.......I might overrate this film because of her. However, there are at least eight reviewers here who are more impartial in this matter and you can read how highly they thought of this film.
Perhaps that is because:
1 - There are three classy actors in lead roles: Bel Geddes, James Mason and the always-evil (it seems) Robert Ryan; 2 - some really nice film-noir cinematography with a lot of dark atmospheric scenes but faces lit up so can see them clearly; 3 - a feeling of impending violence and tension in the scenes involving Ryan which keep you on the edge of your seat wondering what may happen; 4 - Mason's contrasting and soft personality, and 5 - Bel Geddes' soft voice and winsome character which makes the viewer (not just me) care about her.
The aforementioned tension is probably why this movie is labeled a film noir but it really falls into more of the melodrama category. Normally, that doesn't do much for me but not in this film. The only part that turned me off was the ending in which the principal "good guys" seemed really happy and delighted that the baby had died! Wow, does that sound like the selfish attitudes of the modern-day world? A pathetic way to end a good film.
Despicable ending or not, I'd sure like to see this on DVD with a good transfer. What's the holdup?
Perhaps that is because:
1 - There are three classy actors in lead roles: Bel Geddes, James Mason and the always-evil (it seems) Robert Ryan; 2 - some really nice film-noir cinematography with a lot of dark atmospheric scenes but faces lit up so can see them clearly; 3 - a feeling of impending violence and tension in the scenes involving Ryan which keep you on the edge of your seat wondering what may happen; 4 - Mason's contrasting and soft personality, and 5 - Bel Geddes' soft voice and winsome character which makes the viewer (not just me) care about her.
The aforementioned tension is probably why this movie is labeled a film noir but it really falls into more of the melodrama category. Normally, that doesn't do much for me but not in this film. The only part that turned me off was the ending in which the principal "good guys" seemed really happy and delighted that the baby had died! Wow, does that sound like the selfish attitudes of the modern-day world? A pathetic way to end a good film.
Despicable ending or not, I'd sure like to see this on DVD with a good transfer. What's the holdup?