, with Jan Murray in charge, has few clues to go on. The movie suggests that everyone harbors some form of sexual obsession; it’s just that some are more skilled at concealing it. Although not a commercial success initially, the film appears to have had a significant impact. Martin Scorsese's "Taxi Driver" shares similarities with its dark portrayal of a decaying New York and the unusual characters who inhabit it. Several scenes in Scorsese's remake of "Cape Fear" feel familiar, too. I believe Quentin Tarantino also drew inspiration from it; his dance sequence featuring John Travolta and Uma Thurman in "Pulp Fiction" echoes the sexual tension between Juliet Prowse and Sal Mineo when she attempts to teach him how to dance. The beginning is a little uneven, but the film improves as it progresses. The acting is strong, particularly from Sal Mineo and Elaine Stritch. The movie is largely unavailable now, but I hope its cult following will lead to a release on DVD and Blu-Ray in the future.

Source on TMDB