In retrospect, film noir is an exciting concept. Of course in reality, there was no such thing at its peak in the 1940s and 1950s. French critics coined the term in the sixties, and it has stuck.
Sadly, today people who made these generally low budget movies are making undistinguished TV movies. Many of those who would have gone into a studio's B-unit are doing so, not all.
With some notable exceptions like "Double Indemnity," the main characteristic of what we now call noir is low budgets. And what director REALLY would prefer a low budget to a higher one, the name value of Ann Savage to that of Hedy Lamarr? Which brings us to this terribly disappointing movie. The great noir director Joseph H. Lewis is working here for MGM and has quite a cast. In addition to the gorgeous Ms. Lamarr, he has the handsome John Hodiak as his leading man. In addition, he has James Craig and that great villain George Macready.
Who knows what went wrong? But clearly something did. The movie starts fairly promisingly but degenerates quickly. To be honest, I couldn't wait for it to end. And it looks -- looks: They're not here to ask -- as if the cast and director felt the same way.
Sadly, today people who made these generally low budget movies are making undistinguished TV movies. Many of those who would have gone into a studio's B-unit are doing so, not all.
With some notable exceptions like "Double Indemnity," the main characteristic of what we now call noir is low budgets. And what director REALLY would prefer a low budget to a higher one, the name value of Ann Savage to that of Hedy Lamarr? Which brings us to this terribly disappointing movie. The great noir director Joseph H. Lewis is working here for MGM and has quite a cast. In addition to the gorgeous Ms. Lamarr, he has the handsome John Hodiak as his leading man. In addition, he has James Craig and that great villain George Macready.
Who knows what went wrong? But clearly something did. The movie starts fairly promisingly but degenerates quickly. To be honest, I couldn't wait for it to end. And it looks -- looks: They're not here to ask -- as if the cast and director felt the same way.