Things looked slicker and brighter in the Fifties Film-Noir's for better or worse, mostly worse. This is a Mid-Fifties entry that is relentlessly suspenseful with edge of your seat anticipation. Almost all Scenes are at night and the rain is constant making this forever trying to break out of that Eisenhower shine and it manages quite well.
Kim Novak debuting see-through and bra-less (at least in the first few scenes) is a honey of a trap and good but tainted (his parents did nothing but fight) Cop, Fred MacMurray is just too old and weary to resist such a young, beautiful Babe that also manages to be in proximity of a quarter Million unmarked.
This is not great Noir but a fine Character Study and while the Dialog is not as sharp as it could be, it nevertheless is engaging and just Hard-Boiled enough to pass. There is a bit of off-beat Voyeurism tamed by that Fifties (here we go again) softening of a "Girl next door" blossoming Romance, started by a perversion but redeemed and on its way to the White Picket Fence.
Kim Novak debuting see-through and bra-less (at least in the first few scenes) is a honey of a trap and good but tainted (his parents did nothing but fight) Cop, Fred MacMurray is just too old and weary to resist such a young, beautiful Babe that also manages to be in proximity of a quarter Million unmarked.
This is not great Noir but a fine Character Study and while the Dialog is not as sharp as it could be, it nevertheless is engaging and just Hard-Boiled enough to pass. There is a bit of off-beat Voyeurism tamed by that Fifties (here we go again) softening of a "Girl next door" blossoming Romance, started by a perversion but redeemed and on its way to the White Picket Fence.