Les Diaboliques

Released in 1955

Director: Henri-Georges Clouzot

When the wife of a nasty headmaster and his lover decide to murder him, all sorts of things go wrong. It’s a perfect setting, really; a small boarding school for young boys in rural France. And what could be cozier than a wife, her husband, and her husband’s live in lover? Viva la France, baby. Viva la France.

But while that may be every man’s dream, let me caution you…never underestimate just how pissed off a wife can get.

There’s trouble in paradise. The plan is simple enough. Kill the man and live happily ever after. But the body disappears. And then strange things begin to happen around the school. Are the children lying? Or have they really seen the dead schoolmaster?

The movie is in the original French, with subtitles. Don’t worry. As long as you can read, you’ll be just fine. It’s a great film that allows the anxiety of the women to bleed from the screen right into the viewer. I couldn’t help but empathize with these women; the wife with her Dorothy of Kansas braids and the lover with her severe eyebrows and bad dye job.

So do they get away with it? I know you’re dying for the answer, but this canary ain’t singing, Sugar. Get your own copy. Watch it. Love it. But keep your trap shut about the ending. Or else.

View the trailer here.

Tight Spot - 1955

Director: Phil Karlson
Produced by Lewis J. Rachmil
Music by George Duning

Stars Edward G. Robinson, Brian Keith, and Ginger Rogers. Yes, I said Ginger Rogers, who can do much more than just dance. In Tight Spot, she plays the feisty blond prisoner, Sherry Conley...a woman behind on fashion and unlucky in love. But don't feel too bad for her. Prosecuting attorney, Lloyd Hallett, played by the always neat-o Edward G. Robinson, is springing her from the joint...only to put her into protective custody so he can bring down notorious gangster Benjamin Costain, played by Lorne Greene.
Brian Keith (A Family Affair, Parent Trap) plays Vince Striker (I LOVE that name!), the cop assigned to protect Conley from the mob wanting to kill her.
Ginger Rogers is believable as Conley in her oh-so-bitter portrayal of a good girl-gone -bad- gone -worse...all the way from her dysfunctional family past to her I just want to be loved present.



And what can I say about Robinson? Well, here's to you, Mr. Robinson. We've all seen him in Key Largo, opposite the ever steamy Bogie and Bacall. We've seen him as a cop in The Stranger and as the patsy in Scarlet Street...and he never disappoints. He's got a face to love or hate, depending on how he chooses to use it.
As far as noir goes, the movie is predictable, but enjoyable and is noir inasmuch as it shows the despair of the human condition and the hopelessness of existence. But the character of Hollett (Robinson) balances this out with his unaltering belief that good shall overcome. And Rogers provides some comic relief with her wide-eyed view of the world...tainted though it may be. I'd categorize this as noir light...and it's worth keeping on your playlist.

The Naked City....Undressed

The Naked City

Since I’m not a native New Yorker, I felt a little precocious about seeing the city “Naked.” But, as I also happen to be as voyeuristic as the next guy, I decided, “what the hell?” and I watched. Let me tell you…the sheer number of people milling around, getting on and off the subway, living their lives, eating their lunch…well, it’s staggering to a small town girl like me. I found myself wanting to shove my children out of the way, saying, “Move it, pal,” as I made my way to the fridge for a soda during viewing.

The Naked City was filmed on location in 1948, during the peak of the film noir era. At the time, “on location” movies were unusual (so I’ve been told) and this was fresh and new for America. For the first time, movie goers were allowed to see the city as it lived, making New York the biggest star of the film.

Other unusual features of this movie: there are no opening credits and not much of a musical score. But we aren’t allowed to feel disappointed. After all, a narrator jumps in immediately, warning us that this film is “unlike anything we’ve ever seen before.” And, in case we forget, he jumps in throughout the film from time to time, underscoring the amount of work it is for a department to catch a killer.

The movie was directed by Jules Dassin and produced by Mark Hellinger. Barry Fitzgerald plays the sharp Irish cop, comes with his own brogue and everything, assisted by Don Taylor as Jimmy Halloran…the leg man. Together they work to track down the killer of a blonde named Jean Dexter, found dead in her bathtub. Strangled. Chloroformed. With a big, black starred sapphire in her possession and a pair of men’s pajamas in the bedroom.

First of all, NOT film-noir. If I had to classify this movie…and I do…I’d say it’s an original docu-drama. We are taken along with the cops, none of whom have any skeletons in their closets, as they try to solve the case. They bring in suspects, one by one, throw the book at ‘em, and let ‘em go. But the list of potential murderers narrows and eventually, a crime ring is uncovered. There’s none of the self-destructive downward spiral for the main characters in this film…all of that takes place with the crooks here, so we don’t feel the angst and the devastation as the film reaches its climax.

But it’s got a halfway decent foot chase and it’s worth watching, if you get a chance. I wouldn’t run out and buy it…check your local listings.

Movie for April 2008

D.O.A.- 1949 (United Artists)

Starring Edmund O'Brien and Pamela Britten. In this classic thriller, O'Brien plays Frank Bigelow, a stifled notary with a clingy girlfriend (Pamela Britten). Influenced by the oppressive desert heat, he peels the girl from his jacket lapels, and sets off for a bachelor's vacation in the city of all city's, San Francisco.
Good ol' Frank starts chasing skirts right out of the gate, not getting anywhere fast. (Serves him right, the louse.) But a drink tainted with luminous poison straightens him out right away. He discovers he's been poisoned the following morning. There's no antidote and he's absorbed enough to be fatal. The doctors (yes, he got a second opinion) give him a day to a week to live.
But who would poison him? And why?
Frank discovers a former client was murdered at the same time he was poisoned. Now, he must race against the clock to solve the murder of his client...as well as his own...before time runs out.
The movie is ok...I'd give it a three out of five. The plot drags at the beginning, only to hiccup into fast dialog that tosses accusations from one character to another. There's a shoot-out in a conveniently placed empty warehouse (Come on, already), and there's the typical femme fatale, who really did nothing to move the plot other than stand in a tight dress and look perplexed...or constipated...or crampy, I'm not sure which.
If you want advice on whether to purchase or rent, I'd say rent. Better yet, watch your listings and catch it on TCM. It's worth a viewing...but not on a regular basis. There are better ways to spend your time.

Movie for March 2008

The Maltese Falcon
Come on, man. You knew I’d bring this one to the front of the list sooner or later. This is arguably the gold standard for film noir…gritty, unhappy, everyone has a motive, and everyone is flawed (hopelessly so).

Humphrey Bogart is Sam Spade, the detective to rival all detectives, in this dark mystery. And no one could have pulled it off like Bogie. With his dark looks, his tough but wiry frame, and his overly expressive eyes, Bogart brings the tortured soul of Sam Spade to life.

It’s the story of a bird…or the quest for one…and the mystery surrounding the deaths surrounding the bird that Spade must unravel. There are plenty of twists and turns, most of them manipulated by the silver screen’s first femme fatale, Brigid O’Shaughnessy (played by Mary Astor), who has no less than three (count them, THREE) names in the movie. Talk about trouble…

When Sam’s partner, Miles Archer is murdered after being hired by Brigid, the cops think Spade may have had a hand in it. After all, Sam was boinking Mrs. Miles Archer, so who had better motive? Hmmm. Guess you’ll have to watch and see.

Is there a happy ending? Hell no. This is NOIR, remember. This film was directed by John Huston (his directorial debut). The original book was written by Dashiell Hammett.

This isn’t my favorite film, but it is an important picture. Spade set the standard for all noir…anything aspiring to be noir came from this movie. Can you disagree with me? Of course you can. But you’d be wrong.

And now, you want to know whether to rent or buy. Buy it. This is it. This is THE movie that started it all, baby. Don’t let it pass you by.

Movie for February 2008

Detour
Starring Tom Neal and Ann Savage

This is Noir all the way, baby. There's the cheeky narration filled with the hard-luck story, encounters with shady characters, and the downward spiral so common in Noir. Men wear fedoras. Women are dames. Everyone smokes.
Mystery starts right away as poor Al (Tom Neal) hitches a ride with a hitchhiker "goin' all the way to L.A." The driver has three scratches on his right hand from the wildest of animals...a woman. When she refused his advances, he tossed her out on the road. (Clearly, sexual harrassment was not considered a crime back then.)

The driver buys Al a meal and then falls asleep, never to wake again. And that's just the beginning of poor Al's trouble.

Several times during the movie I found myself saying, "Stop! You idiot! Don't do it!" But Al didn't listen to me, and I had to watch that inevitable downward spiral that is Noir, not liking Al, but unable to look away from his predicament.

A happy ending? No way. But a good film for the genre of Noir. For the true collector, this is a "must have" not a rental. For those sissies out there who aren't real fans...don't even bother watching it. You won't get it and you certainly won't appreciate it.

Movie for January 2008

The Thin Man
Starring Myrna Loy and William Powell

One of my favorites of all time. Featuring Nick (William Powell) and Nora (Myrna Loy) Charles, The Thin Man, based on the novel by Daschiell Hammett, is one of those 1930's movies where the gin is straight, the eyelashes are false, and the murder is real. Apparently, while the rest of the country was mired deep in the Great Depression, Nick and Nora had no financial woes and traveled the country living off the fortune her father left her.

When old friend, Mr. Wynant, turns up missing, his daughter, Dorothy, calls on Nick Charles to track the absent-minded old man down. Poor Nick is retired from sleuthing and has no interest in taking the case...until Mr. Wynant's secretary-slash-girlfriend is murdered. Wynant's watch chain is clenched in the still-warm hand of the corpse and Mr. Wynant goes from missing father to murder suspect in an instant. Dorothy, in an effort to protect her father, takes a stab at confessing to the crime.

Now Nick is on the job with his wife, Nora and their trusty dog, Asta, by his side.

Like I said, I love this movie. Films from this decade are filled with actors predisposed to speaking in stage dialect. Vowels are exaggerated and 'r' sounds are unheard of...as for dipthongs...don't get me stah-ted, dah-ling.

If you like a good murder mystery, check this one out. It's one to own, not rent. And keep in mind, it was nominated for four academy awards, including Best Picture, in 1934.