Sadly obscure film noir painted in the blackest shades. Perhaps because it was made later in the cycle of film noir in color at the lower rung Republic Studios by director of little renown Stuart Heisler the film did not receive the prominence it deserves.
It's not a classic of the genre in the Double Indemnity league but it is a well made, tightly paced dark journey of the soul with a couple of great performances at its core.
Those two amazing performances come from artists who were often undervalued for their talents, Linda Darnell and Dan Duryea.
Duryea plays a character he was known for-a cruel weasel, in this case his spirit has been twisted by his imprisonment in a wheelchair, who knows the weaknesses of those around him and takes glee in twisting the knife to ensure their misery is as profound as his. While he could play the good guy quite well his special talent was in this sort of parasite and here perhaps because he is matched against someone who can match him talent wise, Miss Darnell, his performance seems particularly sharp.
The real standout though is Linda Darnell in one of her very best performances. Often wasted through her years as a top star at 20th Century Fox as mere decoration whenever she was given the opportunity to prove her mettle she always came through and was then sent back to pretty up another minor film. A shame had she been properly utilized she had the potential to be a tragedienne of the first order. This is one of those opportunities, unfortunately it came after her peak years and didn't slow the decline of her star-she would only make four more feature films spread out over the next 11 years.
Her ironically named Vida Dove, meaning peaceful life, is living anything but. Lonely and full of bitterness at having to live with her sister, Faith Domergue, well cast since she and Linda could be sisters, who has married her former flame, Duryea now in that wheelchair. Shackled to them and tortured by him she is desperate for any way out. When she and Duryea square off it is truly an acting fireworks show. Enter handsome Rick Jason and a possible escape until he gets a look at Faith, also seeking an way out from the viperish Dan. Of course this sets the stage for unimaginable tragedy but it wouldn't be a noir if it didn't. Its all well presented but what sets it apart is the superior work of the top lined duo. Very hard to find but worth the effort.
It's not a classic of the genre in the Double Indemnity league but it is a well made, tightly paced dark journey of the soul with a couple of great performances at its core.
Those two amazing performances come from artists who were often undervalued for their talents, Linda Darnell and Dan Duryea.
Duryea plays a character he was known for-a cruel weasel, in this case his spirit has been twisted by his imprisonment in a wheelchair, who knows the weaknesses of those around him and takes glee in twisting the knife to ensure their misery is as profound as his. While he could play the good guy quite well his special talent was in this sort of parasite and here perhaps because he is matched against someone who can match him talent wise, Miss Darnell, his performance seems particularly sharp.
The real standout though is Linda Darnell in one of her very best performances. Often wasted through her years as a top star at 20th Century Fox as mere decoration whenever she was given the opportunity to prove her mettle she always came through and was then sent back to pretty up another minor film. A shame had she been properly utilized she had the potential to be a tragedienne of the first order. This is one of those opportunities, unfortunately it came after her peak years and didn't slow the decline of her star-she would only make four more feature films spread out over the next 11 years.
Her ironically named Vida Dove, meaning peaceful life, is living anything but. Lonely and full of bitterness at having to live with her sister, Faith Domergue, well cast since she and Linda could be sisters, who has married her former flame, Duryea now in that wheelchair. Shackled to them and tortured by him she is desperate for any way out. When she and Duryea square off it is truly an acting fireworks show. Enter handsome Rick Jason and a possible escape until he gets a look at Faith, also seeking an way out from the viperish Dan. Of course this sets the stage for unimaginable tragedy but it wouldn't be a noir if it didn't. Its all well presented but what sets it apart is the superior work of the top lined duo. Very hard to find but worth the effort.