Fallen Angel

     Tonight on the Late Show is the excellent film-noir "Fallen Angel", directed by Otto Preminger.  Although it wasn't a hit upon its initial release in 1945, it is now rightly considered a true noir classic that looks simply smashing on DVD today.  It stars hunky Dana Andrews (in maybe his finest performance...), Alice Faye, and Linda Darnell, and tells the tale of a drifter named Eric Stanton who gets off a bus in a small California town and falls in love with a sultry waitress named Stella.  Before long, Eric is madly in love with the saucy Stella, and desperate to get money to marry her,winds up marrying another woman, (Alice Face) with plans to swindle her and take the money.  But of course, something goes wrong in typical noir fashion and before you know it, you've got yourself totally immersed in a wonderful little mystery that snaps and crackles right along perfectly.

     This is film-noir at its finest and under-appreciated.  There's something very alluring about this movie.  It's got atmosphere you could cut with a knife, excellent acting, a rather intriguing plot, and excellent cinematography and lighting.  This was Otto Preminger's follow-up to his hugely successful "Laura", and this film is primarily remembered as the last film Alice Faye would make for another 20 years or so, as she was so angered at her screen time cut in favor of the more sexual Linda Darnell.  But it's an underrated noir that deserves a better reputation, if you ask me.  It moves along briskly and I found myself totally lost in it. It's stylish and sexy and although not quite as good as "Laura", it's still well worth a look.  It's a nice little mystery that really strings you along while watching.  It's a great way to spend a rainy afternoon with nothing else to do.

Possessed

     Tonight's feature on the Late Show is the 1947 classic "Possessed".  Joan Crawford continued her hot streak with this somewhat disturbing tale of a woman who is obsessed with  her ex-lover and on the brink of insanity because of it.  "Possessed" is a classic but slightly underrated noir that's just as good as "The Damned Don't Cry" or "Mildred Pierce", if you ask me.  Joan is riveting here- you cannot take your eyes off the sight of Crawford slowly descending into madness.  Her performance,  and a crackling and sharp script, all help make this an extremely entertaining noir classic.  Strong support from Van Heflin and Raymond Massey certainly doesn't hurt either.

      Joan plays Louise Howell, who's a nurse for the ailing and bitchy Mrs. Graham, a wealthy recluse who dies suddenly and mysteriously.  However, her widower, Grant, asks Louise to stay on after his wife's death and marry him.  Yet Carol, the daughter, hates Louise and blames her for the death of her invalid mother.  On top of all this, Louise once met the Graham's neighbor, David Sutton (Van Heflin), and had an affair.  David decides to end it, devastating Louise, who slowly and surely loses her mind over it.

 

       Once again directed by Curtis Bernhardt, "Possessed" is a soapy and stylish film noir that's got some nice twists and turns and bristles along snappily.  Crawford simply acts the hell out of this role, and I've never understood why it doesn't get more attention.  It's solid, it knows exactly where it's going, and it takes you along with it. Joan runs the gamut of emotions here- she was clearly campaigning for another Oscar after her triumphant win for "Mildred Pierce" before- and dare I say that she's slightly underrated as an actress?  She's stunning here, and it's impossible not to have a good time with "Possessed".  Crawford was a true pro and a true star, and this is a perfect example of her indomitable star quality.  Not to mention being a camp lover's delight.  This is one of my favorite Crawford films.

Double Indemnity

     "Double Indemnity" is hand down one of the greatest mysteries ever filmed, and a shining example of film noir.   Billy Wilder is simply one of the best directors to ever come out of Hollywood, and definitely proves it with this immortal classic.  The man could film anything and make it entertaining, and "Double Indemnity" is pure movie magic.

     Fred MacMurray plays Walter Neff, an insurance agent.  He meets Phyllis Dietrichson, the murderous femme fatale, deliciously and diabolically played with icy perfection by Barbara Stanwyck.  Seems she's a gal who wants to off her husband and seductively pulls Walter into a dangerous web of murder and greed.  Rounding out the cast is the always welcome Edward G. Robinson, who plays Neff's friend and co-worker, Keys.  Keys investigates insurance claims, and the that's where the brilliance of "Double Indemnity" lies.  Keys is an excellent claim investigator, but is Walter smart enough to outwit him?  The plot thickens magnificently until the final, mesmerizing climax.

     "Double Indemnity" is another perfect, rainy-day kind of movie.  It never fails to entertain, no matter how many times you've seen it.  This, along with "Mildred Pierce" or "Sunset Boulevard" (another Wilder classic, by the way...)  are three of my all-time favorites.  It's earned every bit of its reputation as a Hollywood classic, and looks even better than ever today.  It's sly, it's cynical, and it's dark.  It's everything film noir is supposed to be, and regarded by many as the ultimate of its genre.

Flamingo Road

         Joan Crawford plays Lane Bellamy, a gal from the wrong side of the tracks.  A carnival dancer/cooch wiggler who finds herself stuck in a small, southern, politically corrupt town, she soon develops a relationship with the sheriff of the small town,  and decides she likes the small-town life.  There's only one problem, though.  The slimy head sheriff, deliciously played by Sydney Greenstreet, wants her out of town.  This is the kind of role Crawford was born to play, and besides the fact that Joan is a bit too old for her part, "Flamingo Road" is still ridiculously entertaining.
     Wonderfully film-noir with crackling dialoge, "Flamingo Road" was made during Joan's peak years.  Hot off "Mildred Pierce" and "The Damned Don't Cry", this is a worthy follow-up effort.  With Joan taking on political corruption in a small, Southern town- it's impossible not to enjoy this.  Besides Crawford in her peak years, the always welcome Sydney Greenstreet plays a memorably corpulent and evil villain.  Amazing that at 45, Crawford could still pull off a role like this, and probably do it in her sleep if asked.  Always riveting, she commands attention, dominating every scene she's in.  But that's just business as usual for Joan.   "Flamingo Road" would even inspire the short-lived but infamous 80's series, starring Stella Stevens and Morgan Fairchild.  Even if you're not a fan of Joan Crawford, it's hard not to get sucked into a film like "Flamingo Road".

Niagara

       Two innocent honeymooners at Niagara Falls stumble upon a sinister plot of love, betrayal, and murder.

 
     On the verge of superstardom, Marilyn starred with Joseph Cotton in 1953's "Niagara", a somewhat dark tale of an unhappy woman who wants to murder her jealous husband.  Marilyn showed at this early stage that she could handle dramatic roles convincingly- in this film she already has a presence.  The look and atmosphere are prime 1950's and the film moves along at a deceptively leisurely pace.  Before you know it, you're caught in a web of intrigue and revenge that builds to a gripping climax.  Marilyn is riveting- her natural beauty combined with an earnest performance are quite the pair.  Look closely at Marilyn's performance, and you might find more than just her being the blond bombshell.

      "Niagara" is a great rainy-day kind of movie.  The lush cinematography and the gorgeous shots of Niagara Falls, on top of an intriguing murder mystery of greed and infidelity all make for an underrated classic that's just interesting enough to be fascinating.  Almost Hitchcockian at times, it's a genuinely suspenseful murder mystery that looks great today.

 

Mildred Pierce

     Joan Crawford won her first and only Oscar in 1945 with "Mildred Pierce", a deliciously watchable film-noir/mystery/soap opera.  The movie opens with the murder of a slimy lounge lizard, Monte Beragon.  Upon dying, he croaks a single word, "Mildred".  This begins the mystery of "Mildred Pierce".  Joan Crawford delivers a sensational performance as Mildred, proving once and for all that she was an actress to be reckoned with.

     Joan plays a woman who leaves her philandering husband and makes a life for herself and her two daughers- the oldest being a cold-hearted, spoiled bitch played to icy perfection by Ann Blyth.  This is classic film-noir- add up the top notch acting, spectacular cinematography, lighting, and sets, and you've got a great way to spend a rainy afternoon.  Possibly Crawford's finest performance, "Mildred Pierce" is an Oscar-winning classic that also boasts a sparkling supporting performance by Eve Arden.

Sunset Boulevard

A dead Hollywood writer is found floating in the pool of an aging Hollywood mansion.  Thus begins the great noir classic "Sunset Boulevard"...

     One of the greatest film-noir movies of all time, Billy Wilder's dark and moldy "Sunset Boulevard" is Hollywood at its most daring. Wilder was one of the greatest directors of the period, and it's easy to see why. Gloria Swanson gives one of the most unforgettable performances ever in the fabulously morbid film, which is a snide and scathing look at old Hollywood.  Her Norma Desmond is larger than life, over the top, and completely sensational.  Hunky William Holden holds his own against the lioness that is Swanson.

     Crisp, iconic dialogue and direction, plus fantastic black and white photography help solidify its classic status.  It's gloriously over the top and lurid.  Full of memorably strange scenes, with some almost chilling at times, "Sunset Boulevard" is fascinating considering the light, fluffy films coming out of Hollywood at the time.  This move has balls, and big ones.  It's a dark and cynical look at how Hollywood treats its royalty once they reach a certain age- and what people will desperately do to remain in the spotlight.

     How they even released this movie in the first place is mind-boggling- it's so ahead of it's time.  Swanson's portrayal of Norma Desmond is the stuff of legend, and surely one of the greatest female acting feats on film.  You cannot take your eyes off of her when she's on the screen. She is smashing in the role and her performance is not only brilliant, but high camp as well.

     The film went on  to accumulate 11 Academy Award nominations, winning 3.  "Sunset Boulevard" also introduced the iconic line "I'm ready for my closeup , Mr. DeMille" to pop culture.  It was one of the first films to be selected for preservation in the National Film Registry and ranked #12 on the American Film Institute's 100 Best American Films of the 20th century.  A wonderfully weird film-noir classic!