I bought this film on the star power of a young Marilyn Monroe alone. What I purchased was a lot of overwrought acting and hand wringing from a cast headed by Barbara Stanwick. The focus of the stark storyline is Barbara Stanwicks Mae Doyle character. Suffering from bitter hard life choices, regrets, loneliness and under lying lust and passion. Upon returning home from an illicit love affair gone wrong, Mae settles for 2nd best and marries the towns local dull fisherman. She eventually has his child but then ends up committing adultery with her husbands best buddy( Robert Ryan). She even contemplates abandoning the child to be with her secret new lover. This film must have been considered pretty daring stuff during the early 1950's. Along the way there is a lot of emotional speech making, overly dramatic love scenes, and dialog that are to me in this day and age laughable. With that said, any fan of Barbra Stanwick or Marilyn Monroe should see this movie.
The direction of the film by Fritz Lang is tight with location shots and sets that are completely realistic and believable. I did tire of the symbolic waves pounding the beach after every dramatic turn of the plot. The style of film-making, acting, and plot line are completely appropriate for the era of this film. I just don't see it as true Film Noir, I see it as a tepid melodrama. I must also admit I did have a strong urge to fast forward to scenes only involving Marilyn Monroe. I watched the whole film and Marilyn Monroe forcefully dominates the very few scene's she is in. I really liked the tough girlishness she was allowed to project as "Peggy". Her character is not written as the dumb blonde persona she would regretfully embody later in her career. Although her scenes are somewhat brief you cant ignore the magnetic star power she possessed.
It should be noted that Marilyn was not appreciated or well liked during the production of "Clash by Night". Her co-stars did not like the press attention that she generated while on set. Particularly a jealous Robert Ryan. He bellowed on set "They never take pictures of of the rest of us".."Why do the photographers only want pictures of that blonde bitch Marilyn Monroe"?.. he later shouted to her on set,"Don't EVER call me Robert.. It's Mr. Robert Ryan to you"...Its also been said Marilyn had trouble remembering lines, and was sometimes late for filming. She also came to the set regularly with red blotches on her face and hands after having vomited from being so nervous. Barbra Stanwick later had Monroe barred from the set if "Peggy" wasn't in any of her scenes being shot that day because it was to disruptive.. Upon its release, around the same time as Monroes "nude calender" shots were surfacing "Clash by Night" was a box office success. It brought in $1.5 million dollars. Aside from mixed reviews, movie goers were curious about its provocative star. The film certainly furthered her career but it made her a few enemies in return.
The direction of the film by Fritz Lang is tight with location shots and sets that are completely realistic and believable. I did tire of the symbolic waves pounding the beach after every dramatic turn of the plot. The style of film-making, acting, and plot line are completely appropriate for the era of this film. I just don't see it as true Film Noir, I see it as a tepid melodrama. I must also admit I did have a strong urge to fast forward to scenes only involving Marilyn Monroe. I watched the whole film and Marilyn Monroe forcefully dominates the very few scene's she is in. I really liked the tough girlishness she was allowed to project as "Peggy". Her character is not written as the dumb blonde persona she would regretfully embody later in her career. Although her scenes are somewhat brief you cant ignore the magnetic star power she possessed.
It should be noted that Marilyn was not appreciated or well liked during the production of "Clash by Night". Her co-stars did not like the press attention that she generated while on set. Particularly a jealous Robert Ryan. He bellowed on set "They never take pictures of of the rest of us".."Why do the photographers only want pictures of that blonde bitch Marilyn Monroe"?.. he later shouted to her on set,"Don't EVER call me Robert.. It's Mr. Robert Ryan to you"...Its also been said Marilyn had trouble remembering lines, and was sometimes late for filming. She also came to the set regularly with red blotches on her face and hands after having vomited from being so nervous. Barbra Stanwick later had Monroe barred from the set if "Peggy" wasn't in any of her scenes being shot that day because it was to disruptive.. Upon its release, around the same time as Monroes "nude calender" shots were surfacing "Clash by Night" was a box office success. It brought in $1.5 million dollars. Aside from mixed reviews, movie goers were curious about its provocative star. The film certainly furthered her career but it made her a few enemies in return.