After early ‘40s programmers & war service, director Michael Gordon returned to Hollywood for this neatly turned film noir. Working on a very short leash at Universal, Gordon seems emboldened rather than curtailed by the tight budget, standing sets and B-list cast. Make that B+ cast with Edmund O’Brien (still reasonably trim & sweat-free) as a striving lawyer just dumb enough to think he’s getting a career break from rich industrialist Vincent Price. He’s really being set up in a scheme to knock off Price’s old partner just out of jail after taking the rap on a million dollar swindle. (A clean-shaven Price always a giveaway to his being the bad guy.) As Price’s personal secretary, Ella Raines has a rare good role playing the gal-in-the-middle (falling for O’Brien/loyal to her generous boss) while William Bendix steals all his scenes as the detective who’s O’Brien’s pal and the investigating officer on the case. Part & perf a variation on Edward G. Robinson in DOUBLE INDEMNITY with Bendix none the worse for the comparison. The film can’t quite overcome a certain over-familiarity, even at the time the twists couldn’t have surprised many, but its foreshortened perspective look and snappy pace, along with the moody Hans Salter score and a few unexpected edits (look fast for an unprecedented smash cut after a shooting) make the film a fun watch.
DOUBLE-BILL/LINK: As mentioned, DOUBLE INDEMNITY/’44. OR: Another Raines noir we’ve pushed your way before, IMPACT/’49. https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2019/01/impact-1949.html
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