Stars a weatherbeaten and beligerant cop whose father was a crook, he is called Mark Dixon : Dana Andrews. As Dixon is a violent police inspector fighting against his own nature, and subsequently has to investigate a crime at home of a mobster : Gary Merrill as prime suspect. As gangster Gary Merill is always on hand to taunt him about his background. Then Dixon's plight becomes yet more and more desperate when he accidentally commits a crime, as disgraced fates are against him and his behaviour becomes closer and closer to what his deceased father abhorred . Meanwhile, Dixon falls in love for the victim's wife : Gene Tierney. Only a woman's heart could reach out for such a man !
This is a classy Noir film about an unfortunate detective whose investigations go wrong when he finds out clues about a murder. Stunning Noir with thrills, tension, intrigue, twists and turns. The fim boasts a very good main and support cast, all of them giving awesome interpretations. The film is jammed with a sardonic and enjoyable dialogue, courtesy of the prestigious writer Ben Hetch, Billy Wilder's regular. The main character outstanding on a complex role magnificently played by Dana Andrews as a cop called Mark Dixon, a tough detective with a surprising strain of pathos, though a good man at heart whose roughhouse tactics appal his chiefs. A brutal inspector but desperate for redemption, his character is just the kind of cop many novelists would write about so well a generation after. While the always gorgeous Gene Tierney gives one of his finest performances as the widow who falls in love for him. Accompanied by top-notch support actors, such as : Garry Merrill, Karl Malden, Craig Stevens, Neville Brand, Bert Freed, Tom Tully, among others.
It packs an atmospheric cinematography in black and white with plenty of lights shades by Noir cameraman Joseph LaShelle along with other Noir expert as Nicolas Musuruka, John Seitz and John Alton . In addition, susenseful and evocative musical score by Cryl J. Mockridge. This is a superior Noir film splendidly directed by Otto Preminger. Otto was a good actor, producer and director of a lot of films of all kinds of genres, such as : A royal scandal, Centennial summer, Forever amber, The moon is blue, Whirlpool, The court martial of Billy Mitchell, In harm's way, Saint Joan, Advise and consent, The man of the golden arm , River with no return, Bonjour tristesse, Bunny Lake is missing, Harry Sundown, being his greatest hits : Laura, Carmen Jones, Angel face, The Cardinal, Exodus and Anatomy of a murder, and being his last films the failed Rosebud and The Human Factor. Rating 7/10. Better than average. Well worth watching. Essential and indispensable seeing. The picture will appeal to Noir aficionados and Dana Andrews/Gene Tierney fans.
This is a classy Noir film about an unfortunate detective whose investigations go wrong when he finds out clues about a murder. Stunning Noir with thrills, tension, intrigue, twists and turns. The fim boasts a very good main and support cast, all of them giving awesome interpretations. The film is jammed with a sardonic and enjoyable dialogue, courtesy of the prestigious writer Ben Hetch, Billy Wilder's regular. The main character outstanding on a complex role magnificently played by Dana Andrews as a cop called Mark Dixon, a tough detective with a surprising strain of pathos, though a good man at heart whose roughhouse tactics appal his chiefs. A brutal inspector but desperate for redemption, his character is just the kind of cop many novelists would write about so well a generation after. While the always gorgeous Gene Tierney gives one of his finest performances as the widow who falls in love for him. Accompanied by top-notch support actors, such as : Garry Merrill, Karl Malden, Craig Stevens, Neville Brand, Bert Freed, Tom Tully, among others.
It packs an atmospheric cinematography in black and white with plenty of lights shades by Noir cameraman Joseph LaShelle along with other Noir expert as Nicolas Musuruka, John Seitz and John Alton . In addition, susenseful and evocative musical score by Cryl J. Mockridge. This is a superior Noir film splendidly directed by Otto Preminger. Otto was a good actor, producer and director of a lot of films of all kinds of genres, such as : A royal scandal, Centennial summer, Forever amber, The moon is blue, Whirlpool, The court martial of Billy Mitchell, In harm's way, Saint Joan, Advise and consent, The man of the golden arm , River with no return, Bonjour tristesse, Bunny Lake is missing, Harry Sundown, being his greatest hits : Laura, Carmen Jones, Angel face, The Cardinal, Exodus and Anatomy of a murder, and being his last films the failed Rosebud and The Human Factor. Rating 7/10. Better than average. Well worth watching. Essential and indispensable seeing. The picture will appeal to Noir aficionados and Dana Andrews/Gene Tierney fans.