Otto Preminger’s 1945 stab at noir falls apart before its ending but the first hour or so is classic mid 40’s hard boiled American cynicism with great lighting. Dana Andrews in particular impresses with a sentiment-free portrayal of a fast thinking con man who is fatefully beguiled by the coffee shop siren inhabited by Linda Darnell. His stiletto-hatted figure cuts through the small town California setting like an amoral future ghost with nothing to lose but the moment at hand.
Tags: film noir, movies + television
