That could be the drunken malapropism for the seemingly sadomasochistic character played by Betty Field, tested here for the equally crazy role of Cassie in "King's Row", and one of the most unforgettable psychotic femme fatals prior to Ann Savage in "Detour". Once you see her overly teased hair, melodramatic acting, and every bit of evil within her, you'll never forget her. Barbara Stanwyck in "Double Indemnity", Jane Greer in "Out of the Past" and Lizabeth Scott in "Dead Reckoning" owe everything to this performance, because once they saw it, they probably agreed that to tone down the insinuations of psychosis in their characters which was the best way to play it because Field is entirely over the top.
Of course, the Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer song will attract your attention from the moment a black group of jail inmates begins to sing it and band member Richard Whorf decides to take it on as his theme. This is film noir right at the very beginning of the genre, not an early experiment like "I am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang" or accidental noir like "Fury" and "You Only Live Once", but one of the first in a series of dark films that took to the sleazy side of life. This is about a blues group that travel by box car, are held up on a train, and end up friendly with their friendly neighbor thief (Lloyd Nolan) who sends them to his shanty honky-tonk run by the hard as nails Howard da Silva where they meet the unforgettable Field. There's also the battle trumpet player Jack Carson and his wife Priscilla Lane as well as other assorted dark characters. Mabel Todd (of "Hollywood Hotel" and "Varsity Show") has a musical specialty here that is zany and unforgettable.
Beyond the music here (one of the few actual musical noirs made), this is a story of how ambition can destroy and how desperate it can make those down on their luck determined to make the big time. The same year's more light-hearted "Birth of the Blues" can't even be compared to this. The violent ending is one of the most brutal post-code finales in film history.
Of course, the Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer song will attract your attention from the moment a black group of jail inmates begins to sing it and band member Richard Whorf decides to take it on as his theme. This is film noir right at the very beginning of the genre, not an early experiment like "I am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang" or accidental noir like "Fury" and "You Only Live Once", but one of the first in a series of dark films that took to the sleazy side of life. This is about a blues group that travel by box car, are held up on a train, and end up friendly with their friendly neighbor thief (Lloyd Nolan) who sends them to his shanty honky-tonk run by the hard as nails Howard da Silva where they meet the unforgettable Field. There's also the battle trumpet player Jack Carson and his wife Priscilla Lane as well as other assorted dark characters. Mabel Todd (of "Hollywood Hotel" and "Varsity Show") has a musical specialty here that is zany and unforgettable.
Beyond the music here (one of the few actual musical noirs made), this is a story of how ambition can destroy and how desperate it can make those down on their luck determined to make the big time. The same year's more light-hearted "Birth of the Blues" can't even be compared to this. The violent ending is one of the most brutal post-code finales in film history.