Now that the holidays have passed, I've waded my way through all those For Your Consideration
screeners for the soon to be announced Chicago Film Critics Association awards, put away all
the Christmas movies, and am finding time for some of my particular favorites. In the next few
weeks I'll be focusing on some overdue GLBT titles, some guilty pleasures (always), and new
releases. For now, three releases from one of my favorite genres, film noir that make for a great
evening's entertainment:
upcoming actor to be cast as her husband in the strangely titled The
Strange Love of Martha Ivers. That wasn't the first time Stanwyck
went to bat for another actor -- and it wouldn't be the last -- and her instincts,
as usual, were right on target. The young actor was Kirk Douglas, cast as her
simpering, weak alcoholic husband in this very dark example of film noir.
Stanwyck plays the title character, an heiress who shares a childhood secret
with her husband and the tough talking Sam Masterson (Van Heflin), the love of
her life. The plot is typically noir-dense -- with murder, double crossing, and a
love triangle thrown in for good measure -- and there is, of course, a cool
blonde (Lizbeth Scott) who actually says things like, "Go ahead and slap me, I
deserve it."
The film fell into the public domain years ago and has been released over and
over again in both the vhs and DVD format. It's easily found in those $2.00 bins
at the grocery store -- along with Penny Serendade, 'Til the Clouds Roll By, and
other Public Domain titles (ALL TO BE AVOIDED). This official version from
Paramount Home Video was culled from the best source material available and
the film (the majority of it is set in the evening hours -- in true noir style) has
never looked better. No extras but a bargain and must have nevertheless.
By the time Kirk Douglas made Detective Story in 1951, just five years
later, he was already an established star. This "day in the life" of a New York
precinct helped to cement his reputation as a tough no nonsense actor (his
unmistakable masculine physicality sure didn't hurt either). He plays a
Detective whose attempts to nail an abortionist will have personal
consequences. The melodrama is lightened by the daffy Lee Grant (in an Oscar
nominated role) as a spacey shoplifter (soon after her film career would be
tragically interrupted for over a decade by the blacklist). This really isn't film
noir but it makes a nice Douglas double feature with Martha Ivers. Eleanor
Powell as the anguished wife and William Bendix also offer fine support. Again,
from Paramount Home Video in a nice transfer without extras.
Before "I Love Lucy" Lucille Ball had a long but not particularly memorable film
career. One thing these movies prove, however: the beautiful Ms. Ball could
play anything -- and could always be counted on for expert support. The few
times she got leads (as in Dubarry Was a Lady and The Big Street for example)
she beautifully rose to the occasion. And boy was Lucy a knockout!
Lucy actually has the supporting part (though she got top billing) in 1946's
The Dark Corner, a fine, if minor entry in the noir library. Ball shines as
the secretary to private eye Brad Galt (the little remembered but handsome,
amiable Mark Stevens) who helps her boss solve a rather tangled mystery.
Again, in noir tradition, there's a menacing man (this time in a white suit --
played by William Bendix), a prissy art dealer (played by none other than Clifton
Webb), a murder here and there, and more besides. It's a great waste of time
and a welcome edition to Fox Home Video's Film Noir series. The film trailer and
a copious commentary track are included. The movie has been given a sharp
transfer that helps the typically dark, moody cinematography of the genre.
