Runtime: 78 minutes
Directed by: John Brahm
Starring: Laird Cregar, Linda Darnell, George Sanders, Glenn Langan, Faye Marlowe
From: 20th Century Fox
This will be the first of at least two pictures that will be viewed for Noirvember. The Criterion Channel currently has 20 films in a November Noir collection; almost 1/3rd have already been reviewed before and in fact are part of a film noir list I started long ago. I've watched a lot of noir in the past 9 years, it turns out. Thank heavens that this is yet another solid example that's part of the list. In hindsight, I waited one day too late for a viewing; instead of November 6, it should have been the fifth... a few scenes are set on Guy Fawkes Day and as the setting is 1903 London...
It's a noir I dug a lot despite knowing literally from the opening scene who the killer is and later seeing that a Siamese cat the viewer is charmed by in a few scenes meeting a gruesome end. The gimmick is that Laird Cregar is a successful music composer who blacks out when stressed and triggered by discordant noises. During that time, he unknowingly kills people; this is revealed in the opening scene (one of a few throughout where my reaction was, “Holy crap!”) What rotten misfortune that he runs into singer Linda Darnell. Understandably he's smitten, so she plays him like a fiddle for her career's benefit while acting pretty deplorably. She's easy to despise, in other words. George Sanders is a doctor attempting to help him, but it's George Sanders so can you 100% trust him?
The movie at times is rather harsh; someone's ultimate fate was another “holy crap!” from me. I was always on board for those journey as the audience followed the poor lead and had sympathy for his plight despite the crimes he committed. It was at times a fair look at mental health. The lead performances are all rock-solid as was the Victorian setting brought to life by 20th Century Fox sets. For a film where music is the backbone of the story, you'd hope that they nailed this aspect. The composer was Bernard Herrmann, so you needn't worry. In fact, he created a score that was rather bold, which is appropriate for a film where Cregar literally bugs his eyes out during his “manic” phases.
A shame that the portly Cregar passed away at the age of 30 before this was released due to a heart attack brought upon by crash dieting because he wanted to be a leading man rather than literally playing heavies in supporting roles. What an unforgettable final role for him where the ending of the film can be best described as “operatic.” There's no shortage of noir that can be described as at least “pretty good”; Hangover Square (named after a neighborhood in London) also has a seat at the table.
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