:
Lucille Ball,
Lucille Ball,
Clifton Webb,
more...
:
Henry Hathaway,
Henry Hathaway
see all cast/crew...
: Not Rated
: 20th Century Fox
: Foreign
: 99 min.
: English
: English, Spanish
see additional details...
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This grade-A example of "film noir" stars Mark Stevens as Brad Galt, an embittered ex-convict who returns to the private detective business upon his release. Sour and surly, Galt behaves himself only when he's around his faithful and adoring secretary Kathleen (top-billed Lucille Ball). When Galt's crooked former partner Tony Jardine (Kurt Krueger) inaugurates an affair with socialite Mari Cathcart (Cathy Downs), Cathcart's waspish art-collector husband (Clifton Webb) arranges Jardine's murder, carefully pinning the blame on Galt. On the lam from the cops, Galt must rely on Kathleen to help gather enough evidence to prove his innocence. Best scene: Cathcart's abrupt but chillingly casual murder of his partner-in-crime (William Bendix). The deliberate lack of background music serves to enhance the gloomy atmosphere of The Dark Corner. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
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| Noir Light
by talltale
May 6, 2006 - 3:14 PM PDT
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1 out of 1 members found this review helpful
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What a snazzy job Lucille Ball does in THE DARK CORNER: No wonder she gets top billing. If the movie were up to her level, it would probably be classic instead of just OK. This is one of those nearly-noir numbers from the 40s that's just not dark enough (despite that catchy title) to qualify for the real thing.
Clifton Webb is his usual nasty/sophisticated combo (he has one very good scene/speech about his "obsession" with his straying wife); Mark Stevens is so-so (but who could overcome some of the terrible dialog he's been given?); and William Bendix tags along for the ride (it's quite a long way down). The excellent supporting cast--Kurt Kreuger, Cathy Downs, Reed Hadley and Constance Collier--all do yeomen work that helps lift the film a notch.
Director Henry Hathaway wasn't given either the story or script he got with "Call Northside 777" or "Kiss of Death," and the results reference this lack. The ending in particular is both obvious and silly, turning on its ear Chekhov's memorable line about showing the gun. And boy, oh boy, in those days they really could pump a guy full of lead without leaving a single bullet-hole visible. The DVD transfer is excellent, however--almost up to the Criterion level. |
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GreenCine Member Rating
(Average 6.36)
11 Votes
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